university + horses = handful?

[Business]

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! 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

Yes, I often skipped sleep completly to get an essay done during my B.Sc. because it was due and hadn't done it. Just carried on through the next day on automatic piolt- took the notes and went to bed early that night.

Did fall asleep once in a lecture when doing the M.Sc. and still feel guilty to this day that the lecturer might have thought it was him being dull when it was me being exhausted. Literally had system shutdown and couldn't say awake despite a huge fight to do so- just couldn't. Drank coffee and was fine for rest of the day.

Also had a car for all and couldn't have done it without the car. Car was essential for getting to horse.

 

[Kat]

I don't study veterinary nursing, but I'm in 2nd year doing a law degree which is fairly intensive.

As a law graduate I can say that law is not a very intensive degree. I had less than half the number of hours lectures/seminars that my housemate doing engineering had. The bio-medical science undergratuates and IT undergraduates had more hours in uni than me too.

 

[I See Clover]

As a law graduate I can say that law is not a very intensive degree. I had less than half the number of hours lectures/seminars that my housemate doing engineering had. The bio-medical science undergratuates and IT undergraduates had more hours in uni than me too.

I think it depends on each university as to how many hours a week you are in. Some of my friends further up north who are studying law have timetables that are packed full. I'm not in as much as them, but I do have lectures and seminars everyday. We also get a lot of work to do outside of uni and I can quite easily spend a good few hours everyday doing this. So I disagree. I think compared to many other degrees, it is intensive.

 

[Tinsel Trouble]

I think it also depends which uni you are at. Harper Adam's vet nursing course has placement periods throughout the academic year you'd struggle with keeping a horse like that because you're not really in one place for longer than 3months at a time!

I do know someone who does it during a VN degree at harper, but she worked at the vet practise before getting the degree place, and is from the Telford region anyway so there is no upheaval for the horse.

 

[horseyhan1992]

I'm at university studying Economics and I have left my horse at home. I am lucky to have a native connemara so she lives out most of the time. My dad looks after her when he does his horse as it isn't much extra. I go back every other weekend in order to ride her, the journey takes about 2 hours each way by train but is relatively cheap. A neigbour rides her occasionally too.

Most of the time while you are at uni is during the winter months with dark nights and frozen ground, so I wouldn't have done much more riding when I was at college last year. I only have two 11 weeks long terms (with a reading week in the middle of each) and a 4 week exam period anyway so most of the time I am at home!

This means I don't have extra costs and can have a social life at uni! Money is tight for most students anyway, so there is no way I could pay for livery on top. Plus I wouldnt have the time to travel to the stables, most places don't have them very near as they are in cities. I haven't joined the competitive equestrian club at uni due to it being very stuck up! But I have joined a horse society which offers lessons, hacks and horsey trips. The benefit of this is you just sign up for the events you want to do so you can have time off when exams and work gets tough. I have also recently discovered the polo club! I am hooked! It is so much fun, a lot more social and nice to try something a bit different. Plus the national competitions they do look amazing and you dont even have to be that good.

 

[rara007]

TBH with the vet nursing course at the RVC I'm not sure you could manage it without being able to afford full livery for a large chunk of the year- I am at the RVC and don't know any nurses with horses.

I am based in camden, yet still manage to compete 3 different ponies once a month each, plus do the riding team, but this is with the ponies all fully cared for by someone else- I couldn't have even one on DIY livery here. I do know vets who manage to keep horses up here, but many have tried and then sold, and the vet course has longer period of stablilty than the vet nurse. Managing how to sort livery for all the time you're on placement, or home, or at uni would be quite tricky.

 

[mturnbull]

I sold my horse to go to the uni of my choice which was about 2 and a half hours away, it was a huge decision and at the time but it was what i wanted then. Although after completing my first year I was completely lost in the last few months with not having a horse (with this being my first time without a pony/horse since i can remember!) and decided being away from home and having the typical 'student' but without horses wasn't what I wanted. I am now studying at a uni closer to home and have my 2 horses and am much happier! My advice is whatever your decision is make sure you have thought about it not just for right now but also for your future and your horses future.

 

[Princess Jess]

I have joined a horse society which offers lessons, hacks and horsey trips. The benefit of this is you just sign up for the events you want to do so you can have time off when exams and work gets tough. I have also recently discovered the polo club! I am hooked! It is so much fun, a lot more social and nice to try something a bit different. Plus the national competitions they do look amazing and you dont even have to be that good.

wow sounds really good, I'll definately be joining all the horsey societies at Durham

 

[madiz123]

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 i also took part in there club competition and gymkarna (brought back all the childhood memories!!

Yay! Same line of thought for me... sold my youngster (who I would have had to ride every day). I am studying Law at the moment, and although at time I reckon I have time for a horse there are equal amounts of time when I don't (particularly as I need a part-time job as well - although no one will hire me!). I've just started the Uni polo club - and it just about quenches my horse cravings

 

[Princess Jess]

Yay! Same line of thought for me... sold my youngster (who I would have had to ride every day). I am studying Law at the moment, and although at time I reckon I have time for a horse there are equal amounts of time when I don't (particularly as I need a part-time job as well - although no one will hire me!). I've just started the Uni polo club - and it just about quenches my horse cravings

I start at University studying law in October, what university are you at?
I've often thought about learning to play polo, is it easy to get into...I've never played before

 

[Laura_Grey]

It is do-able. I am very lucky that I have a very forgiving Mother who is a saint and I live at home since I am not really interested in the 'student lifestyle'. I am a first year vet student and although I do feel like I am flat out a lot of the time I wouldn't have it any other way. I have 2 horses at home who I try and ride 2-3 times a week and a point to pointer in training at a yard down the road where I work for some of his keep.