Animal Science Facilities and Livestock Farm

Through this mutually beneficial partnership, you will have the opportunity to provide product information to local crop producers and develop quality publications to provide recognition to participating scientists. The new Northeast Texas Agricultural Research Facility and 163-acre Blackland farm is a dynamic hub for agricultural research, teaching, economic development and knowledge transfer initiatives in the fields of agronomy and horticulture. CCRI will be strengthened with continued collaboration among all entities by providing a connection between teaching, extension and research.

Preview of concept 3d map.

Mary Bonham Equine Pavilion

The Mary Bonham Equine Pavilion at A&M-Commerce was completed in November 2012. This equine pavilion has a 110′ X 180′ covered riding arena, 20 stalls for student boarding, 2 wash racks, and 2 tack rooms each with 10 student tack lockers. The Equine Center also has a smaller outdoor riding arena that is used for obstacles and groundwork and a larger outdoor riding arena. The Equine Center has a working barn on property with 8 stalls, 8 tack lockers, and a wash rack. The Equine Center also houses a show barn with 7 stalls, a wash rack, and 2 stocks. This barn is also home to the Equine Center classroom.

By studying or working at the University's Equine Center under supervision of faculty and staff, students improve their skills and understanding of horses. Also, students learn how the University Farm acreage is managed, e.g., production of horse-quality hay and the responsible use of natural resources.

Student holding horse outside Mary Bonham Equine Pavilion
Equine Students

Grow Your Passion!

Horse owners are a very passionate sector of the agricultural community, and high expectations are placed upon university equine programs. Under the existing curriculum, a student has the option to either pursue a B.S. in Equine Studies or Minor in Equine Science. The primary mission of our Equine Studies Program is to provide students with an opportunity to expand their knowledge of horse care and health, management, and business related matters, exposing students to innovative research and critical thinking skills by introducing the scientific principles for equine nutrition, behavior, physiology and reproduction. Equine Studies Majors will take support courses in chemistry, plant science, pasture and forage crops, agricultural economics, farm management, natural resources management, agriculture marketing, finance and law.

Supported Courses

EQUINE CENTER

The equine industry is a critical component of northeast Texas agriculture. Although much of the land in this region is used for cattle and hay production, a wide range of individuals in northeast Texas raise horses, reflecting a diverse spectrum of the equine industry – pleasure/leisure, racing, breeding and training. The Equine Studies Program in the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources at Texas A&M University-Commerce is committed to contributing to equine education in northeast Texas. We provide students a solid scientific foundation and foster applied skills to develop successful professionals in the equine industry.

Internships

At A&M-Commerce, we focus on hands-on learning, so students complete an internship as part of the Equine Studies experience, and our Stock Horse Team provides opportunities to compete and network within the industry. Our graduates pursue careers as stable managers, horse trainers, riding instructors, equine-assisted therapists or horse breeders. Students interested in graduate school may work towards a Master of Science in Agricultural Sciences with an equine emphasis. For more information, please contact Chloe Horn, Equine Supervisor.

A&M-Commerce has a string of lesson horses. Prospective students have the opportunity to board their horses at the Equine Center.

equine students with their horses.

Broodmares

Texas A&M-Commerce has a small group of broodmares. Our equine center is the home of quarter horse mares who have cutting, reining, and/or hunter-jumper horse bloodlines. Every spring, new foals are born and the students have opportunities through offered courses to get hands-on experience raising and halter breaking. The foals are then sold after weaning.

EQUINE CENTER SERVICES

Stall Boarding

28 stalls and 7 shelter pens available

  • Self-Care Equestrian/Rodeo Members $225/month*
  • Self-Care Students $260/month*
  • Self-Care Faculty/Staff $295/month*
  • 3/4 Care $445/month*
  • Full Care $595/month*

*prices are subject to change.

Self-Care

This includes the stall to put your horse in and access to all of the equine facilities. This also includes a personal locker in the tack room which has a saddle rack, blanket bar, and shelves for storage of other items. The owner must provide their own feed, hay, and shavings. The owner is responsible for the feeding of their own horse and cleaning of their own stall.

3/4 Care

This includes the stall to put your horse in and access to all of the equine facilities. This also includes a personal locker in the tack room which has a saddle rack, blanket bar, and shelves for storage of other items. The owner must provide their own feed, hay, and shavings. Equine Center student worker will feed the horse twice daily, clean the stall, and turn the horse out for exercise daily.

Full Care

This includes the stall to put your horse in and access to all of the equine facilities. This also includes a personal locker in the tack room which has a saddle rack, blanket bar, and shelves for storage of other items. The Equine Center provides food, hay, and shavings, and will feed the horse twice daily, clean the stall, and turn the horse out for exercise daily. The owner must only provide supplements and/or specialty feeds.

Horses For Sale

All foals bred at Texas A&M University-Commerce are sold after weaning every year. For information on upcoming availability, email Chloe Horn.

Contact for equine center

Row-Crop Research Farm

The Row-Crop Research Farm is located approximately five miles north of campus in the small community of Fairlie, TX. The Farm is leased by Cereal Crops Research, Inc. for use by the School of Agriculture as well as Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and Texas A&M AgriLife Research. The farm's major uses are education and research.

Education is provided through one of the department's courses, PLS 420 – Crop Production Practicum. This course provides the student the unique opportunity to plant, manage and harvest a 10-acre wheat or cotton crop. The student learns how to operate farm equipment and machinery, as well as all steps involved in managing a crop. This experience is invaluable because many of the students that enroll in the course are from a non-farm background. Students completing this course are often sought after by agricultural industry employers. Cereal Crops Research, Inc. funds the student's input and absorbs any financial loss.

Through research, the farm serves the interests of regional farmers and agricultural industry. Data collected from trials on fertilizers, pesticides, and varieties are passed on to the farmers. The results guide farmers as to which products will perform best in this part of the state. This program saves farmers in Northeast Texas time, money, and effort since they can rely on student research and results, rather than testing individual products on their own farms.

Researchers and Faculty

Vegetable Research Center

At our Vegetable Research Center, we conduct research of various types, including variety trials, fertilization techniques, minimum-input trials, and evaluation of various methods of disease and pest control. Harvested vegetables are available either as fresh produce or canned vegetables and salsas, when available, through the university blueberry farm.

Contact CASNR

Contact Us

  • P.O. Box 3011
  • Commerce, TX 75429-3011
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