*Advice Needed* Bringing horse(s) to university?

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James98

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It's almost that time when I have to complete my personal statement, choose which course I want to go on and pick five universities to apply for through UCAS. I'm from Northern Ireland and I'm seriously considering moving to Scotland or the north of England. Top picks currently are Edinburgh, Edinburgh Napier, Glasgow and Lancaster.

I have two horses here in NI and obviously have to consider them too! One is retired through injury and the other is doing low level showing and eventing. Has anyone got any experience of taking their horse to uni? Really don't want to sell up because I'm worried if I did, it would be years before I was in a position to get another horse.

I'm weighing up leaving them at home - possibly loaning out (trying to avoid this though!) against finding a livery yard nearby the uni. Do you think this could be a possibility... time-wise etc?

Oh and does anyone have any ideas on transport from NI to Scotland? I would probably have to pay a professional to take them over on the boat for me. Seems quite nerve-racking!!
 
All the yards in Edinburgh are hard to get to without a car, there are a few on bus routes and then a short walk though. I would concentrate on studying if I were you, Edinburgh Uni has a very active equestrian club though, or at least they did when I was there.

If you are doing a course where your holidays don't require field trips, or you don't have to work holidays to support your study, then I would go home at holidays and enjoy your horses there. Edinburgh has exams before Christmas so your Christmas holidays are always free, unlike other uni's that seem to have exams in January. And it depends a lot on when you summer exams finish as to how long your summer holidays will be. If you are doing vet med or medicine you will have a completely different timetable to the rest of the university ( I am not entirely sure how this works).

When you think about how long the holidays are, will you be spending the whole year where you study? I wouldn't take them in first year and see how you get on, you can always take them afterwards.

I am not sure what your current set up is so am unable to try and suggest alternatives to loaning if you did leave them in Ireland.
 
As a parent and a University member of staff I would advise leave the horses at home, go and enjoy the whole uni experience. What will you do with them in the holidays? You may end up having to pay livery in 2 places to keep your stables for term and holidays and also pay to transport them. I know you don't want to sell and I guess the retired horse wouldn't come into this category but remember you will have at least 3 yrs at uni and then will be on the hunt for a job so in reality keeping a horse through this time could be difficult anyway.
Agree with a previous poster, keep them at home for the first year and see how it pans out.
 
I'm in Lancaster and even though I didn't go to uni I made friends who came up here to go to the Lancaster uni, lancaster is small and there is actually a couple of yards right near the university, most of my friends brought there horses up and loved it. some of them was on DIY livery and some on full, it all depends on your situation and where you go as I can't speak for anywhere else lol, you could also think of bringing your horses but loaning them out when you move?
 
Personal perspective: if you're minded to take them, take them. I left mine behind for my first year, hated it, & spent every spare moment commuting to see them. That was a headache! I brought them in my second year & had a much much better time. I had them on DIY, one retired, & one out competing successfully affiliated dressage every weekend. It didn't affect my time at uni except in a positive sense. I was an active member of two societies, worked part time term time & holidays, & did an internship. I also aced my degree (comfortable first class) & have gone on to do an MA & a PhD, still with my horses in tow. Anything I 'missed out on' was nothing I wanted to do anyway & I don't regret it for a second. I'm now a university lecturer, with even less time, & still have horses on DIY. It can be done of you want to do it enough!

(Qualifier: if you're doing a medical or science degree, you may need to look at full livery. Mine was Humanities & the timetable is more flexible).
 
did you know there are European universities whose courses are in English and they don't charge fees, Norway and Germany for starters..................................don't just limit your self to the UK, financially you might be better of and gain another language makes employment easier..................
 
I've posted so many times about this - and my advice is always the same. Leave the horses at home and make whatever arrangements you need for them to be cared for, for the first year at least. Mine was on loan at the same yard and I had the benefit of being able to ride him in the holidays, but even if that's not possible, I think loaning is the best option.

