university + horses = handful?

C

Chicos_Mummy

New User
Joined
20 February 2012
Messages
9
Visit site
Has anyone done uni with a horse? I might be getting a 5 yr old cob, but i will be going to uni (hopefully the rvc) to study veterinary nursing in 18 months. Has anyone studied vet nursing / gone to uni whilst having a horse? How have you managed it? did you have time for them etc.
 
So far I have made it through an undergrad, masters and PGDE all with a horse, so it is possible! All were very time 'intensive' courses as well.

It will affect you if you want to lead the 'student' lifestyle though. Mine was on DIY throughout undergrad and PGDE although I managed to arrange for the yards to turnout in the morning - I had well over an hour's commute so it would have made things really difficult - I was getting up before 6 anyway. So I would just go up in the evenings, muck out, bring in, feed etc.

During the winter I wouldn't ride that often, but I always got him fit enough to compete sj/odes through the summer.
 
I don't study vet nursing but do equine business management.
I'm in my second year at the moment, and have a horse on loan at home.
I live in at university, and home is 20 miles away.

Monday - Drive to uni AM if not back sunday night. 2 lectures. Assignments/uni work in the evening, getting as much done as possible.
Tuesday- 2 lectures. Drive home in the afternoon straight to the yard to muck out/ride etc. Uni work in the evening.
Wednesday- I have no lectures on a Weds, so ride/muck out etc in the morning. Drive back to uni in the evening (or thurs AM), work on assignments/work etc.
Thursday- 2 lectures. Try to get as much work done as possible!!
Friday- 1 lecture in the morning, drive straight to the yard after, ride /muck out etc. Home, do some work and then usually have plans with OH in the evening.
Saturday - part time job, yard, uni work, evening plans with OH.
Sunday- part time job, yard/competing, try to do uni work but haven't normally got time on a sunday, and try to see OH too.

I will tell you, it isn't easy.
It may be easier if you're not having to drive a long way to the yard etc, but being able to fit everything in is challenging. It does help that K's owner will muck out etc if I'm not able to make it to the yard for whatever reason, but I don't like having to do this on the days that I am responsible for doing.
Having the right balance between uni work (which is a priority), horses, OH (if you have one), friends and your social life /chill time. Also, finances must be managed effectively, unless you will be running your pony from the bank of mum and dad ;)

It is possible, but you have to remember how much time horses take up, especially if something happens and you will have to be the one to deal with it.

That's in my experience anyway, other people may find it easier/harder.
 
rhino said:
I would think nursing would be a more intensive degree. I'm so jealous of the hours you do - we were in solidly from 9 till 5 or 6 daily (lectures, labs, tutorials etc) apart from finishing at 1 on a Weds!
Click to expand...

That was my thought too. My degree is pretty relaxed, and while there are moment of high pressure, it isn't a constant.
I think if I had chosen to do a pure business degree at a proper university (I am at Moreton Morrell College) then having K would not be possible.
My university hours total at 13 hours a week! :eek: But there is a lot lot more work put in around them. If I had to be in at 9 and didn't get home till 6 or so, like so many people I know do, then I would have to give up horses. That is one of the reasons why I chose to go where I did... That and I was told I wasn't clever enough to do pure business.. :(
 
I'm currently in my last year of my Equine Science degree and I have my horse on D.I.Y at a yard here on campus.

On the positive, I have learnt so, so much. You pick up tricks off other people, you can apply what you learn and I have progressed more in this 3 years than the 16 years I've been riding. Everybody helps each other out in a muddle, and if you're willing to put the work in it's so rewarding to have the opportunity of having your horse with you.

However, don't expect to lead the same social life as everyone else. I don't go out as much, I don't spend as much money and I have to get up mega early to ride before lectures if I need to. (It's also a positive, I'm up and doing work by 9am whilst everyone else drags their bums out of bed at lunch and lose half the day). A yard of students can get very bitchy, so depends if you can rise above it, or if you go for a normal livery yard as opposed to a student one!

If I had my time again I would still have my boy with me a hundred times over.
 
I'm kind of in the same position as I go to university in October but I've pretty much accepted that I wouldnt have time to have a horse and study (I'm doing law at Durham so I gather its pretty intensive!)
Just wondering if anyone on here joined a university riding club/team instead of having their own horse with them, and what their experiences were?
 
