Jacquelynne Lau Animal Science Student Spotlight

Graduating Fresno State senior Jacquelynne Lau has an especially deep love for horses by self-supporting this interest financially since she was nine years old.

Now more than a decade later, the Escalon native has gained additional experience with our Fresno State Equine Program as a volunteer assistant and later its head exercise rider.

Learn how after graduation she can utilize the knowledge gleaned from our faculty, staff and farm unit as a stable manager at the Shady Lawn Ranch (the same place where she started riding) at: https://bit.ly/FS23-jackie-lau

 

Q: Why did you choose to attend Fresno State, and how did you pick your major?

“I chose Fresno State because of the affordability for a higher education and for the agricultural programs and opportunities offered, specifically the Fresno State Equine Program. I chose my major because I have a great interest in working in the equine industry. Ever since I was young, I have always had a strong devotion for horses, and I am dedicated to working with these animals as a career.”

 

Q: Which classes & faculty members have had the biggest influence on you while at Fresno State and why?

“The most impactful classes that I have taken would be ‘Infectious Diseases of Domestic Animals’ and ‘Anatomy and Physiology of Farm Animals’ with Dr. Gayle O'Bannon. These classes were my personal favorites because I got to learn the most fascinating information that I am eager to take with me after graduating from Fresno State. In addition, Jason Contreras, Dr. Fabio Iared, and  Dr. Alyx Iared were equally as influential to my time spent at Fresno State. I learned so much from each teacher and I am greatly appreciative of their time and share of expertise. All are outstanding professors that truly care for the success of their students. They have great knowledge that is unmatched and learning from them was a wonderful experience in itself.”

 

Q: Talk about which campus farm units you have worked at, when you started, types of responsibilities, and skills you have learned that you can apply to your career.

“I was most involved with the Quarter Horse Unit (QHU) and became a volunteer in February 2022 quickly after hearing about the volunteering opportunities offered when I was in the advanced colt training class. After about a semester of volunteering, I was lucky to be offered a student assistant position as the Head Exercise Rider. I started this position in August of 2022 and greatly expanded my skills and gained a lot of hands-on experience in unfamiliar areas. As Head Exercise Rider, I was fully responsible for primarily the training and exercise of the horses while also caring for the horses’ overall well being. I also donated a lot of my time teaching others how to ride and handle the foals too because I wanted to provide more opportunities and my help to my peers through my knowledge. What I learned the most while being the head exercise rider was from the handling and training of foals born at the QHU. Before attending Fresno State, I had rarely been around foals, and now I am happy to have been able to work so closely with the QHU foals as they grow and mature. Although there is a lot of work entailed, having this position I know will directly contribute to my career goals and success. I am thankful for the experience I gained and I am eager to apply in my future.”

 

Q: What was your background in agriculture before you started at Fresno State?

““Although I came from a small, agricultural town, I was not very involved in agriculture until I started riding and began studying animal science. My family was somewhat a part of the ag industry since my grandparents were field workers but slowly faded out of the agriculture industry when my grandparents started their local business, Lopez Imports. However, I did receive my first job at 15 as a ranch hand and continued until I transferred to Fresno State.”

 

Q: Have you overcome any challenges to get where you are today that have shaped who you are?

“Unlike many others, my family has no equine background so it was difficult to progress my passion for horses. I first got involved by taking lessons at Shady Lawn Ranch in Oakdale, CA when I was nine years old. I instantly fell in love with riding horses, but it was a challenge to afford continual riding lessons. My parents were supportive (and a little scared) of my new found hobby, but they could not afford my lessons. The only way I could continue my new found passion was to pay for my lessons myself. Ever since then, I have always worked as hard as I could just to be able to have a weekly lesson. I would work with my mom at my grandparents’ local business, Lopez Imports, and I saved every dollar from birthdays and Christmas. My dedication never grew tired of this struggle to stay involved with horses and instead only grew stronger alongside with my desire to continue learning. The many years of hard work were long, but was all worthwhile especially when I was able to buy my very first horse all on my own two years ago. It is still a daily challenge to keep myself involved and expand my knowledge and exposure to horses but, the hard work involved is also a part of the journey. I am proud of how far I have come and can’t wait to see how far I will go.”

 

Q: What's your potential next career step(s), and what field and / or company would you like to work for after graduation?

“After graduation, I will be the first stable manager for Shady Lawn Ranch in Oakdale, CA. Later in life, I see myself receiving a Masters and hope to receive that degree from the University of Edinburgh so I can become a college professor teaching equine science. Until then, I am excited to work again from where it all began for me and aspire to make a difference as the new Shady Lawn Ranch stable manager.”