University, stay at home or go else where?

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sian_x101

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At the minute im making the decision of which university i want to go to, the problem is where ever i go my horse has to go with me lol

So, how did you decide what to do when you went to uni with your horse?
If you travelled to a uni away from home how did you find a livery yard/ somewhere to rent for your horse to stay?

Thanks
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I used to get a few people asking me every year about livery yards around bristol, I was president of UWE riding, unfortunatly I didn't know many! Or ask on here!

I've just finished my final year and I would really recomend moving away for at least the first year, massive experience and a lot of fun!
 
I went away, but close enough to get home easily. I left my horses with Dad to look after them. My mare is too sharp and too easily unsettled to warrant moving her up and down the country.

I'm not sure I could have foaled her down easily and safely on a yard at Uni - I was on somewhere very good and managed well, despite a bit of sleep deprivation and a few missed lectures.
 
I've done both at various points.

I started equine science and took my horse to college with me. I lived on campus. There was a DIY yard onsite for student's horses so I kept him there. There was very little turnout so they really needed mucking out twice a day (the first had to be done by 8am according to yard rules) and I tended to skip out at lunchtime.

I dropped out and changed to English Lit which I study in London, I live there in term time. I now keep my horse at a yard near my parents house, about 35 minutes by car or an hour by train. He's on full livery (which I can only do with my parent's help), predominantly as this is all the yard offers but also because (in termtime) I can't get there everyday.

I would definately live away from home, atleast in your first year, if you can. You meet so many more people this way.
 
I had offers from uni's all over the place and would have loved to go to london, but i decided to go to leeds (just an hour or so from home) so i could come home at weekends etc, best decision ive made i love that i have a life at uni but that i can also get away from that and just chill out with my ponies! I do know people who brought their horses and put them on diy near uni, they seem to cope pretty well, i think exam time is more stressful with having the commitment of the neds, but if you are somewhere that has the option of part/full livery whilst you are busy that seems to work v.well.
 
I didn't have my own horse when I went to uni so that wasn't a consideration.

I stayed at home for my degree (various resaons, emotional and money) and moved to London for my PhD. Given my time again I'd defintely move away for undergrad. I do think you miss out on a lot if you're not 'doing it properly' and living away from home. It'll be so much easier to meet people and get involved in uni life if you live away (and for me it might have meant I actually got some research done in my post grad first year instead of acting like an undergrad!!!!).

Goo dluck in whatever you decide
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Hey,

I live in north kent and went to uni in london. I left my two horses at home with my mum and a sharer so was lucky to be able to keep them but be close enough to come home regularly. That was a great compromise for me, especially as I got to ride reguarly in london anyway as part of my university's equestrian team. I hope you find some sort of arrangement that works for you. Good luck xxx
 
Id seriously consider moving away,
a number of unis will have student yards. I am a vet student and our school has its own private yard for hte vet students horses (and others on campus if thye are there) the only thing is, they have to be used, if required, for practicals of like heart rate ttaking etc..... not surgery practice though
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I think you will miss out on a lot of "independence" if you stay at home.... but its your call.
 
I would definitely recommend going away for uni as you will miss out on a lot by staying at home. My horse went out on loan to a local girl, but with the agreement that I rode her a couple of weekends in the term and had her half the holidays. After uni I went back to living at home for a couple of years as it was better from a financial point, but the going away bit meant that my parents saw me as grown up so it worked well.
 
I'm so glad there are people who've done the living away from home and still had their horse, it makes me feel better about knowing what to do
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Thanks for your advice
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I moved away from home but went to Uni a 45 min drive from home, for the first year i kept horse on full livery back home to make sure i settled etc, then moved ned with me!! It was perfect - got the first year to find my feet and still got home to ride at least every other day and then 2nd and 3rd years had ned with me!

Good luck - but I'd agree move away its part of the experience!
 
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