Stephens College is located in Columbia, about halfway between St Louis and Kansas City. Stephens College has a dedicated Equestrian Center that consists of two stables with 61 stalls, indoor and outdoor riding rings, four large pastures, three paddocks and a feeding area. A variety of equestrian degrees are available through the college, including Bachelor of Science degrees for equestrian studies in business management, equestrian education, equestrian pre-veterinarian and a therapeutic instruction/occupational therapy program. Minors and bachelor's-plus-master's-degree programs are also available in the subject. Stephens College Summer Riding Programs are open to the public and will teach the basics of riding to paying visitors ages 8 and up.
The University of Missouri Columbia is a state school located about halfway between St.Louis in the east and Kansas City in the west. The university's animal sciences section falls under its College of Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources heading. The equine sciences degree is called the B.S. in animal science with equine emphasis, and it consists of courses in equine selection, barn management, foaling, equine nutrition, general care and equine diseases. The university has 11 horses and facilities including stables, turn out pastures and indoor and outdoor riding rings. The university accepts student volunteers to work in the equestrian facilities and also runs the Collegiate Horsemen's Association.
William Woods University is located about halfway between the cities of St. Louis and Kansas City in central Missouri. William Woods University was the first to offer an accredited degree in equestrian science in the entire United States. The program was founded in 1924, and the bachelor's degree program began in 1972. Courses for the major include equine anatomy, nutrition, teaching methods, horse evaluation and selection, stable management, riding classes and lots of hands-on experience. Each student is required to take part in a series of horse shows put on in arenas both at the university and in the surrounding area. Students must cover their own entrance, transportation and expense fees when performing.
North Central Missouri College is located in Trenton in the north of Missouri about 38 miles from the Iowa border. North Central is a two-year community college that offers both an associate degree in agriculture and natural resources with an equine management emphasis, and a certificate in agriculture and natural resources with an equine management emphasis. The associate degree is aimed at students who want a career in equine production or operations while the certificate is for students who require technical courses in the discipline. The program provides hands-on experience and general basics which can then be transferred to North Western Missouri State University in pursuit of a four-year Bachelor of Technology degree.