“Most people who rodeo have been doing it since they were young and have been on horses all of their lives. I’ve only been doing it for four years,” said Ryan Whetham, sophomore. “At first knowing that information was intimidating, now it helps to motivate me.”

Whetham came to Pratt Community College on a rodeo scholarship to team rope and steer wrestle. Last year he received an Associate of Applied Science in Farrier Science, which is a one year horse shoeing school and this year he is pursuing a degree in Ag Business.

Doubling in size from this year to last, Pratt Community College’s farrier science program had 10 students receive certificates of competition in the program, and also become certified on the national level.

PCC’s Farrier Science program works through the Brotherhood of Working Farriers Association to certify students.
While becoming certified, students take classes to learn to shoe their own horses, equine classes to learn more about horses and business classes so they can run their own business.