American Collegiate Horsemen’s Association (ACHA) unites collegiate horsemen of all levels and disciplines through the promotion of leadership, education, service and national affiliations. ACHA hosts a national convention each year to bring student and chapter members together to learn more about the horse industry and develop their leadership skills through tours, panel discussions and other networking opportunities. The organization also recognizes outstanding chapters and students through annual awards.
ACHA welcomes students from any four-year or two-year equine programs in the country. If you would like more information about the organization, the benefits of membership or how to start a local chapter, visit our Membership page for more information.
Our last career highlight is Mixed Animal Veterinarian! WVU interviewed Michael Miller, a recent veterinary school grad and new addition to the teaching staff at WVU!
What does you career entail?
"As a mixed animal veterinarian that cares for many equine patients, I see them for a wide range of needs. From performing annual wellness appointments with vaccines and dental floating to lameness exams. I also have appointments for sick horses. Each spring we have multiple mares and foals hospitalized for various reasons along with adult horses."
What's the average salary for your career?
"Between $86,700- $168,800."
What is the required education?
"Typically, this is completed with 4 years of undergraduate study and 4 years of vet school. My undergraduate degree was completed in 3 years and my vet school was an accelerated program, so it was 3 years and nine months. Continuing education is required each year. Each state requires a certain amount of CE."
How did you get into veterinary medicine?
"I gained an interest in veterinary medicine while working on my grandparents’ dairy farm that bordered my family farm. I always enjoyed the animal care aspect and combined this with my interest in biology and anatomy."
What's your favorite part of your career?
"My favorite part of being a veterinarian is managing complicated cases. They require me to put all the pieces together and apply the knowledge I gained from vet school in order to help my patients. I also enjoy being on the truck for farm calls and observing the various equine operations in the area."
What's the hardest part of you career?
"The hardest part of being a veterinarian is owners blaming us for how expensive veterinary care is. We have some control but the economy is mostly what controls it. The public hears our salaries and thinks we are well compensated. What they don’t know is, the average debt a new graduate veterinarian has after graduation is between $200,000- $500,000. I find that being honest with owners about my debt load helps them understand."
Thank you, Michael, for your time!
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Dr. Miller is the best! We are so lucky to have him teaching class are proud to call him an alumni 🌟
Next up for our career highlight is Assistant Professor. UM-Crookston decided to interview their very own Morgan Pyles and get the scoop on the career!
What does your career entail?
"I am an assistant professor with research being a big part of my job. My background is in nutrition but I've done a little bit of everything, like exercise physiology, nutrition, and many other things. Advising and service is another part of my job."
What is the average salary in your career?
"Assistant professor salary ranges, at a school like U of M Crookston, would be somewhere between $65,000-$75,000."
How do you further your education after receiving a degree?
"Conferences like the Equine Science Society Symposium and National Association of Equine Affiliated Academics are a big thing that I do for continuing education. That's how I like to stay up to date with what I teach in my classes and different tools and tricks and stuff that I use for classes."
How did you get into teaching?
"I went to community college in Wyoming and did my associate's degree in horse management and I was able to get credentials in training techniques and riding
instruction. After this I wanted to pursue my bachelors degree so I looked at a few schools. I went to Kentucky and was a TA for one or two classes and really liked the teaching and I knew I wanted to get a graduate level degree."
What's your favorite part of the job?
"I would say my favorite part is mentoring students and undergrad research."
What's the biggest challenge you have overcome?
"Definitely the high teaching load and expectations and having enough time to do
everything."
Is Nutrition in Northern Minnesota handled differently or hard to manage in horses from what you were taught in school?
"Yes, well, I'll tell you it's a bit backwards from what I always thought and what I
learned in grad school and undergrad. Up here, I would say Winters are actually
relatively easy to manage and summers can be a little bit more challenging because of the issue we have with flies, mosquitoes and all the other bugs that we have up here. They can really stress some animals, that's where we have issues."
Thank you for your time, Morgan!
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Convention is in 2 days and we'd like to give a huge thank you to all of our 2026 sponsors! We could not do this without you!
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Thinking about becoming a national officer? Officer nomination forms are due at 11:59 on March 25th. If anyone would like to speak in-person with an officer before applying, please find us at the welcome reception!
Apply in the link in our bio! Don't forget to upload your unofficial transcript when applying.
#achaconvention #rideiea #collegiateclub #ProfessionalDevelopment #nationalofficer #runforoffice #equestrian #americancollegiatehorsemensassociation #ACHA #futureofequine #collegiatehorsemens #horse #aqha #rideisha #futureofhorsemanship #horsemens #achaconvention #collegeequestrian #equine #convention2026
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Convention is in one week! Don't forget to get those scrapbooks done so they can be turned in at check-in!
#collegeequestrain #horses #futureofhorsemenship #americancollegiatehorsemensassociation #futureofequine #collegeequestrian #equine #ACHA #rideisha #equestrain #horsemens #collegiatehorsemens #aqha #equestrian #collegiateclub #rideiea #achaconvention #scrapbookcompetiton #scrapbooking
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Our last alum is Rebecca Thompson West! She was a member of WVU's chapter and served both WVU's and ACHA's treasurer. Rebecca is currently the Office Manager & Lesson Assistant Coordinator at Meadowbrook Stables in Chevy Chase, Maryland.
When inquired about how CHA has impacted her after graduation, Rebecca responded, "Collegiate Horsemen's Association impacted me by expanding my worldview of the horse industry! By attending events with both WVU's CHA meetings, and ACHA National Convention, I have made invaluable industry connections. By building this network, it led me to my current job here in Maryland. I have even built upon my connections by attending the MD Horse Forum and a US and European veterinary horse health symposium during the Washington International Horse Show!"
Thank you for sharing your journey with us, Rebecca!
#equestrian #americancollegiatehorsemensassociation #ACHA #equestrain #futureofequine #collegiatehorsemens #horses #aqha #rideisha #collegiateclub #futureofhorsemenship #horsemens #collegeequestrian #rideiea #collegeequestrain #equine #achaalum #alumni
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