An Olds College equine (horse) sciences/training program is expected to move back to the college this week after having been relocated to the Olds Regional Exhibition facilities.
Western riding instructor Cheryl Mitchell says the move was necessary because renovations to the college's Brawn Family (South) Riding Arena – including installation of a new heating and ventilation system -- took longer than anticipated so maintenance of the floor was delayed.
“Then, when we began work on the riding surface, that work ended up being a little more complex than we anticipated as well so we are just getting to the point where we're completing it now, but it's a month into classes,” Mitchell says.
As a result, for about a month, classes were moved to the Olds Regional Exhibition's Kiwanis Barn and MegaDome. About 20 horses were housed there as well.
Mitchell is grateful for the assistance of the Olds Regional Exhibition and its willingness to work with the college to make the relocation happen. College officials say students and horses were “settled into their temporary home” within a day-and-a half.
“Co-operation among all involved led to a quick and relatively painless move,” a college news release says.
Mitchell says the relocation did create a few minor difficulties.
“It's an inconvenience for the students – especially for the ones who live on campus – to have to travel back and forth. But Olds College has been really good in that situation. They've provided vehicles to make that a little easier,” she says.
There were differences in the arenas too.
“One of their arenas is smaller but heated, and the other one is really large, but not heated, so there have been trade-offs going on,” she says. According to Mitchell, the Olds college arena utilized for her classes is “a good size” and heated.
The move has been a bit stressful for the horses, but there's a silver lining in that. Mitchell says it's been a great learning opportunity for the students.
“There's always that situation with horses, so you have to manage things properly. But if you manage things properly it's also a good experience for the horses to have to learn about a different environment,” she says. “I did explain to the students it's a learning opportunity for them as well to learn how to settle horses into a new environment.”
“The ag society has just been wonderful over there, to be honest with you,” Mitchell says. “I thoroughly enjoyed my time there, and I know my students feel the same way. ”
Representatives of the Olds Regional Exhibition could not be reached for comment.
