Michael Dowling, an assistant professor of equine studies at Centenary University, opened a horse farm in Essex Hunt country that will be accessible to Centenary students who seek to broaden their experience in the industry, the college announced this week.

The Far Hills facility offers an equine training program and state-of-the-art systems for horses and riders.

Raised in northwestern New Jersey, Dowling grew up around horses and opened his first equine business at age 23 after earning his undergraduate degree from Fairfield University and studying at the University of Lancaster in England. While developing a client base, he trained and showed horses along the east coast for almost a decade. He joined the Centenary faculty 20 years ago. Dowling operated a former business, Windham Hill LLC, for 30 years, with several partners. He is also co-owner of Monmouth at the Team, the longest continuously running horse show in the US. This year’s event was held at the Centenary University Equestrian Center on Schooley’s Mountain in August.

Dowling spends his time teaching and coaching at Centenary, as well as coaching clients at The Hill and in Florida on weekends. At Centenary, he is the co-coach of the University’s Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association team, which has won three national championship and one reserve champion titles, and has produced three Cacchione Cup champions.

Dowling has employed many students and alumni at his farms. More than 20 Centenary students have also interned at Dowling’s barns in New Jersey and Florida.

Program diversity is key to the success of Centenary’s equine studies program, according to Dowling: “The equine studies faculty is diverse and very active in the professional community,” he said, noting that faculty members include an equine veterinarian, trainers, licensed officials such as judges and stewards, a lawyer, a grief counselor, and certified therapeutic instructors. “This diversity allows us to network and puts us out in the thick of the horse world. I have people reaching out almost on a daily basis, looking for students to work in various facets of the industry.”