Bethany Announces Partnership with Oglebay to Benefit Equine Programs

Dec. 3 - BETHANY, W.Va. — Bethany College announced a partnership with Oglebay Stables at Oglebay Resort and Conference Center that stands to benefit the college's equine studies and riding programs.

 

Due to the growth and success of the programs, Bethany will now house its off-campus equestrian facilities at Oglebay Stables. These facilities will serve as a boarding space and learning laboratory in addition to the College's own pasturelands and paddocks currently in use.

 

"Bethany College is very pleased to announce this important enhancement to our equine studies and riding programs. It's another great example of the how we seek to improve and enhance the education of our students in all areas," said Dr. Scott D. Miller, president of Bethany College.

 

With the added facilities and space, the College now holds the potential to host the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association's competitions, and can offer expanded service learning activities, internships and experiential learning opportunities. It will also provide training on new equestrian disciplines and enhance the equestrian facilitated therapy program.

 

"The benefits and opportunities this provides for our students are significant," said Dr. Darin E. Fields, vice president for academic affairs and dean of the faculty. "The location and quality of the Oglebay Stables allows us to continue to recruit and grow our already strong program."

 

"We are also pleased with the benefits and opportunities our partnership with Bethany will provide to area residents, as well as Oglebay guests," added Rod Haley, vice president of operations for Oglebay,  "There will be improvements at the entire equine facility at Oglebay and the stables will continue to provide riding lessons, camps and pony rides."

 

Fields said the College intends to be fully operational at Oglebay for the fall semester.

 

"I thank all of those who made this wonderful opportunity possible and look forward to the upcoming semester," said Fields.

 

The Bethany College Equestrian Club also offers competitive riding opportunities for students in three divisions: hunt seat, dressage and western. The club is currently coming off another successful season of competition in Region 3, which encompasses 16 club teams from colleges and universities throughout West Virginia and Pennsylvania.

 

Last academic year, the hunt seat team finished third behind three-time defending champion West Virginia University and runner-up Seton Hill University in this year's Region 3 standings. The dressage team also notched a third-place Region 3 finish while the western team was fourth in the combined Region 4 standings.

 

Bethany College's Equine Studies Program offers students the chance to major in equine management and pre-veterinary medicine as well as an equine studies minor and an equine-facilitated therapy certificate program. The goal of these programs is designed to provide students with a strong base of knowledge to support the wide variety of careers within the equine industry, as well as to experience methods, techniques and management philosophies in addition to improving and developing the necessary communication skills for professional development.

 

Bethany College is a small college of national distinction located on a picturesque and historic 1,300-acre campus in the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia. Founded in 1840, Bethany is the state's oldest private college.

 

Oglebay is a 1,700 acre resort and conference center in Wheeling, W.Va., with a multitude of year-round recreational activities including four golf courses, two museums, gardens, shopping and a zoo.  The resort offers overnight accommodations at the 271-room Wilson Lodge or 54 cottages.