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horse grazing in pasture on a foggy morning

Clemson University Equine Center

What We Do

Our greatest priority is our students. The Clemson University Equine Center caters to the needs of students through various means including:

  • Animal and Veterinary Science classes and labs
  • The Clemson Equine-Assisted Therapy (CLEAT) Program
  • Two IHSA equestrian teams
  • Student employment
  • Graduate research opportunities
  • Boarding

We also take seriously our responsibility to our community. Current outreach programs include:

  • Educational seminars and other continued learning opportunities
  • Applied research on industry-relevant topics
  • Private sales of young horses
  • Summer riding camps for high school students
girls with horses in stalls

Vision

The goal of the Clemson University Equine Center is to be a student-centered, self-sustaining enterprise that serves as a leader in the South Carolina horse industry.

History

The facility that is now the Equine Center began as the Clemson sheep unit. In the mid-1970s, under the direction of Mr. Butch Kennedy, the farm housed both ovine and equine species, however, in approximately 2000, the CUEC became dedicated to horses alone. In 2009 it came under the management of the Animal and Veterinary Sciences department. The Equine Center has a strong tradition in producing stock horses but has also engaged in breeding both Arabians and Thoroughbreds for research and sales. 2021 marked our 45th consecutive year of producing American Quarter Horses, and the Center now produces top-quality hunter and sport horses as well as western performance and reining prospects. In total, the CUEC maintains a herd of approximately 50 horses for teaching, breeding, outreach, and research purposes. These horses represent a variety of breeds including Quarter Horses, Paints, Thoroughbreds, and Warmbloods.

female riding a horse in the early morning as the sun rises
group of people on a tour of the equine center

Tours

Join us for a tour of the Clemson University Equine Center! Tours are offered Monday through Friday at 3 pm or by appointment. General tours are aimed specifically at prospective students, but please feel free to contact us if you have a special area of interest.

Request a Tour

Facilities

The Clemson University Equine Center is located on 85 acres of rolling pasture land adjacent to the T. Ed Garrison Arena and only 10 minutes from the main Clemson University Campus. This teaching and research center is home to approximately 50 horses, mostly Quarter Horses, Paints, Thoroughbreds, Warmbloods and crosses.

Learn More about Facilities
a cute brown foal laying in the grass on a sunny day
bay horse and rider sailing over an oxer jump with a green field in the background

Open House

Meet the horses, students, and staff who make our equine program so special! Open House offers a day full of activities and fun for the whole family. Industry professionals present educational talks and Q&A sessions on topics relevant to riding and performance horses, while riding exhibitions by the Clemson Equestrian Team and Clemson Equine-Assisted Therapy (CLEAT) riders are scheduled throughout the day. Farm tours highlight our facilities, and the children's pony rides are always a family favorite. This event is held each year in April.

Clemson University Equine Center
Clemson University Equine Center | 815 West Queen St.