I had a horse on loan in my second year. It actually helped me to unwind when I got stressed about uni work. I had 2 jobs to pay for it though. A couple of evenings at uni in the week and all day Saturday and Sunday at a racing yard. I also had a boyfriend 2 hours drive away to fit in too! It was hard, but I made it work. And my results didn't suffer for it. I would have had him in third year too but the owner wanted him back for the daughter to ride. I didn't have much of a social life but it was nice just for the year and I would have had him again.

I would suggest seeing if someone can look after/loan your horse at home at least for your first term. This gives you time to settle into your timetable and go out and make some new friends. I went to Hartpury and NEVER seemed to see any of the girls that had horses on the yard as they were always down there and rushing around. And I lived in halls with 2 of them!

ETA: Not studied veterinary nursing, but can imagine you might not have too much free time?
 
Last edited:
Plenty of people make it work, but it's very hard.

The bit I'd be worrying about isn't the university part, it's what comes straight afterwards - potential unemployment for a while, potentially having to move to wherever the jobs are - the time straight after graduation has a lot of unknowns, and it would be a lot easier o deal with without having to worry about a horse. In your shoes, I'd probably loan for now, share at uni, and look at buying something once I was into my first secure job and earning enough to keep a horse without having to worry :)
 
Don't have much to add on the horse at uni front - although I don't think that personally I could do it. I share at the moment (4 days), and find that I barely have any spare time as it is. Along with a job to pay for the pony and school work (i'm in year 13). But then it's also different because although I love Red very much, i don't have the option to move him to uni. I am staying at home for my first year though so that I can have another year with him.

Princess Jess said:
I'm kind of in the same position as I go to university in October but I've pretty much accepted that I wouldnt have time to have a horse and study (I'm doing law at Durham so I gather its pretty intensive!)
Just wondering if anyone on here joined a university riding club/team instead of having their own horse with them, and what their experiences were?
Click to expand...

I'd like to know this too - I'm going away to uni next year, hopefully Bournemouth, Brighton or Falmouth, so if anyone has any experience it would be appreciated!
 
I went to uni and loaned a horse while doing it, it was hard work esp during exams and lots of essay deadlines but if you're at a yard that could help you out there's no reason why it wouldn't be a problem.

Also financially, you need to make sure you can cope. An additional job to find a horse eats into those precious hours at the bar :D
 
I couldnt do uni without my horse. He keeps me sane and gets me off campus for a while. Those without horses often dont get why I get up early and dont spend every night partying at the bar but it is possible to go out some times just not every night. If you can find some one to share the mornings with then its much easier.
 
i sold my horse before i went to uni, but joined the equestrain club while i was there..... best time of my life!!! although i didnt join the riding teams (too bitchy) i decided to try something new and joined polo instead, sooo much fun :D i also took part in there club competition and gymkarna (brought back all the childhood memories!!)

id say its deffo good to join something like this cuz u meet like minded people who enjoy the same things u do, if u dont want to join teams for whatever reason do bear in mind that they are riding school lessons so if ur like me and dont see the point in being taught how to ride a riding school horse that doesnt do as u ask anyway why not try something new like polo or horseball???, with the friends i made in the club we used to have jump lessons but we would generally mucked around and ignored the instructor anyway (we kinda didnt want to be taught anymore!!) also riding schools generally dont hack much so if u wanted to do things like this it may be difficult.

it is totally different from having ur own, where u can do what u want when u want, to basically going back to a riding school and being told u cant canter on a hack etc etc.

if u want the uni lifestyle then id suggest no pony for now cuz it wont be the same, ive graduated now and brought my own again (love him to bits) but i wouldnt take back any of the memories i have from my time in the equestrain club at uni! :) these are also the only friends ive kept in contact with since graduating and regularly meet up for random horsey things!!

hope this helps, any questions relating to clubs and uni feel free to ask :)

i went to portsmouth uni and studied quite an intense course :)
 
I'm currently a full time old ahem, mature, student in university...