The reason I say this is I've had horses since I was 12 and, with non-horsey parents, always had to do it all myself, other than the odd lift. I spent my teenage years not going out with friends or going home early because I'd have to get up to do the horses, having to say no to days out because of competitions and having to plan my time so carefully and always having to think of my pony and how what I did would affect him. It kept me on the straight an narrow but it was a lot of responsibility for a teenager. I already had my friends though and although they'd tease me about being a lightweight or not wanting to see them, they understood.

At uni, although I missed him loads, not having him with me meant I could do all those things without a second thought. When you're moving somewhere new and meeting new people, it's so important to be able to just blend in and go with the flow. Uni is about far more than just an education (although that is important too and will take up lots of time in itself). Being able to join some different societies - whether that's sport or something else, to be up all night, stay in bed all day with a hangover, have a spontaneous drink after a lecture that turns into an all dayer or even stay up all night writing an essay, rush to hand it in by 9.30 and then sleep all day (I may or may not have done this once or twice ;)) is such an integral part of uni life.

For the first time in my life, I was just like everybody else, and when you're starting to build new relationships that matters. It was also really good to have no responsibility to any one other than myself and to have that space to work out what I wanted in life. I've obviously come back to horses but that's been an active choice rather than just being on the horsey treadmill and keeping on with the habit. The money side of things is also important, Uni isn't cheap, horses aren't cheap and bringing horses back and fore from N. Ireland to Great Britain certainly isn't cheap. You've got your whole life to spend with the horses. Uni is only a few years, make the most of it.
 
Can you study at QUB or UU? Might be cheaper if you want to keep one horse in work and keeping it on assisted diy. Keep the retired one closer to home.
 
I'm in the exact same boat, however considering going to Holland instead of staying in the UK.

I have a horse who I don't want to sell, and will instead be staying in NI to go on loan while I'm abroad. with a loan, if I decide actually I want him to come to Holland after a year, I can end the loan and do that. If loaner drops out, mum is at home to sort out a new loan for him.

Have you considered going down south as an alternative? Even if it meant you were coming home on weekends to see the horse and had a part loan during the week, or is that not a possibility?
 
I went to Lancaster and had a brilliant three years. Highly recommend it!

I don't think I would have had the proper uni experience with the burden of a horse though, in all honesty. Even if you could afford full livery so could still enjoy a social life, you'd still have to find time to ride, and there is just SO much to cram in already as a student when you are really meeting more new people than you ever have before or will again, and have something on every day, be it lectures, workshops or nights out etc. And what would you do during holidays? I would leave them at home - loan or have a friend look after them if possible - and enjoy them in the holidays.
 
I took my boy to uni for the first year. Cost a ridiculous amount, luckily very kind parents paid. I was on a very time consuming course (maths) so I hardly had the time to go and ride him. He went home after the first year, and I went back relatively frequently to ride him. Much easier (and cheaper).
 
Hi op,

I had my first boy still when I went to uni. I did stay local so I could take care of him and do my studies so can't comment on taking them with you, but re workload I was fine. Managed studies, social life and riding fine. Hope this helps a little. Either way hope u enjoy uni :)
 
OP what course are you applying for?

Might be worth having a look at UU or Queens to see if they do the course as well?

but tbh for me if I was doing low level eventing & one retired one I'd be leaving them at home. You can always get someone to hack the eventer out during winter or even just throwing them out until Easter & then send the eventer to work livery until you get home so at least he will be fit and you can hop on and go! I did that this year, I'm at queens but course is 9-5 everyday and I travel (hour each way) & then is study once home so regular riding wasn't happening (and horse lives at home!) so sent him off to full livery for approx 6 weeks and they got him up to event fitness for me so once I had finished exams I could compete straight away. Worked really well!

Or have a look at trinity/cork/Dublin, they might be better. plus you can apply to them outside of ucas!
 
I'm going into my 4th year of uni, having bought my horse a year ago whilst I was out on placement.
Horse will defo be coming with me and I can safely say I know I will have time for him (as I spent both 1st and 2nd year horseless!). That said, I'm not one for socialising particularly and so no clubbing etc for me, making it easier for me to fit horsey in.

