“Being able to go study abroad means a lot to me. Not only am I able to travel, but I am able to learn about the places I travel to and how my interests are represented over there! I feel that I have gained so much valuable knowledge on equines in Europe, and know that it will greatly help preparing me for the Facilitated Early Entrance Program for Animal Science Students (FEEPASS) program, which I hope to apply for,” said Charlotte Villao, an animal sciences major who participated in the European Equestrian Studies program over spring break in Ireland.
Students on this program travel across the country and explored the major cities of Galway, Limerick, Cork, Kilkenny and Dublin along with various stud farms that provide hands-on learning opportunities.
“This experience will be helpful in my future in so many ways for me. I have learned about how equine hospitals function and what protocols they follow over in Ireland. I had tons of opportunities to see stud farms and the processes they follow in order to correctly breed certain breeds of horses,” said Villao.
There was also plenty of time for sightseeing, such as the Cliffs of Moher, kissing the Blarney Stone on St. Patrick’s Day and a medieval dinner at Bunratty Castle among other attractions.
“With this, I have learned that I do feel that confidence of traveling abroad. I was able to trust myself to get where I needed to be and navigate cities that are foreign to me.”