Horses and University?

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FinkleyAlex

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Have any of you managed to make it work? I'm not worried about the workload, just not sure if it's worth taking my horse to uni with me for three years (and whether I bring him home at holidays or leave him there etc.) I'm hoping to study at either Leeds, Nottingham or Manchester (and horse and I live in north london). Would it be better to loan him out whilst I'm at uni? Would it be unreasonable to ask for a term-time loan, so I can still ride or share him when I am back from uni?

Just wanted to know if anyones tried it really! Or if anyone knows of anyone thats either loaned their horse out during uni, or taken their horse with them. Selling is not an option he's one of the family and I have noone here to look after him whilst I'm gone (family are not horsy and friends have their own horses) Also is it unreasonable to ask that if he were to stay in London, he would have to stay at my stables? (they have the best facilities in the area and not far from my home so I have friends to keep an eye on him - I'm a bit scared of some of the horror stories I've heard about loaning) Any info appreciated!
 
The most important question is, what are you intending to study? I've managed perfectly well with a horse doing equine studies (I actually have a total of eight horses on the go at the moment (not all at once, and not all to ride!). However if you're intending on doing anything more taxing, I'd say it would probably be a lot of hard work and little time spent with your horse.
 
for the far away universities I will be studying ancient history or classics with french (applied to two of each) I can keep him on full livery if I have to, just can't bear to be parted from him for 3 whole years! The london uni I'm applying to will be for law, so although the work load will be more intense, he will be local so really its not a problem, just having issues whether to bring him or leave him
 
I have my horse at uni with me in Nottingham. The uni is in the city so it is quite a trek to get to the yard which can take anything from 20minutes to 40minutes. Also a lot of uni won't let you have cars on campus. I study medicine and have no trouble finding time for my horse! Its good fun and having experienced uni with and without horse I can truly say I much prefer the first!
 
I found it easy to have the horse and be at uni. It was a bit hectic at exam time or when I had a project due in, but most of the time I had plenty of time for the horse
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. There were times when I had to sacrifice my social life, but that saved me money and a hangover
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I've just started my first year at uni and I've brought one of my horses with me. I live in halls and my horse is on DIY livery 12mins drive away. It is hard in the mornings getting up to do him and geting back in time for breakfast when all your friends gets up 15mins before lectures but I'm so glad I brought him. Freshers week was very hard work though, definitely leave your horse at home for the first week or 2 until everything has settled down. Now I'm on normal timetable I have plenty of time to ride either in the morning or evening, and it means I can take part in the uni team chase team etc. The only problem I currently have is that I lost my driving license on medical grounds on monday so my wonderful friend has been doing my horse as well as her own 2, but as soon as we've moved them to a nearer yard things should sort out. The other consideration is money; I worked from when I finished my A levels to when I started uni so i ahve enough money in reserve for livery, vet, physio, farrier, feeds etc as well as day to day uni living costs.
 
I've got mine with me at the moment, though i'm only a few weeks in and the workload isnt massive at the moment it seems to be working out ok.

I'm not sure it'd be so easy if he wasn't on-site and I have access to facilities much better than home so its a bit of a novelty still.
 
I went to Leeds and you would be fine. I loaned a horse who lived on an urban farm just 15 min walk from the uni while I was there, you might be able to livery there but it would be diy. Adel wood equestrian centre would probably be much more what you are looking for, nice facilities and hacking, 20 min drive from the uni but only 2 mins from the largest hall.

pm me if you want to know more
 
I sacrificed going to a good university for my horse - wanted to go to Manchester, ended up going to local Wolverhampton and moving into my own rented house in a town between the two (uni/horse). So far seems to be working, got a lot of stick off my friends though for 'throwing my life away for my horse'!

I know two people who took theirs with them and it worked fine, however they were doing equine studies and similar.
 
i got my masters while i has my two.i stayed at home and travelled into uni though.got a part time job too!
and i put one in foal and the filly was born in my fourth year just before my final exams!
 
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