This month Asbury Equine students participated in the Collegiate Colt Starting Challenge at the Idaho Horse Expo, held at the Ford Idaho Horse Park in Nampa, Idaho. For their first appearance at the Expo and the only university competing from the East Coast, Asbury University scored third place.
“We were thrilled to be invited to a collegiate colt starting competition,” said Equine Director Elizabeth McNeil ’13 Guthrie. “Our goals were to train the horse, so that she is set up for success for the rest of her life, and to glorify God in our actions with the horse. We believe our students did an excellent job accomplishing those goals this past weekend.”
Director of Equine Training Jesse Westfall led student participators Abianna Stiefel ’25, Kayleen Cordes ’25, and Adrianna Kooistra ’25 during the events.
During this event, undergraduate students competed in training young, unhandled horses over the course of several days. These horses, often around two to three years old, have little to no prior human interaction, making the competition a test of patience, skill and foundational horsemanship. Students receive scores on their ability to safely and effectively communicate with the colt and skills such as haltering, leading, saddling and riding.
The emphasis in this competition involves establishing trust and demonstrating a sound understanding of equine behavior, rather than rushing the training process. Many programs culminate in a final showcase where students present the progress they have made with their horses. Competitions like the Road to the Horse Collegiate Colt Starting Challenge offer students a hands-on opportunity to develop their training philosophy and gain real-world experience in the equine industry.
The Collegiate Colt Starting Challenge provided a valuable opportunity for students to gain hands-on experience in horse training, showcasing their skills in a competitive yet educational environment.
Learn more about the Asbury University Equine Department.