To be honest, having him on DIY will likely help me. I will be getting up at a reasonable time in the AM to go turn and muck him out, setting me up for the day ahead as otherwise I'm a typical student and sleep in and have many naps!!


ETA: I don't know anyone whos course is 9 -5 everyday. I feel like i'm wasting my 9k tuition fee since I only have 10 hours contact hour a week!!
 
I sold mine when I went to uni but ended up first loaning and then buying another, an untouched 5 year old, with a friend. We had the one we bought (quickly followed by a second purchase) on a very cheap yard that I walked 30 minutes to get to twice a day. It was a big commitment and probably impacted my grades but I think I would have gone mad without the time out horses give you.

It very much a personal choice, it takes a lot of time but if you are prepared to commit the time then go for it.
 
What were you planning to do with them during the holidays? Transport Ireland/UK is approximately £250 each time so it would be expensive to take them/him home every holiday and bring them/him back each time. Most livery yards wouldn't be keen on you coming and going unless you paid something towards keeping your stable over the holidays.

I didn't have a horse when I went to Uni the 1st time and had a really good time, being a student, working out who I was, making friends etc etc - everything normal (ie non horsey) people do.

I took a horse on DIY livery when I went back the 2nd time (to do my masters, so less supervised time) and found it very trying.

Only you know what you want but I would suggest at least trying the 1st term without, and seeing how you get on.
 
If it were me then honestly I would either sell up or find a way to keep them at home. I adored my time at university (and tomorrow go back to do my Masters haha) but couldn't have done it with a horse in tow. It is 3 years of your life which will make for some totally amazing experiences and memories and I think you'll find that you won't get the whole experience if you take a horse. I think you would also struggle timewise and at the end of the day, is it worth compromising getting a good degree grade?

If you don't take them then university riding clubs are amazing fun. I was at Reading and we had a very active riding club, I got to compete on the BUCS teams and although I missed my horse at home (who my mum rode so didn't have this decision to make thankfully) I didn't miss riding at all as I rode lots.

Just some food for thought, hope it works out whichever you choose.
 
If you want to take your horse with you then you really need to look at costs, most of my friends parents are having to bail them out 3k+ a year for their accommodation alone (more if they can't find a job to pay for their food and social life!) as their student loans just don't cover it. Having a horse is a luxury, for me I have given up the luxury of moving away from home for having a horse instead, just because a busier lifestyle keeps my mind busy and keeps me sane! I tried moving out to halls, but having only 9 contact hours a week got me into a very depressive state... long story short, uni life wasn't for me. Plus, having horses at my own place with our own hay is actually cheaper than me moving out to Uni. ;)

If you're not massively into the social side of Uni (ie. Clubbing and drinking) then it may be worth staying at home and commuting, if there is anywhere close to you.

I'd advise what others have said, just try at first without your horses and see how it goes.

However, I don't agree with what others have said, having a horse does not affect grades, I spent as much time horsing around through GCSEs, A Levels and 1st year of Uni and its never affected me. If you've had horses through A Levels, it's a breeze through Uni, I only have 9 contact hours a week!!! Only time I can see it being a problem is if say you're doing medicine, you're in 9-5 every day with work on top, any time leftover you'll have to choose between your flatmates/social life or horsey... you can do both of course but imagine doing your horse before your lectures with a massive hangover ;)

Please don't abandon any career ambitions you may have just so you can stay home with your horses, any sacrifices now will be worth it in the end :)

But please, if you're in doubt about Uni, just take a year out! :)
 
With respect LilacWillow, first year and third year are very different ball games and contact hours are not the only times you should be working. I, too, had a horse through GCSEs and A Levels and managed top grades but I was constantly working in my third year of university. The days I was at BUCS matches I either had flash cards for revision or my laptop so I could do some work while I wasn't riding. I would never have got a first class degree without the amount of time I put into my work and I really think that my grades would have suffered had I had a horse. Potentially not an issue if you can afford the horse on full livery but the horse is going to get less exercise when you're in the more demanding parts of the year.
 
