Rutgers Equine Science Center’s Equine Science 4 Kids!

A note from Karyn Malinowski, Ph.D., Director, Equine Science Center at Rutgers

One of the recent results of our efforts is the launch of the Rutgers Equine Science Center’s Equine Science 4 Kids!, a redesigned, interactive youth component now available on the center’s website, esc.rutgers.edu. The component features Lord Nelson, a 37-year old American Quarter horse, who served for 22 years on the campus mounted patrol, as the figurehead guiding youth through the revamped educational component.

The goal was to create an online classroom with Lord Nelson as the lead educator. Although the updated component features interactive elements and will include games, the primary focus is equine science specifically developed for youth ages 10-14 years. The youth component focuses on three modules: Healthcare and Nutrition, Exercise Physiology, and Horses & the Environment.

Visitors to Equine Science 4 Kids! have the opportunity to email their horse-related questions directly to “Lord Nelson”. All questions are answered in a timely manner. If Lord Nelson receives the same question repeatedly, the question will be added to the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) feature that is available in each of the three modules.

Keeping current with technology, Lord Nelson also has a blog, “Holy Hoofprints!,” to share his thoughts and perspective with Equine Science 4 Kids visitors. His blog consists of “a day in the life of a horse” as it relates to science content. Visitors may also join Lord Nelson’s Fan Club to receive email notification of new content, blog entries, and interactive games as they are added to the youth component.