January 11-12, 2006

ITEM 130-1601-R0106    Approval of proposal to continue offering an Associate of Applied Science in Natural Horsemanship Degree with two options; The University of Montana-Western

THAT: The Board of Regents of Higher Education authorizes The University of Montana-Western to continue to award the Associate of Applied Science in Natural Horsemanship degree with two options, Natural Horsemanship Science and Natural Horsemanship Management.

EXPLANATION: The University of Montana-Western (UMW) is now in its second year of offering this very popular degree program in collaboration with La Cense Montana. This degree originally received provisional approval two years ago and, due to its major success, UMW seeks regular approval through the Level II process. The campus already has regular approval for its B.S. in Natural Horsemanship, which has also received much attention and high student enrollment from Montana and beyond

Western has developed a collaborative agreement with La Cense Montana, which provides necessary training equipment and facilities, funding for horse trainer instructors and funding for dedicated office and laboratory space near campus known as the Academic Center for Equine Studies.

Graduates of the program will not only be actively engaged in the local, statewide, and national equine business community but will also be involved in the internationally-recognized discipline of natural horsemanship. This method of equestrianism incorporates an understanding of Horse Ethology, (i.e. horse behavior) in order to create a more sophisticated working relationship between human and horse. The natural horsemanship method is quickly becoming the international standard by which horsemanship is judged.