Piaffe123 said:
With respect LilacWillow, first year and third year are very different ball games and contact hours are not the only times you should be working. I, too, had a horse through GCSEs and A Levels and managed top grades but I was constantly working in my third year of university. The days I was at BUCS matches I either had flash cards for revision or my laptop so I could do some work while I wasn't riding. I would never have got a first class degree without the amount of time I put into my work and I really think that my grades would have suffered had I had a horse. Potentially not an issue if you can afford the horse on full livery but the horse is going to get less exercise when you're in the more demanding parts of the year.
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I suppose it depends what your degree is and how many contact hours you have per week. I studied languages and in my final year had around 11 hours per week - I could definitely have managed a horse as well, even allowing for two visits a day. I got a first too ;)
Obviously with a languages degree, the downside would have been my year abroad. I couldn't exactly have taken my horse to Spain with me :p. I went to university in central London though, so it was a moot point as I obviously would have had to travel too far to get to any yards.

The main issue in this case is whether the OP's parents can afford the moving costs and whether she has considered what to do during the holidays. My sister took her horse to uni with her (she went to Nottingham) and he came home in the holidays, but she only had to move him from Nottingham to Manchester, which is under two hours.

I'd also advise doing the first term without a horse, so that you get a chance to do all the usual freshers activities without worrying about your horses OP :)
 
FlyingCircus said:
ETA: I don't know anyone whos course is 9 -5 everyday. I feel like i'm wasting my 9k tuition fee since I only have 10 hours contact hour a week!!
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I'm doing medicine - 9-5 everyday! If not in lectures doing practicals or tutorials, or out on clinical! Although mine is only 3k a year :p

Previously I did physiotherapy - less hours than medicine but still heavy contact hours (lectures/practicals) plus the 6 week block of clinical placements (hospital based) over the 3 years - can't graduate as a Physio until you have minimum of 1000 hours clinical.

Depends on course entirely if you can bring a horse to uni - the less contact hours the easier it is :)
 
With respect, everyone's different. Everyone's situation is different.

Like HashRouge said, it depends on what degree you are doing, and how many contact hours you have. And what kind of person you are. :P yes I only have 9 contact hours a week, 20 hours self study, 10 hours part time job still left me with enough time to ride, whenever I wanted to. :D if I had a degree that was 9-5 every day... obviously something would have to give then... :P

I appreciate A Levels and first year of Uni are totally different to the third year of Uni but OP is only going into their first year :). My point was more that I don't agree when people say you shouldn't have horses full stop through your more important school years (for some reason, it's some kind of taboo around the people I speak to - too many 'clever' girls who wasted their potential by spending all evening messing with ponies or reading pony books instead of revising) because at the end of the day it's never, ever affected me.

If you have a competition horse that you're taking out all the time, then yes, that is a massive strain on your time and it's unlikely that you'll do as much with your horse as you plan to without sacrificing your grades. But, for me, that's never been an option anyway. I just go see my horses whenever I have time or whenever I need a break. They're there for me to take time out and relax :). Though in all honesty, some people just have different piorities, I have a health condition where I can't drink so a lot of the social scene is cut off from me, which gives me more time to spend on something else I enjoy.

I'm not an organised person so I can see from my parents view that if I sold pony and gave up other responsibilities and just focused on my work, I'd work in my favour. But in reality, I actually need lots of things to think about or I seriously end up in a mess. Take it from someone who got all firsts in semester 1 and failed semester 2 because I thought by making more time for myself I was making life easier. Nope.

If OPs parents are like mine, they won't want to be left behind to look after their horse while OP is away. Obviously if OP has the money and really doesn't want to sell up it might be worth just trying it for the first year to see how they cope, then they can make a decision for the second year when things get more serious.
 
