Middleburg Agricultural Research and Extension Center

Undergraduate Education: Summer Internship

Sporthorse Breeding Internship at Virginia Tech

Application due February 15, 2013

Objective: To help prepare undergraduate students for careers in the horse industry, academia or the biological sciences through targeted instruction and development of practical and scientific skills.

   

The Sporthorse Breeding Internship will be offered during the summer of 2013 and is based at the Middleburg Agricultural Research and Extension (MARE) Center in Middleburg, Virginia. This 420-acre facility is located in the heart of Northern Virginia’s hunt country and new home to Virginia Tech’s internationally-regarded sporthorse breeding program.

The internship will allow students to actively participate in all aspects of a large-scale research facility, outreach center and commercial horse operation. This is an immersive learning environment for those students who are sincere in their desire to secure employment in the horse industry and/or pursue post-baccalaureate education in veterinary or graduate school. This novel program provides substantive and authentic experiences which are truly transformative, resulting in the ultimate capstone experience.

As an intern, students will:

• Participate in daily horse care and management.
• Participate in foaling and breeding work.
• Prepare and exhibit young stock bred by Virginia Tech in USDF Sporthorse Breeding and USEA Future Event Horse classes.
• Develop skills in handling and training young horses.
• Travel to regional breeding farms and events.
• Develop proficiency in breeding stock selection, conformation and gait evaluation, and pedigree analysis through classroom sessions, projects and review of scientific literature.
• Cultivate instructional, outreach and leadership skills by assisting with summer educational programs and events hosted at the farm.
• Assist faculty and graduate students with ongoing research projects.

Furthermore, interns will collaborate with faculty, staff, graduate students and fellow interns to complete daily tasks and coordinate events and research projects, thus developing essential organizational and communication skills. Finished interns will have a greater appreciation of and proficiency in skills necessary to work on larger equine operations. Interns will have a greater understanding of the scientific method, including experimental design and implementation, and will be able to demonstrate improvement in their critical thinking, problem solving, leadership, collaboration and independent learning skills.

This internship is appropriate for students entering their junior or senior year in the fall semester following the internship. The internship is open to current undergraduate students at Virginia Tech or any other institution in the United States or Canada. Students graduating in May 2013 will also be considered. The internship generally runs from early- to mid-May through mid-August. Current students may receive college credit if desired. Housing is provided.

Interested students should complete the application form and submit required documents to Rita Rollison (rbrady@vt.edu) by February 15th for consideration for Summer 2013. For further information, please contact Dr. Rebecca K. Splan, rsplan@vt.edu or 540-687-3521 ext. 26.