What you'll study
Central to this degree is the training, performance and rehabilitation of the equine athlete. You'll develop practical skills in ground schooling, performance analysis and therapeutic equipment.
Equine anatomy, physiology, veterinary science and nutrition will be core themes in your learning. You’ll examine how these underpin performance and success, as well as the impact of injury and disease on both short-term and long-term performance.
You’ll benefit from world-class facilities, gaining experience in our commercial Equine Therapy Centre and working alongside multi-disciplinary teams of veterinarians, physiotherapists, osteopaths and saddlers.
A work placement during your studies alongside a compulsory integrated placement year means you'll gain valuable industry experience. Students have recently undertaken work placements in veterinary care, rehoming centres and at our state-of-the-art Equine Therapy Centre, as well as at rehabilitation facilities in the UK, USA and Hong Kong, specialising in the retraining of racehorses.
You’ll be exposed to, and be a part of, the latest research in equine performance analysis and rehabilitation, placing you at the forefront of emerging scientific knowledge. Draw on your own experience and interests to develop your own research question, which you’ll explore through your applied research project in your final year. Advance your research skills and delve deeper into the areas you’re passionate about.
Course modules
This course is comprised of both compulsory and optional modules, which you'll be able to choose from to suit your interests and career goals.
Optional modules change each year in line with student, industry and research demands - you'll find recent topics studied below. You can attend introductory sessions for optional modules before deciding which ones to study.
Module credits
On successful completion of your modules you’ll gain academic credit that accumulates towards your award. The marks you gain in your second and third years may contribute towards your final degree classification.
Placement year - compulsory (year four)
An integrated placement year before your final year gives you further opportunity to put your knowledge and skills into practice and gain valuable industry experience. This could take place in the UK or abroad.
Level six (year five)
Compulsory Modules
Undergraduate Dissertation
Carry out independent research and analysis in a related area of your choice.
Analysis of Equine Performance
Explore performance analysis within training and the role of musculoskeletal function in locomotor and competition performance.
Equine Rehabilitation in Practice
Develop practical assistant skills alongside your knowledge and understanding of functional anatomy to evaluate performance and therapeutic training regimes. Develop self-awareness alongside professional practical competency.
Optional Modules
Equine Ethics and Welfare
Students will build their knowledge of ethical philosophy and key equine welfare contributors/research to enable discussion of contemporary industry issues.
Equine Nutrition for Performance
Evolution of feeding strategies to support athletic performance in the horse, whilst maintaining good health.
Sales, Negotiation and Customer Service
Gain strategies and techniques to develop communications skills in order to influence, sell and negotiate within the equine industry.
Undergraduate Independent Study
A chance to critically review an approved topic of your choice linked to the programme aims.
Applied Equine Biomechanics
The Applied Equine Biomechanics module utilises the University’s Rider Performance Centre and biomechanical analysis resources to support students in applying and implementing biomechanical principles and theoretical concepts to practical research and industry scenarios.