The home, husband, a couple of kids and the horses... It can be done - just prepare to be mega skint and sleep deprived... :D
 
I am studying vet nursing, got my current horse at the start of my second year and yes it is hard work but I still manage to have my horse on DIY livery, go out with friends regularly, work a part time job and still have time to do studying. Its all about time management, during the winter is obviously harder but then when I get time to go on a longer hack I find it really relaxes me and gives me time away from studying and working.
Vet nursing is challenging, when you go on placement the hours are long but I think its well worth it the end. Im now in my 3rd year of my 4 year degree and dont regret buying my horse
 
it can be done. depends on your priorities! if you cant manage a horse whilst at uni, then you wont manage one when working as working tends to be 9 to 5 every day! if time challenged part livery is often the best way to go! just seems more expensive as it is one payment out as opposed to lots of smaller payments out esp petrol, car maintenance, travel time!!!! only you can decide if you want to have the time, and what your finances are, and whether you actually want a horse and the commitments they bring at all hours!
 
Yep :). I studied my alevels away and took my horse on DIY. I also went through first year university with 2 of my own looking after 4 (2 of my mums) at home- she does mornings I do evenings. I now have 3 of my own in my second year and look after 5 on a similar arrangement. Its hard work but manageable :).
 
I did a law degree and took my horse with me and kept him on a DIY yard near the university. I also worked there at weekends so I could pay for his keep.
I tended to stay there through the holidays as it was too difficult to take him home although I did take him home one summer.
It was nice to have another life away from Uni and I got to meet local people and had alot of help from other liveries but it did mean I couldn't get home to visit my family and friends very often.
 
I have a horse and I'm in my third - and final - year of university. Luckily for me she's only a youngster so doesn't need loads doing with her at the moment, she's turned away into a very big field. My mum does her when I'm not at home.
 
I have done 3 degrees with a horse. The first was a B.Sc. and I had several part time jobs to pay for the horse. I still managed to get it all done and have a social life but I had to really burn the candle at both ends to fit it all in. I would have got a better grade if I had dropped the BF at the time as he was the most bloody demanding thing I had to deal with. The horse was young so I only worked him in the summer holidays when I always got full time work again to fund the horse. He lived in at night in the winter though.

Second was an M.Sc which came with a very healthy grant. I lived at home and commuted 3 hours a day to Uni. That year was intense and there was little social life but worth it. I turned my horse away for the winter so all I had to do was feed and check daily. The horse put the travel time up by another 30-40 mins. daily though.

Finally did a part time Ph.D whilst doing a full time job and had horse on full livery- not ridden. I also had messy lodgers. I wouldn't go through that again, it was too much.

I would just go for it if I were you. Having the horse will give you somewhere to chill out and relax away from all the other problems and stress. I would have given up any of the degrees rather than give up the horse.
 
Its difficult, but about 12/18 of us final year BSc equiners are doing it. I think it depends on how you will afford your horse. Even those of us who have no option but to work have had to cut right back and find loans/rely on family, such is the worload now. All of the horse owners get help at one or other end of the day for the full days of lectures we have, and less than 5 of us out of the 18 are actually riding at all at the moment! However, the yard is an absolute sanctuary to those of us who have horses to visit!
 
Princess Jess said:
I'm kind of in the same position as I go to university in October but I've pretty much accepted that I wouldnt have time to have a horse and study (I'm doing law at Durham so I gather its pretty intensive!)
Just wondering if anyone on here joined a university riding club/team instead of having their own horse with them, and what their experiences were?
Click to expand...

I studied law at uni and took my horse the 100 miles with me for three years (brought him back each summer). I did have him on part livery so I could concentrate on work and living the student life during the week then I saw him at weekends and on Wednesdays after sports. I also got a sharer for him who did him twice a week and paid for his shoes so he got enough exercise and it helped my parents out. I did start off on DIY but it was too much commuting 25 mins twice a day around lectures etc but its definitely possible if you're willing to pay for part livery.

edit: Law isn't intensive...you'll have about 10-12 hours a week and then reading on top of that but you'll quickly figure out what is worth reading and what isn't. The only time its intensive is during coursework deadlines and obviously exam time is crazy - I was doing 10 hour days for about 6 weeks.
 
Speaking from very recent experience, with my own horse and as a first year at uni, i would say it definately IS a handful!!

Will give you a quick overview of my situation first of all ...
settled in for a few weeks at uni (living on campus) before bringing horse down. had checked out yard before and everything seemed great, and was a really nice yard, but getting to and from it on public transport was a nightmare! really took transport back home in london for granted and expected it to be similar at uni, but only bus running to yard was at 4.30 or 6pm.
Bit of a nightmare as no way of getting to yard in morning before lectures if i have a bust afternoon, and when it started getting dark, most people would bring horses in at about 4 and there was no possibility of me doing the same.

