Virginia Tech's MARE Center welcomed four new undergraduate animal science students to its facility this week. This first class will spend a semester at the Center gaining both hands on experience and pursuing classroom studies working towards Bachelor of Science degrees from Tech's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

Dr. Rebecca Splan, Associate Professor of Equine Science, is in charge of the new program and is based in Middleburg. Dr. Splan explains:

"This is the first group of undergraduates to study at the MARE Center. We plan to have three semester-long sessions each year – spring, summer and fall. You wouldn't know it by the weather, but this is the start of the spring semester, which ends in May. This group is perhaps a pilot run. Eventually we hope to have three times as many students per semester. We will also have graduate students as in the past, and a strong research program as soon as we fill the Paul Mellon Distinguished Professor chair." A search for the next Mellon Professor is underway.

According to Dr. Splan, 40 warmblood horses came up from Blacksburg in December, supplementing the animals already resident at the Center. Two warmblood stallions will join the band as soon as their paddock fencing is in order.

"Seventeen of the new horses are pregnant," she said, adding "that will give the students a chance to participate in foaling and the care of young horses."

The students now in residence include Kelly Barber of Chapel Hill, NC, Kelsay Johns of Churchville, Maryland, and two Virginians, Kaylee Kohlhaas of Strasburg and Stephanie Feinberg from Springfield.

An observation that "there are no young men in the group" brought quick responses:

"Boys can't handle the hard work,"

"Fewer boys are interested in horses; most boys are cow or sheep people. Our (equine) major is 85% female," and

"We're setting the bar here. If they can jump it they can come."

Interestingly, while all four young women are interested in careers in equine care and breeding, and graduate school is appealing, none plan to become veterinarians. As one of them said:

"I'm not interested in working with other people's animals, just the ones I know in the barn where I'll be working."

Paul Mellon, a legendary philanthropist, horse lover and world-renowned breeder, who donated the Center's 420 acres to Virginia Tech many years ago, would be well pleased with the spirit of these newest recruits.