Onyx Spring-Summer 2017

At Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, degree programs are as unique as the students pursuing those degrees. Students can take traditional routes like biology and accounting or can follow more specialized paths like music therapy or equine studies. SMWC is the only equine program in Indiana to offer a Bachelor of Science degree in equine studies. Additionally SMWC is one of approximately 20 equestrian colleges in the U.S. to offer a Bachelor of Science degree in equine studies. The Woods is also becoming known for creating learning experiences based on student need and bringing students unique courses based on industry trends. In Summer 2017, a new certification will launch, the Equine Massage Certification Course. Created by Debra Powell, assistant professor of equine studies, the course gives students more than 300 hours of hands-on experience in the growing and lucrative career. “Equine massage therapy is a non- invasive technique,” Powell explains. “This is a technique used on humans for more than 20 years and on the equine side for the last few years. It is really good for maintenance. These horses are athletes…you can’t just expect them to perform and not have maintenance on their bodies.” Powell explains that trainers and owners often call a therapist before calling a veterinarian. Not only does this cut down on unnecessary invasive procedures, but it also reduces medical costs. The technique can also be used as maintenance on a horse, just as massage would be used for a human athlete. Powell, who came to The Woods nearly two years ago, brings her own experience and knowledge to the unique certification. She credits herself as an international writer, certified equine and canine message therapist and the owner of her own company Powell’s Equine and Canine Therapeutic Services (PECTS). With a master’s degree from the University of Illinois and a Ph.D. from the University of Kentucky, Powell has traveled the nation working in animal

therapy, including therapy for animal athletes at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. Powell says she sought a position at The Woods because of the many student offerings in equine studies, including small class size and capacity for hands-on training. “T his is a small college, and it’s very intimate,” she explains. “The one thing I have found is that the faculty are very in tune to students' needs. For some it’s the first time they have left home, and SMWC is just a great fit for them.” Powell crafted the Equine Massage Certification Course because she saw the need for students to learn the technique and what it could offer them in their careers. “W hat I hope to do is bring my experience and knowledge of the industry,” she explains. “What I bring is my hope that these kids, and I call them my kids, is to have them realize the abundance of opportunities out there.” After years in the horse industry, Powell says she’s learned that although the industry is small, careers in the horse industry are plentiful. Powell explains many of the lessons she teaches cannot be found in a classroom or book. She wants students to know about specific opportunities and career paths. “Only a small amount of institutions offer the certification,” Powell says, adding that the number is around 20 across the nation. A handful are three-day online programs, which Powell says cannot begin to virtually teach the techniques needed. She adds that the SMWC program gives students more training and hands-on hours. After the course, students will be able to take the national board exam, which will open additional doors says Powell. “There are a lot of lessons in this course,” Powell says speaking in a broad sense. “It’s a really interesting field.”

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