After lots of stress, long journeys, late nights and buses that failed to turn up, I realised it wasn't working out ... was always in a massive hurry to fit pony in around everything else that she was rarely getting ridden, and I didn't have the time to do enough uni work and socialising with friends (very important especially in first term!) and would find myself constantly close to nodding off in lectures as I was so tired from trying to fit it all in.
Had to put pony on loan, but thankfully to a lovely lovely lady whos doing a hell of a lot more with her than I would have been able to struggling by like I was

However, after going from seeing my mare 7 days a week for the 2+ years I had her to not seeing her at all was a horrible shock, I really really miss her and feel a bit lost without her, as corny as it sounds - she was always my constant to focus on, and give me a reason to get up in the morning!

So, for the rest of the academic year, while I don't have a horse to pay for, I'm being really careful with my money so hopefully I will be able to take and pass my driving and/or motorbike test and so will be able to have transport in my second year. That, coupled with living off campus (nearer to yards) will hopefully make having horsey much easier. Also contemplating having her out 24/7 so no need to worry about her being the last to come in if i'm running a bit late for some reason. But generally cannot wait to *hopefully* get her back next year!

Long story (sorry!!) but just wanted to let you know its vital to look into ALL aspects of having your horse at uni before you decide for sure ... will you be able to afford it (or need to get a job to help cover costs - this would be tricky to fit it all in!!), will you have time (average hours of lectures/seminars a week for your course would help if you can find this out), how close are yards to campus, and how decent is public transport, if thats how you will be getting there.
Might be a good idea to look into grass livery, and even think about getting a sharer to cover a few days (post-night out days a bonus so you can recover until noon in bed) and contribute financially!
However, if you do decide to do it, make sure you get the balance between horse and social life right - its important to make time to spend with new friends and coursemates, but i guarantee you having the horse there is the best bordem breaker, time planner and stress buster ever, so if everything looks good, i would definately go for it!
good luck!!!
 
dafthoss said:
I couldnt do uni without my horse. He keeps me sane and gets me off campus for a while. Those without horses often dont get why I get up early and dont spend every night partying at the bar but it is possible to go out some times just not every night. If you can find some one to share the mornings with then its much easier.
Click to expand...

This exactly, I'm currently doing a equine degree and spent all of last night awake doing an assignment....so Going to bed at 2 this morning to finish the assignment and then up at 6 to see to my pony wasn't the easiest thing in the world! But I'm normally better organised! So that doesnt happen! :o But shes the motivation! Riding makes it all worth while! :) And i would have gone mad sat in my room doing assignments by now if it wasnt for her :)
 
OP, I wouldn't let uni put you off getting the horse now if you really want to and can do him justice now. However I would think long and hard about what you do when you start uni.

It depends a bit on which course you are on and which uni you are at as to whether there will be others in the same position or not. Also it will depend a bit on things like whether you will be living away and whether you will have a car as to how manageable it is.

But don't let your horse spoil your experience of uni, you only do it once so make the most of it. I would strongly suggest finding someone to loan your horse during the first year so that at the very least you can have your first term without the financial or time pressures of a horse. That will mean that you can get to know your colleagues and enjoy the social aspects, find your way around your new home town, get into the swing of study etc.

You should at the very least aim to have as few commitments as possible for the first term and the very last term.

If you decide to take your horse then seriously look for a sharer to ease the burden.

Obviously when you finish uni things can be just as tough time and money wise, so a good loaner or sharer might be worth their weight in gold then too. Or you may decide once you go to uni that the best thing is to sell your horse. Don't discount this or beat yourself up about not offering a home for life. There are good homes out there who are looking for horses that are established and not too young/green, but as so few people part with horses like that they are tough to find. Selling a horse in its prime that is useful and fit is nothing like palming off an elderly, unsound or unsafe horse.
 
I don't study veterinary nursing, but I'm in 2nd year doing a law degree which is fairly intensive. I stay at home and look after my own horse as well as my mum's youngster, both on DIY. As well as that, I also had 2 part time jobs. I struggled with it all to be honest and ended up having to quit one of my jobs. After that I was able to cope with everything a little better if I was careful with my time.

We have since moved yard (just in January there) and we are now on full livery which has been a huge relief on me. I'm now back up to 2 part time jobs again (long story) which I can manage now that the horses are on full livery.

So basically, doing a degree and having a horse is definitely do-able but only if you can manage your time correctly.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top