A horses tale with a Japanese twist

It’s horses for courses for UQ Gatton student Yuko Horii.

When Ms Horii moved to Australia from Japan to begin her Bachelor of Applied Science in Animal Studies in 2001, she had barely ridden a horse.

Now she is a highly competent horse-rider who supplements her University studies with part-time horse-riding coaching on the Gold Coast. In September, she will sit for a formal, horse-riding coaching examination.

“I’ve learned so much about horses at UQ Gatton – management, nutrition, health, training, breeding and riding skills to name a few. It’s impossible to learn to be a horse expert at any Japanese university because of low student demand and lack of horse specialists in my country. So, I’ve had special and valuable opportunities at UQG,” Ms Horii said.

“After graduation, I would like to work as a conduit between Australia and Japan, for example as marketing manager for a company dealing in horse supplies and/or horses or as a horse-riding instructor in the tourism industry, introducing horse knowledge and technique to Japanese riders.

“Last semester’s course ‘Equine Coaching Education’ inspired me to seek a horse-riding instructor qualification. If successful in the September exam, I will be the first Japanese-speaking qualified instructor in Australia.”

Ms Horii encouraged people to attend the upcoming UQ Gatton Open Day on Sunday, August 25, from 9.30am until 3pm.

“I think it is a great opportunity for people planning to come to UQG for equine studies to understand the program and the facilities available,” she said.

Ms Horii will be one of many students competing in continuous equestrian events such as show-jumping and dressage at the Open Day.

She will be riding “Finesse”, the Palimino mare she has ridden throughout her studies and who has helped transform Ms Hori from occasional rider to an accomplished and confident rider.

Finesse is one of seven Australian Stock Horses belonging to the School of Animal Studies and used by students throughout their degrees and diplomas.

According to lecturer Lea Bierman, all seven were born and bred, broken in and trained by students at UQ Gatton.

“Visitors to the Open Day may see newly born foals and students assisting with the birth of foals,” Ms Bierman said.

According to Equine Studies stream co-ordinator Dr Mark Hohenhaus, around 200 internal and external students are currently completing either the three-year Bachelor of Applied Science (Animal Studies) or the Bachelor of Animal Studies (Equine Studies), or the two-year Diploma of Applied Science (Equine Studies).

With teaching and learning time split 50:50 between theory and practice, these qualifications set graduates up for careers such as managing horse studs, working in administration for businesses such as feed companies or as riding instructors in the booming tourism industry.

The UQ Gatton Open Day will feature talks about programs in the animal studies, agriculture and horticulture, agribusiness and environmental management areas as well as tours of the dairy, equine unit, library, halls of residence and plant nursery. There will also be equestrian events and many other activities available to visitors and prospective students. A detailed program for the UQ Gatton Open day can be found at: www.studyatuq.net

For more information, contact Yuko Horii (telephone 07 5462 8191 or mobile 0401 329 819), Peter Scott (mobile 0418 191063), Lee Bierman
(mobile 0409 760 447), Anthony Smith at UQ Gatton (telephone 07 5460 1229 or mobile 0409 265 587) or Shirley Glaister at UQ Communications (telephone 07 3365 2339). We also have clear, colour images of Ms Hori riding Finesse if required.