Equine Science degree?

[xMoodyMarex]

Just wondered if anyone on here has an Equine Science degree (or similar), and what you have gone on to do as a job? I completely appreciate that for jobs involving working with horses, employers tend to prefer practical experience or practical experience as well as horsey qualifications, but my aim is to work in a horse related job but not actually with horses ( would like to try and keep them as a hobby and something to look forward to outside of work). Any advice would be really appreciated! Thank you

 

[Moodymare88]

Hi

I have an FDsc in equine business management and equitation and a BsC in equine science.

I spent some time abroad managing an eventing yard and then decided I wanted horses as a hobby and to have my own. I now work as a clinical research associate, based from home after starting as a clinical trials associate. Basically, I work in clinical trials and spend most of my time in hospitals. It is a great area to work in, decent pay, interesting and plenty of jobs around

 

[ElleSkywalker]

I have one. Have worked in sales for a few well known horse companies and for a saddler.

Friends from uni have gone on to jobs that are nothing to do with horses and some have gone on to do masters leading to qualifications such as physios and dentistry.

 

[spacefaer]

I have a MSc in applied equine science . Before studying, I was an event rider, with a yard full of horses and several WPs. Afterwards, I worked for 5 years as a PA to an estate agent.

I currently do a bit of p/t teaching and riding, while looking after our own herd of 6

Very interesting course and good mental exercise but not particularly vocational for me

 

[Elbie]

I work in equine insurance...but it wasn't an easy road! Well paid equine office based jobs are few are far between and I struggled to find any work after graduating. I would make sure getting as much work experience as possible if you know what area you want to work in. When I left uni any horse jobs going I didn't have enough work experience for and any non-horsey jobs weren't interested because of my degree!

 

[xMoodyMarex]

Thank you for the posts I've been trying to decide whether to apply for equine science courses or vet nursing, but I really can't decide so probably going to apply for both and will just create two different personal statements. Thanks again

 

[Tiddlypom]

Can you use more than one personal statement if you apply via UCAS?

 

[Dumbo]

Thank you for the posts I've been trying to decide whether to apply for equine science courses or vet nursing, but I really can't decide so probably going to apply for both and will just create two different personal statements. Thanks again

I was in exactly the same situation. Went for equine science. In my first year and loving it

 

[joulsey]

Eeerrmmm...in a the accounts department at a manufacturing company....that makes boxes :S

 

[xMoodyMarex]

Can you use more than one personal statement if you apply via UCAS?

Unfortunately not, hopefully it should be ok though. I'll just contact the places that I'm hoping to apply to, to check that they will accept a separate personal statement

 

[xMoodyMarex]

I was in exactly the same situation. Went for equine science. In my first year and loving it

If you don't mind me asking, which uni/college are you doing the equine science degree at?

 

[EventingMum]

Not me but son went and did a Equine Dental Science degree, not really the same as it led him to a specific career at the end. However friends of his did Equine Science and although they enjoyed the course many struggled to find equine related jobs but most found the best thing was to "market" themselves as having an applied science degree, emphasising the science element not the equine part of their course when job hunting. His friends with Equine Business Management degrees did likewise.

 

[Umbongo]

I did equine dental science. Am now training to be a vet nurse! TBH so many people come out not able to find work as an employer may pick someone with for instance: a business degree and an interest in horses, over someone that has an equine degree. It depends on what you want to do after? Do you want to work in insurance, sales etc? It can work out, but you have to really apply yourself, as someone said above, well paid equine office jobs are VERY few and far between. Someone I know did equine science, went on to train as an accountant and is now an accountant for a large bloodstock agent.

 

[Dumbo]

If you don't mind me asking, which uni/college are you doing the equine science degree at?

Oxford Brookes.
I also applied to Plymouth, moulton college and Aberystwyth but Brookes has the best facilities imo!

 

[JustKickOn]

A friend did equine science and is now a nutritionist for one of the top feed companies.

 

[xMoodyMarex]

Thank you very much for all the posts

 

[Silmarillion]

I have a BSc Equine Studies and I am in the banking team in a pensions company. I accidentally ended up working with money (started in customer services) and I actually like it sometimes!

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

Bye friend did this degree at Aberdeen. She is now back doing the job she did before she went to uni! After uni she worked in 2 polo yards and another racing yard before coming back here.

 

[Kadastorm]

Not the same as I'm doing BSc applied behaviour, science and welfare but one of my lecturers said their are a lot of well paid jobs in nutrition (all animals including equine). It's something I will consider if I don't get the job I want in conservation.

 

[Ella19]

I did equine and human sports science. Loved the course but couldn't find a job after, ended up as a part time vet receptionist purely by luck as the area manager loved horses and it was all we talked about in my interview! Went on to become a lay nurse, I wish in hindsight I had just done vet nursing as I would have been much further on. Got to practice manager and was still only earning what I thought I would earn when left uni.

Now age 29 I work for an insurance company selling all types of insurance, including equine. I would love to do equine or pet only but those jobs are often poorly paid unless commission based. Having moved industry I'm still not on a good wage and had to move back home. Vet nursing would at least give you a vocational career. You can diverse once qualified into pet insurance, repping, teaching etc. Its not all nursing but having that qualification makes it much easier. I know qualified vet nurses with less experience than myself have been picked for pet insurance jobs over me as companies prefer that back up of the qualification in nursing.

 

[racingdemon]

Just to add... While some of the jobs in nutrition are nicely paid, but I wouldn't say there are lots of them, or rather it's very competitive when jobs do come up, it's a great industry to work in, so people don't leave!
For anyone considering nutrition a couple of points to add... If you have the option to add modules relating to other species, they're worth taking as it broadens your knowledge, which is always attractive to employers
Consider joining a company in a less obvious role, perhaps in QC or in operations rather than straight into the 'nutritionist' type roles, sales is a good entry point but again very competitive.

Tbh.... Unless you have a burning desire to work in the nutrition industry or to go into research/physiology etc, I really wouldn't do an equine degree, there are lots of other degrees that would well equip you to work for equine companies & even nutrition companies need other skills as well as equine/animal science

Marketing, accounting, chemistry are just three areas of use to a nutrition company & tbh would possibly lead to better paid jobs, so I'd think outside the box, chat to people in the industry you want to work in & doing the type of job you're interested in & find out what quals/experiance they have,

For info I'm a director in an animal (multi species) nutrition company, my BSc is in equine/animal science, but I then did a masters in business management, because while my role is mostly technical, to develop I felt I needed to understand more about the business to sit alongside the science, (which is developing all the time, so CPD is critical for that)

 

[Holidays_are_coming]

I did a equine science degree and fell into pharmaceutical Sales which I enjoy its well paid and usually interesting.