University of Findlay Western Equestrian Program

University of Findlay Western Equestrian Program In the two- and four-year program, students begin as freshmen learning the basics of horse body position, showmanship and horsemanship.
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The University of Findlay offers a western training program that offers students the chance to try all different aspects of the western horse, such as cutting, reining, western riding, western pleasure, showmanship, and trail, riding 5 days a week The University of Findlay offers a western training program that can be completed as a four-year bachelor of science degree, a two-year associate degrees or a minor. During their time spent at Findlay, students in the program learn all different aspects of the western horse, such as cutting, reining, western riding, western pleasure, showmanship, and trail. Sophomore year is colt breaking, where a student takes an unbroke horse from the beginning of the semester to the end. Junior and Senior year include a variety of disciplines, from lead changing to Hunter Under Saddle to more colt breaking to Cutting… you name it! Students are at the barn five days a week, and ride every day. Each semester culminates in a week-long finals that is run like a horse show: UF brings in outside alumni judges; classes are placed, and students wear proper show attire, all while being graded! During their time at Findlay, students have classroom classes that explore all areas of the equine world. These classes include Judging, Nutrition, Reproduction, Marketing, Software Applications, Preventative Medicine, Equine Law, and many more. They use these classes to supplement their learning at the farm, where outside instructors, demonstrations, and alumni come to present other aspects of the equine industry. The Western Farm holds an annual Spring Horse Sale at the end of April! This year the sale is held Saturday, April 30, 2022. Horses sold include senior class projects: Futurity Colts. These two- year- old prospects have been broken out by the senior class, ending in a Pleasure Futurity class the day before the sale. Other sale horses include trail horses, show horses, cow/ranch horses, and well broke lesson horses. For questions about admissions, contact Bryant Fox or Leah Ely:
Undergraduate Admissions Counselor
Equestrian Studies Programs
The University of Findlay
1000 North Main Street
Findlay OH 45840
419-434-4644
[email protected]
[email protected]

Tonight, history happens on network television — and Findlay has a front-row seat.For the first time ever, a major weste...
09/17/2026

Tonight, history happens on network television — and Findlay has a front-row seat.

For the first time ever, a major western-discipline horse show is airing in primetime on network TV. The Run For A Million, one of reining's most prestigious events, with a $1 million purse, airs tonight at 8 PM on your local CBS station.

Findlay's roots in this sport run deep. Dale Wilkinson, founder of our Western Equestrian Program in 1976, is also recognized as a founder of modern reining — which is why so many call Findlay a birthplace of the sport. Over the decades, our program has sent riders, trainers, and judges into the heart of this industry, including several current and former students competing at this year's TRFAM, and UF graduates who have served as judges at the event.

Tune in tonight and cheer on the sport Findlay helped shape! 🐴

HISTORY SPOTLIGHT: Clark BradleyBefore Findlay, Clark Bradley was a kid on a Ohio crop farm, tagging along to reining me...
09/17/2026

HISTORY SPOTLIGHT: Clark Bradley
Before Findlay, Clark Bradley was a kid on a Ohio crop farm, tagging along to reining meetings with his father — one of the first people in the state to own a registered quarter horse.
He learned the trade under Dale Wilkinson, the man who turned reining into the sport of finesse it is today. By his twenties, Bradley was winning it — taking the national NRHA Futurity title in both 1968 and 1974.
He joined Findlay's Western program in 1978, left in '85, and came back in 1995 — for good. Since then: 40 years as an NRHA judge, two terms as its president, and a hand in writing the rules reining is still judged by.
In 2015, at the sport's 50th anniversary Futurity, he was chosen to set the pattern for the finals — riding Smokey, the same horse who led American Pharoah to the Triple Crown.
That's who's been teaching Findlay students for decades.
Clark Bradley didn't just contribute to Findlay's Western legacy. He helped build the foundation it still stands on.

What a way to kick off the 50th anniversary of the University of Findlay Western Program!We were excited to welcome Bran...
09/11/2026

What a way to kick off the 50th anniversary of the University of Findlay Western Program!

We were excited to welcome Brandon Brant, a UF 2005 graduate and the most recent NRHA Million Dollar Rider, to “Fridays at Findlay” as the keynote speaker!

Completed the day at the western farm where our students had the opportunity to learn from Brandon, ride, and continue building their skills.

We’re proud to celebrate 50 years of the Western Program and grateful to have special guests like Brandon help us kick off this exciting year!

Here’s to 50 years of horses, horsemanship, and memories at Findlay!

