Facilities and Boarding

The Nancy G. Held Equestrian Center spans 340 acres and is the only on-campus equestrian center at a private college in Michigan. In fact, it’s one of the few in the Midwest!

The Held Center offers student horse boarding and has capacity for 78 horses.

Boarding

Boarding fees are as follows:

  • $675 per month for students
  • $700 per month for community members – CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE

The cost of board includes:

  • 12′ x 12′ matted stall
  • Daily mucking out/bedding down
  • Twice-daily feedings
  • Free choice of hay
  • Daily turn-out/turn-in (weather permitting)
  • Scheduling of routine veterinary and farrier visits
  • Blanketing and leg protection (as required)
  • Administration of medications and supplements

We are proud to partner with Tribute Equine Nutrition for all of our horse’s dietary needs and to utilize Countryside Veterinary Service for their health and welfare. The veterinarians at Countryside are also highly supportive of our pre-veterinary students from the Wilson Institute, offering the opportunity for close-up observation during their visits to the Held Center, ride alongs with vets from the practice, and twice yearly lectures on important topics for pre-veterinary students.

Other Amenities

Also available to students at the Held Equestrian Center:

  • WiFi throughout the lounge and stable areas
  • An industrial washer and dryer for horse laundry
  • A locker room for housing riding attire
  • Storage space for tack trunks, blankets, and other large/seasonal items

Welcome Center

Shot of a room with couches and chairs. Trophies and ribbons are on display on the left wall.The Nancy G. Held Equestrian Center offers students not only a quality riding environment, but also comfortable viewing area that offers windows overlooking the indoor and outdoor arenas, furniture for study, coffee and vending machines, and copies of the latest riding magazines. The lounge is also home team seating for home shows.

Classroom

Students sitting in chairs and on the floor facing the front of a room, where a teacher is giving a PowerPoint presentation.The Held Equestrian Center creates a learning environment that exists beyond the traditionally defined classroom. Pre-veterinary students, in particular, benefit from regular interactions with our vets, Dr. Davis and Dr. Quinter in this space during their lectures. Team and organizational meetings are also hosted here.

Barns

Photo of outside barn wall.The barns boast 12′ x 12′ stalls, rubber floor matting, an automatic watering system, automatic fly systems and separate bays for washing, veterinary care, and shoeing, ample locker room space, showers and restrooms, a washer and dryer, and heated tack rooms.

Arenas

IMG 0497Two arenas currently serve the Held Equestrian Center: the 125′ x 410′ Randi C. Heathman Indoor Arena with two heated viewing areas, and a 100′ x 200′ outdoor all-weather sand arena.

Paddocks and Pastures

IMG 0498 1 600x300The Held Equestrian Center is situated on 340 acres of lush countryside on the southernmost edge of the Albion College campus. The grounds feature 38 grass and all-weather paddocks for turnout and manicured trails for students to ride on. Each horse’s individual paddock spans a half an acre.

School Horses

Photograph of a brown horse with a white stripe down its nose.We are grateful to our donors for the wonderful school horses who make their home at the Held Equestrian Center. Over 40 horses, ranging from Quarter Horse reiners to warmblood jumpers and dressage horses, make up the backbone of the lesson program and the varsity equestrian team.