It depends on a number of things - your contact hours, your finances and your horses' personalities. I took mine to university with me twice - the first time was to do a law degree with only 12 contact hours a week but lots of reading outside of those hours. I started off on DIY but couldn't cope with the 25 minute commute to the stables twice a day plus contact hours and additional work, paid work and enjoying university life. My parents kindly financed his care and we put him on part livery four days a week, then DIY the other three days where I wasn't at university. I got him a sharer who paid for his shoes and rode him twice a week. We put him on full livery for a month over Christmas and Easter so I could go home and my sharer rode him as much as she liked in my absence. This worked beautifully - I graduated with a 2.1, had time to do paid work shifts a few times a week, had time to train with the lacrosse team 3x a week and compete with them, plus I had a good social life and went on nights out and socials etc. I enjoyed having my horse to get me out of bed when my housemates would sleep until 2pm and it was a great stress relief. At exam times is out him on full livery for two weeks before each exam so I could focus on revision.

After graduating I worked for a few years and bought a second horse (having retired the first). I went back to university to do a masters in law and kept both on DIY. This was a very different experience as I was much more disciplined and there wasn't much of a social life associated with the university/masters. I saw them twice a day and attended my contact hours in between (about 15 hours a week). I'd have work to do from when I got back from my evening session with them until midnight. I didn't have the finances to put them on livery before exams so I really had to manage my time properly but despite how much work they were I am still about to graduate with either a high commendation or distinction so couldn't be happier. I did manage to factor in paid work at weekends but my social life suffered - I prioritised seeing my partner but managed a night out once every few weeks. In conclusion, it is possible - but you'll be able to enjoy university life more if you can stretch to livery ideally.
 
I'm on a pretty 9-5 course (actually more like 8-7 now with the odd night shift I'm on clinics in final year) and have competed both my own and BUCS throughout. My horses fortunately are at home though, one hour from uni, so I'm very lucky. I managed fine in my third year when I was completing my BSc and was competing at national level :) I don't go out at the weekends (obviously!) as that's pony time and I'm at home unless my rota has me at uni. Sunday night- Friday is work time, Wednesday night I meet up with friends but other than that it's work, till 9 at night if there's not extra on, I have a slow dinner :p or my schedule has me going until then. Works for me :)
 
My girl stayed at home for the first year of university and this year I just moved her to a livery yard near to my campus. It's on a bus route and I think it'll work well for us! I would say maybe try leaving them for your first year and let yourself settle in.
 
I'm so glad to hear there's other people that coped with having their horses through Uni. I'm going through a bit of a rough patch right now and am missing out on the social side of things. :(
 
I'd also advise against taking your horses to uni. I am three days into my second year and already have so much work to do outside of lectures. I sold my two mares two months before going. I am lucky enough to still regularly see them during holidays.
I am at a tiny uni in Cornwall and I think I would struggle, let alone if I was at a big uni with lots of things to do and good nightlife! Plus there is no way I could afford it. My halls were 5k in the first year. Lots of people didn't get enough from student finance to even cover their rent!
It is always possible to see if you can share a horse a few days a week?
I have found a local lady to my uni who will pick me up from campus and let me ride her horses for free! So maybe you could find something similar?
 
I also think it very much depends on what you're looking to get out of uni (aside from a degree, of course!). I've done an undergrad degree, and am half way through my part-time masters, and am currently applying for medical schools to start next Sept. During my undergrad I was horseless, and while I hated that at the time, I'm very glad now that I was - I've done the uni experience, and I've now got a completely renewed love for horses. I used to go out and drink most nights, especially in first and second year, and while it was fun at the time, I'm very much over it now. At the moment, I'm at uni two days a week, work four days, and have Saturdays off completely - I intend to ride my pony 5 times a week, generally, and compete him once a month.
My pony isn't actually mine, so the whole issue of selling etc doesn't fall to me anyway, but I fully intend to keep riding and competing while I'm studying medicine. It might be difficult (I expect it to be, in fact), and if it gets too much for me then I have the option of riding only in the holidays, but I think that I should be able to do it as long as I manage my time wisely (I'll be living at home hopefully and have a fund for uni so money-worries should be a minimum).
This is only an option for me because I know I won't be that bothered about the social part of uni. I will be happy to do the pony in the morning, then study after uni in the evenings and for the majority of the weekend. I'm not sure what will happen if I don't get into the university I want and have to move, but I'm trying not to think about that for now!
 
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