09/08/2026

From all across the country to right here at the University of Findlay🖤🧡
During our Run for a Million Watch Night, we interviewed some of our students to find out where they call home! Their answers highlight the in incredible reach that our program has on the equine industry!

Before the banners. Before the trophies. Before the packed arenas.There was an empty barn.And a handful of people who wa...
09/04/2026

Before the banners. Before the trophies. Before the packed arenas.
There was an empty barn.
And a handful of people who walked into it anyway — the first rider willing to compete for a program with no track record. The first coach willing to build something from nothing. The first students who showed up early, stayed late, and had no roadmap to follow.
They didn't know they were making history.
They just knew someone had to go first.
That's the part we don't talk about enough — it wasn't banners or trophies that opened the door for everyone who came after. It was a few people willing to walk through an empty barn and believe in what it could become.
Today, we celebrate those trailblazers — and every generation since who's carried their legacy forward.

HISTORY SPOTLIGHTThe Western Barn became a place where passionate students found their path — a space built on hard work...
08/27/2026

HISTORY SPOTLIGHT
The Western Barn became a place where passionate students found their path — a space built on hard work, good horses, and the drive to grow. What happened inside those walls went far beyond preparing for careers. It shaped people. Even those who didn’t stay in the horse industry or pursue veterinary work carried the lessons with them, becoming capable, grounded adults. A better world. A better life. For everyone who walked through the doors. That legacy continues with us today.

Fridays at Findlay is bringing home a familiar face—and a powerful story. Before Brandon Brant '05 became an NRHA profe...
08/19/2026

Fridays at Findlay is bringing home a familiar face—and a powerful story.
Before Brandon Brant '05 became an NRHA professional and the founder of Brant Performance Horses, he was a student right here at the University of Findlay, learning in the same barns and riding in the same arenas that shaped generations of horsemen. His journey started with Findlay’s equestrian program, and it grew into a career built on grit, horsemanship, and a deep love for the industry.
This year, Brandon reached a major milestone—becoming a $1 Million NRHA earner, a testament to the foundation he built at Findlay and the dedication he’s carried throughout his career.
This anniversary, we’re honored to welcome Brandon back as our Fridays at Findlay speaker. If you love a good origin story, if you believe in the impact of mentors and moments, or if you simply want to celebrate the legacy of our program, this is an evening you won’t want to miss.
Reserve your seat for Friday, September 11 at 7:30 AM. Come celebrate the legacy—and hear from someone who helped carry it forward.
https://oilers.findlay.edu/pages/events/FAF

HISTORY SPOTLIGHTLong before the University of Findlay had a Western program to call its own, Dale Wilkinson was buildin...
08/19/2026

HISTORY SPOTLIGHT

Long before the University of Findlay had a Western program to call its own, Dale Wilkinson was building something special in his barn — a place where good horses, honest work, and true horsemanship came first. That barn wasn’t just a training space; it was the heartbeat of his philosophy. When Findlay later purchased it, they weren’t just buying a building. They were embracing Dale’s vision, his standards, and the culture he created. Today, every ride, every class, and every student carries a piece of the legacy that started in Dale’s barn.

www.findlay.edu/equestrian50

For 50 years, the University of Findlay's Western Program has been more than a place to learn—it has been a place where ...
08/06/2026

For 50 years, the University of Findlay's Western Program has been more than a place to learn—it has been a place where traditions are built, lifelong friendships begin, and students grow into leaders in the equine industry. As we celebrate this milestone, we invite you to look back on the people, memories, and moments that have shaped the program's legacy. Read the full story below. 🤠🧡 https://oilers.findlay.edu/pages/events/FiftyYears

Fifty years ago, a small group of horse‑loving pioneers took a chance on an idea that felt bigger than themselves. They ...
08/04/2026

Fifty years ago, a small group of horse‑loving pioneers took a chance on an idea that felt bigger than themselves. They built an environment where students could learn, ride, grow, and discover who they were meant to become. That spark became the Western Equestrian Program we know today.
As we enter our official 50th Anniversary this August, we’re spending the entire year revisiting the moments—and the people—who shaped our journey. You’ll meet the coaches who laid the foundation, the riders who carried our colors into the arena, and the community members who believed in the program long before it became what it is today.
All year long, we’ll share stories, photos, anniversary speakers, and memories that remind us how far we’ve come and how many hands helped us get here. And we’ll bring the celebration to a high point April 30–May 2, 2027, when our Western family comes together for a milestone event decades in the making.
To learn more about the celebration and explore our 50‑year journey, check out the link below
https://oilers.findlay.edu/pages/other-events/western-equestrian-50-anniversary

Address

14700 State Route 68
Findlay, OH
45840

Telephone

+14194344656

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