Graduates of The University of Findlay are making their mark in equine education, in addition to showing and training horses.  All three faculty and staff members of the equine technology program at Martin Community College in Williamston, N.C., are UF alums.  Tami (Sandine) Thurston '95, Kimberly (Kane) Stewart '03 and Ashley Woods '07 are in charge of the equine technology program, an associate's degree program with an emphasis on pleasure, hunt seat, jumping, horsemanship, colt breaking, judging and reproduction.

Thurston is the director of equine technology, where she has administrative responsibilities in addition to teaching lecture and riding classes.  Stewart teaches classes in anatomy, reproduction, horse science, equine judging, fundamentals of riding, nutrition, equine business law and principles of riding instruction.  Woods is the equine facility manager, where she instructs labs in horse science, supervises feedings and teaches horse farm management.  She also looks after the horses and maintains the barn, which includes a 120' by 220' indoor area with seating for 1,000.  The school has between 35-55 horses at any time, all donated, Woods said. 

Thurston described her job as the best of two worlds where she can combine teaching with training and showing horses.  A native of Boardman, Ohio, Thurston grew up showing in 4-H and open shows.  She continues to show horses and has placed in the top 10 at the American Quarter Horse Congress and has won or placed at national futurities such as Tom Powers, Just for Pleasure and Southern Belle.  In addition, Thurston and her husband Paul '90, own and operate Thurston Quarter Horses, specializing in western pleasure, hunter under saddle, all-around and futurity prospects. 

Stewart, from Sheboygan, Wis., also grew up showing horses through 4-H.  Although she isn't showing currently, she coaches Martin's Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) team and judges at open shows in the region.  After working as a horse trainer for three years after graduation, Stewart found she takes more satisfaction from teaching.

Woods, who began riding at age 4, shows in the East Coast Open Show Circuit, where she won Top 5 in the Off the Rail Division for 2008 on her own Quarter Horse.  She also has won several championships in hunter under saddle with a school-owned horse.  She takes students with her to make up an open show team, in addition to helping with the IHSA team.

Woods said she most enjoys seeing what students do after they graduate from Martin.  Several students have transferred to The University of Findlay to complete bachelor's degrees.  "Seeing them go on to Findlay, or to work for a trainer, means we influenced them enough to want to continue their careers in the horse industry,"  she said.  "If any student tells me they are thinking about going to Findlay, I really encourage them to do so!"  Thurston noted that two Martin Community College graduates are currently juniors at Findlay.  "They both recently came back to MCC over spring break as guest instructors and did a fantastic job," she said.  "I have great hopes of sending many more." 

The three women have interesting stories as to how they found out about The University of Findlay's equestrian program.  Woods, a native of Wakeman, Ohio, came to watch a UF women's basketball game with her high school basketball team.  "I saw the IHSA national championship banner in Croy Gymnasium.  I did some research on the school, then I decided that's where I wanted to go," she said.

Stewart, at about age 10, found a Findlay brochure at a Mid-West Horse Fair.  "I got so excited that I could go to school for horses!"  She explained, "I always wanted to work with horses, but my father was set on my getting an education.  The equine program at Findlay was where we were able to find common ground."

Thurston read about the school in a magazine and accompanied a friend who came for a tour.  Even though it was only two weeks before school started, the staff in admissions and financial aid worked to enable her to enroll.  "It's a good thing I went that year because I met my husband, Paul, who was a senior in the equine program," she recalled.  "I not only got a great education at Findlay, but I found a fine husband, too!"

All three are enthusiastic about their UF experiences and the outstanding equestrian instructors.  Thurston cited UF riding instructor Cynthia Morehead, "She was a wonderful instructor and gave me an example of someone I could aspire to be someday."  Woods found working for UF at the Stallion Avenue booth at Congress to be especially helpful.  "You get to learn a lot about the Congress as well as what it takes to prepare horses for Congress," she commented.  Stewart described being assigned to break a totally wild colt, thinking it was the worst assignment possible.  "That colt taught me more than any other horse," she remembered.  "He actually became my favorite horse."

Now, the three are applying what they learned at Findlay and impacting a new generation of equestrian students at Martin Community College, some of whom will complete the circle by enrolling to earn bachelor's degrees.