Looking for a less expensive way to take care of your horses?
Some equine-science students at the Delaware Area Career Center are making themselves available to care for horses in the county.
Jennifer Kessler, instructor of the school’s equine science program, said students are available seven days a week to board, groom or train horses as part of their curriculum.
Kessler said the program has been going on for decades at the career center and lets students work hands-on with horses during the class while being a cheaper option for horse owners who need to board their horses.
Kessler said the price to board a horse is $19 a day.
“We have outstanding students who do great work,” Kessler said. She said a big advantage of choosing the DACC students over a traditional boarder is that the horses get much more individual attention because there are so many equine-science students in the program.
Kessler said the students are trained to groom, train, clean up the horses’ stalls and help horses that are rehabilitating from injuries.
“They learn all aspects of equine science,” Kessler said. “[Throughout the course] they learn lots of different skills in the industry.”
The students come in two shifts during the day, once in the morning and once at night, seven days a week during the school year to take care of the horses at the DACC’s barn at the Delaware County Fairgrounds.
The program is a hit with students as well.
“I love it,” said Kenda Roar, a senior. “I’ve learned quite a bit I didn’t know before and it’s more interactive and hands-on.”
“I love this program,” Brooke Crow, a senior, said. “I love the interaction with the horses and the wide range of lessons. It’s a really great program and I’ve met a lot of people and made a lot of new friends.”
Another senior, Zena Noble, said being able to care for individual horses for a long period of time during the program is one of the best parts.
“We have our own horses and we actually get to train them,” Noble said. “I love it. I love everything with the horses.”
For more information about boarding the horses with the DACC, contact Kessler at [email protected] or by calling 740-362-6465.
