By Melissa Burbidge
With the re-invention of BYU''s Animal Science Department, equitation classes will be canceled, beginning Fall Semester, said David Kooyman, chair of animal and veterinary sciences.
Termination of equitation classes at BYU resulted from a challenge the Animal Science Department took on almost a year ago.
'We knew we were the most expensive department on campus in terms of cost per student, so our goal was to determine whether or not there should be an Animal Science Department at BYU, and if so what it should look like,' Kooyman said.
In finding a course for re-direction, the Animal Science Department received guidance from President Gordon B. Hinckley of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Kooyman said.
At a recent training meeting in Salt Lake City, President Hinckley asked Kent Crookston, dean of the Animal Science Department, why there were agriculture programs at BYU, Kooyman said.
Crookston''s response was finished with Hinckley''s words:
'We shouldn''t have agriculture at BYU unless it is unique in a way that blesses the church.'
Therefore, the motto of BYU''s Animal Science Department became: put students first and be unique in a way that blesses the church, Kooyman said.
These two mandates have been a guide to administration in putting together an animal science program which is academically strong, influential in the developing world and effective in training future agriculture-business professionals, Kooyman said.
The role of equitation classes in helping to fulfill the department''s new goals became difficult to justify, Kooyman said.
'It is not in the best interest of our department or redirection to have an equitation program,' he said.
The equitation classes are a recreational benefit to students and most students taking equitation classes are not animal science students, he said.
While the cancellation of equitation classes will contribute to a new animal science focus, some BYU students and teachers are saddened by the decision to cancel the program.
'It is sad for the students. So many students had good experiences in the program,' said Kim Gardner, head equitation instructor.
Natalie Baum, a junior, from Highland, Utah, majoring in recreational management, is one student who has benefited from the equitation program.
'I came to BYU because of the horse program. I would have gone to a different school if they wouldn''t have had it,' Baum said.
Equitation classes have been canceled, but Gardner is interested in creating a NCAA equitation team that would keep some of the horses at BYU.
However, Kooyman is confident the animal science department will not be involved if such a team is created.
'As a department, we cannot be the ones to spearhead a NCAA team. Someone else at the university must say they are willing to do that,' Kooyman said.
Fred Skousen, advancement vice president, said that the creation of such a NCAA team is a long shot.
There are not many NCAA equitation programs in the west so it would be a very expensive sport in terms of travel, Skousen said.
No formal proposal for an NCAA team has been proposed, Skousen said. However, Gardner remains hopeful.