Equestrian Educational Center Groundbreaking

PKG for 2002-06-28 - RUNS 1:42

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New Mexico State University's only national team titles have been won by the equestrian and rodeo teams. A new 3,885-square foot facility may help give equine students even more of an edge at national competitions. Anna María Pérez-Wright reports.

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	New Mexico State University broke ground for an equestrian educational center that will house classrooms as well as facilities for the nationally known equestrian team. Instructor and equestrian team coach Deborah Rosencrans says students have been wishing for a facility like this for years.
Insert title at :18-:23 Deborah Rosencrans couch NMSU Equestrian Team	"We have had the national champion western team two years, reserve national champion team another year, so the program has already accomplished a lot. But getting a facility like this with the classroom, having restrooms, locker rooms, will just enhance the program that much more."
	NMSU offers a 22 credit-hour minor in horse management, but even beginners can earn physical education credit through an equine class. Exchange student Laura Smith graduated with an English degree in May. She enjoyed equitation classes so much, she decided to stay at NMSU for graduate school.
Insert title at :39-:44 Laura Smith NMSU Range Science Graduate Student	"I'm from Pennsylvania. I didn't start off in the ag college but I truly love horses and there's a lot of non-ag people that like to ride and this is a way to get them into the college and get involved."
	To bring more students and events to campus, supporters are backing plans for the project's second phase-a 1,000 seat, totally enclosed arena. Megan Duff rides with the equestrian team and says the lack of locker rooms and tack space has made it difficult to host national invitational events on campus.
Insert title at 1:10-1:15 Megan Duff NMSU Equestrian Team	"It's hard when you have girls because they have to put on makeup, changing–everything like that. We just don't have quite the facility to accommodate that. We have to bring in a lot of extra trailers and changing areas for the women and I think this thing will help us be able to have more competitions here."
	For N-M-S-U's College of Agriculture and Home Economics, I'm Anna María Pérez-Wright.