Life at the Equine Center

September 21, 2022 Update: Starting with the Fall 2023 semester, JWU’s current equine programs will be restructured into a single Bachelor of Science degree in Equine Studies with the option for students to specialize in Equine Business Management or the fast-growing area of Equine Assisted Services. In addition, the university will offer a new bachelor’s degree program in Animal Science with the option for students to specialize in Pre-Veterinary Studies or Equine Science.

Alongside this exciting new rollout, the university will deliver these new programs in Rhode Island, closer to our central campus. After the completion of the Spring 2025 semester, we plan to close the Center for Equine Studies in Rehoboth, Massachusetts.

Johnson & Wales University’s Center for Equine Studies, located just 15 miles from the Providence campus in Rehoboth, Massachusetts, is one of JWU’s hidden gems. I interviewed John Richards ’96, equine center facilities manager, about what a “day in the life” looks like at the property. Richards has been a staff member for 20 years and claims that no two days in his career have ever been the same.

“It’s been gratifying to see the program grow into what it is today,” he says. “I get to work with horses and young passionate people; plus the facility is gorgeous. There’s something really special about it.” He laughs and adds, “I work for JWU, but the horses ultimately are the ones calling the shots.”

The equine center is not your average farm. The facility is currently home to 28 horses and requires plenty of hands to run the seven days a week, 365 days a year operation. Richards lives full-time in one of the buildings at the equine center, so he is always on call - especially in the event of a storm.

Daily Routine

As the barn doors open, the horses know exactly what time it is: breakfast. “It’s like they have never been fed,” Richards says. ”They are so excited to see you.”

The morning crew starts early and is responsible for turning on the lights and starting the hay process. While the horses are riled up with excitement, the crew supplies them with two types of feed and water, which calms them down. This allows the crew to inspect the horses to make sure no injuries occurred overnight. After the first group of 6-12 horses go out for “recess,” the crew supplies wood chips and bedding to the stalls, which can take up to 20 minutes per stall.

“On a good day, the morning routine is complete by 10:30am,” says Richards. “Feeding the horses for lunch can take about one to two hours and wraps up by 1pm.” The last feeding takes place between 9-10pm, followed by the final night check. “Some horses get an upset stomach and require extra attention, so some night checks can be longer than others. Every night is different.”

Winter at the Farm

Although the riding and lab schedule is lighter during the winter term, the horses require just as much care, if not more.

“Besides heat from the arena, the horses are well-equipped with sheets or heavy blankets to keep warm,” Richards says. “To clean the blankets, the Equine Center has an in-house industrial size washing machine, especially since horse blankets are not allowed at laundromats.”

Due to the thickness of the blankets worn by the horses throughout the winter, Richards mentions that it is important to keep an extra eye on the horses for weight loss. He also notes that he has to monitor the temperature of certain zones on the property to make sure that water continues to flow.

Richards describes that when a bad storm hits, “the horses get more stoic and hunker down. The majority of the time they have impressed me. They brace for the storm and cope with it and are not as wild as people would expect.”

Character of the Horses

When asked about the behavior of the horses, Richards explains, “Each horse has their own unique personality. It’s like managing a professional sports team. Each horse has different needs.”

The staff members on the property are always using basic first aid because the field is like their playground. He notes that after snowstorms, they love to play in the fresh snow in the field. “Horses are like children,” he says. “Only on nights, holidays and weekends do things happen. You have to be proactive and aware of the horses at all times because things can happen fast and turn significant quite quickly.”

Visiting the Farm

The barn doors are always open for visitors. See what a day in the life is like for an equine studies student, or set up a tour.