Incoming Student Questionnaire
The Applied Riding Assessment is required for all students registered in applied riding courses at William Woods University. This includes, but is not limited to, students who are intended majors or minors in Equestrian Science, Equine Administration, or Pre-Veterinarian areas.
The mission of the Equestrian Division at William Woods University is to produce well rounded equine professionals who possess strong skills for applied riding and caring for horses in their appropriate environment, all according to equine industry standards. Accordingly, it is preferred that students who wish to major in equestrian science, equine administration, or any related equestrian major have knowledge in these areas. In addition the student must be riding at a level that is conducive for improvement through instruction in group riding lessons.
Physical Requirements
All students registered in applied riding courses must also meet the following physical requirements:
- Able to stand for over an hour at time
- Able to bend, twist, stretch and lift in order to clean stalls, horse's hooves, apply leg wraps, etc.
- Able to push a fully loaded wheelbarrow for distances of over 500 feet
- Able to carry and hang a full five-gallon water bucket
- Able to vigorously groom a horse for periods of time longer than 15 minutes
- Able to lift and carry and raise above a horse's back up to 50lbs
- Able to monitor (watch, listen and observe) horses and other riders for safety and training issues
Written Assessment/Survey
This written assessment is intended to be utilized to evaluate your current skill level so that you may be placed in the appropriate level of applied riding class.
Video requirements
To be completed in addition to the survey for any student wishing to take an applied riding course at William Woods University. Students who do not submit a video will not be able to be placed in an applied riding class.
Video Guidelines
- Entire video must be less than 5 minutes long
- Video must be close and include action, not a series of stills
- Horse show footage is fine, however; please do not send a link to a professional site where viewer(s) must log in or otherwise search for your class
- Must include:
- Mount and dismount as is correct for your seat
- Must ride one of the four seats taught at William Woods University (Saddle Seat, Dressage, Forward Seat Hunter/Jumper, Western or Breed show hunter)
- Demonstrate trot/jog, canter/lope, posting trot, both leads, halt, rein back. Dressage riders may demonstrate a dressage test.
- If you are seeking placement in a hunter or jumper class you must jump at least two jumps, as high as you are comfortable jumping
- The more skill you can show the more accurately you will be placed, i.e. sitting trot for dressage, no stirrups, gaited work, etc.
Students who do not demonstrate an acceptable level of applied riding skill in order to be safely placed in a group lesson (which generally consist of five to nine riders) will be required to do the following:
- Take riding lessons from a qualified instructor and re-submit a video demonstrating that the rider is now able to complete the skills required prior to the start of the semester.
- And/Or Take EQU 101 for those who the evaluator does not feel is ready to be safely placed in an applied riding class. This class is offered in the fall semester only.
I agree to the above requirements and am ready to take the survey