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Sarah Ralston

Sarah L. Ralston works as an associate professor at the School of Environmental and Biological Science Equine Science Center at Rutgers University. She has made her life's passion her profession. She is currently teaching a variety of courses at Rutgers University. Some course that Sarah teaches are; Horse Management, Equine Nutrition, Horse Practicum, Animal Science, Companion Animal Science, Cooperative Education, and Animal Fitting and Handling. Her previous experience include Assistant Professor at the Department of Clinical Sciences at the School of Veterinary Medicine at Colorado State University in 1983.

Education She has a variety of degrees which include; a Board Certification from the American College of Veterinary Nutrition in 1989, a bachelor degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1969, a master's from Colorado State University in Fort Collins in 1975, a VMD from the School of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Pennsylvania in 1976, and finally a Ph.D from the University of Pennsylvania in 1977.

Research One of the many research endeavors that Sarah is currently involved in is equine nutrition research that concentrates on glucose/insulin metabolism and growth seen in horses. She is analyzing the metabolic changes associated with high versus low carbohydrates while also comparing a high fiber total mixed rations with a traditional grain and hay diets in young horses.

Interest Sarah's main area of focus is horses. Her work ranges from many areas of discussion in horse health. She had studied the effects of diet on glucose and insulin metabolism in horses. Sarah is also wildly interested in horse nutrition. Her interested are manifested in her work, she has studies the nutritional management of stress induced immune dysfunction in horses.

Rutgers University Teaching Herd: Fostering Horses for Teaching and Extension (RUTH): Sarah Ralston was heavily involved with launching a new fostering program at Rutgers for rescue horses in 2015. The Department of Animal Sciences came up with the idea for the program with the aim to foster horses from specifically equine rescue/placement programs. The opportunity will allow the faculty of the department’s Equine Teaching Program to broaden student’s experience by having hands-on opportunities for learning as well as service.

Fun Facts

-Born in Elyria, Ohio

-Her father was an automotive engineer, and her mother was a homemaker

-Moved to San Paulo, Brazil and that became her home for 7 years.

-Favorite animals: horses and ponies

-Bought a horse for $100, named him Black Satin. Took riding lessons and competed in the Grand Prix with him

-Wanted to become a veterinarian to help save ponies

-Was told, “You can never be a veterinarian-only men can be vets”, but still remained persistent until she accomplished her goals.

-Moved back to the USA and applied to University of Pennsylvania to study veterinary medicine

-Worked summers on Arabian horse breeding farms in Iowa and Connecticut. Also later worked as a lab technician

-Studied animal behavior and then applied to veterinary school but failed 3 applications

-Went to the Colorado State University to study animal social behavior in the Department of Zoology and Natural Resources

-Applied for another time to the veterinary program at University of Pennsylvania and the Veterinary Medical Scientist Training Program. Got into both and chose the latter to continue studying equine behavior.

-did PhD in the Department of Anatomy on factors controlling feed intake in ponies

-Also studied Nutrition

-Applied to Department of Animal Science at Rutgers because it was looking for a equine veterinary nutritionist

-Happily married