what is the best equine college and why?

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ponyclubnicole

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I'm going to go when I finish my a levels and i want to do a degree course and then a masters. I always wanted to be a vet but after my first pony was put to sleep last year after a really long horrible time and then the dispair of having to lose him anyway it kind of put me off. I have had a great education and want to do a degree and masters so that i have lots of options as i just don't know what i want to do now.

Is harpury really the best? any other suggestion or comments on the equine colleges would be greatly appreciated as i want to go to the best!
 
There is a huge debate as to the value of equine degrees at all, and another almost equally as huge debate as to where is the best place to do one. I'm sure many people will have many varied views on here about the subject.
Speaking from experience, I went to Hartpury for my first year and loved the course. The things I hated were being away from home, and the lack of access to facilities there. The good thing is that if you like it there you can go on to do your masters there too. I moved for my second and third (current) years to a small agricultural college in the south. The course is a bit rubbish, I have no prospects, and TBH I should have done a "proper" degree... but I like my college FAR better than I ever liked Hartpury. It's so much more friendly and helpful for a start, and we actually get to USE their facilities (although they are limited as yet)!
 
I went around quite a few colleges to do my HND years ago.

I went to Bicton in the end.

Went to look at Hartpury and thought the guy in charge was a pillock. He was so up himself and sexist. I didnt like the atmosphere either.
 
how interesting and thank you. I honestly thought getting an equine degree would be a wonderful way of getting a degree as i'd enjoy it so much. not sure chemistry would have as much appeal! my thoughts were even if i didnt' end up working in the equestrian world i would have a degree which is what my tutors say count unless of course i have a set careerin mind where I'd have to have a 'proper' degree. but they do say a degree is a degree? Hartpury would be a long way from me so i don't like the sound of that at all. many thanks may have to do chemistry afer all!!
 
I went to Warwickshire (Moreton Morrell) and loved every minute of it. It is'nt as "flash" as Hartpury but the tutition is brilliant and the people are lovely.
 
I'm at Hartpury (B.Sc. Equine Science) and thought the same as you - 'a degree is a degree' - we'll see how far that gets me in life, but in the mean time I'm loving my course
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The only thing with me is that I live 10mins away from college, so I've been able to keep my horses and all my friends, so it's not quite the same for me as it is for most people. There are quite a few students that live off-campus and have their horses on livery away from the college, so it is possible to survive without being too sucked into the college and its facilities.
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The best advice is to pick the 5 most likely colleges..according to which degree you want...as there is a big difference between Equine Science, Equine Sports Science and Equine Business Management.
Then, having made your shortlist, go and visit them each in turn (they all have open/careers days which are often listed on their website). Make sure you chat to tutors, walk round, have a good look at the yard, gym and a room. If you can, catch a student and ask them what it is like.
You will find you form a distinct like for some colleges...and dislike others...one will feel 'right' for you.
The same applies if you are going to do chemistry...go to the uni's and check them out.
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How sure are you that you want to do a masters? I did BSc Biology and then after a few years chose to do an MSc (eq sci). I didn't plan to do a MSc when i picked my undergrad course, but I found it has its advantages
1- having a broad "main stream" subject base at undergrad level will help in getting any job. This is perhaps seen as a "better" degree than an equine degree to others (not necessarily true, but if it's a job you're after it the opinion of those employing you that matters!)
2- Any biology degree (with good grades) will still allow you to go on and do MSc equine science.
3- The other big advantage of this is the equine stuff is "new" and interesting for the whole year. I didn't feel I was going over old ground again as other did who had done BSc equine sci and then progressed to MSc. This change in subject may also help you to raise your standard from BSc to MSc requirements.
Hope that makes sense.
But, make sure you enjoy the degree, whatever or wherever you choose!
 
I can't stand Bicton - they seem to teach people what 'the book' says an average horse needs and forget to mention that not all horses are average!

Piaffe - I am sure you will put me straight on this - just my experience
 
[ QUOTE ]
How sure are you that you want to do a masters? I did BSc Biology and then after a few years chose to do an MSc (eq sci). I didn't plan to do a MSc when i picked my undergrad course, but I found it has its advantages
1- having a broad "main stream" subject base at undergrad level will help in getting any job. This is perhaps seen as a "better" degree than an equine degree to others (not necessarily true, but if it's a job you're after it the opinion of those employing you that matters!)
2- Any biology degree (with good grades) will still allow you to go on and do MSc equine science.
3- The other big advantage of this is the equine stuff is "new" and interesting for the whole year. I didn't feel I was going over old ground again as other did who had done BSc equine sci and then progressed to MSc. This change in subject may also help you to raise your standard from BSc to MSc requirements.
Hope that makes sense.
But, make sure you enjoy the degree, whatever or wherever you choose!

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But the big problem with this approach is that people expect you to understand equine science at masters level...and you don't. I know quite a few people who did Masters in ES as a conversion course and they wouldn't know basic anat and phys, would have no idea about nutrition, etc.
It's a very hit and miss approach, to be honest.
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I went to Hartpury and found that while the facilties are good the teaching could have been better and the organization there was rubbish - no one knew what was going on half the time. Cirencester Agricultural is meant to be quite good, so is Warwick Uni. I'm currently doing an NVQ with Abingdon and Whitney and it's great.

Forgot to mention Hartpury has a rugby acadamy if that makes any difference!!!
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thanks everyone this is really giving me something to think about. i only joined a week ago and between this and manage my horse I'm not getting hardly any school work done! I did well in my gcse and I am proud so I am going to tell you I did 12 exams (i know this is excessive but i went to a highly academic grammar school which was all girls so no distractions and they entered us all for loads) it was the hardest work I tell you. But I got all A's and 5 of them including the 3 sciences were A * so mum isn't so hard on me being addicted to horse and hound and manage my horse It's been me, my horse and my school books for years. Just was so happy with my results and not bragging honestly just really really happy and relieved, xxx
 
Hi
I'm at Hartpury in my 1st year and can honestly say Im loving it. I live on campus as I'm quite far from home. But the majority of people are very frendly, I was really worried about being so far away and missing everyone back at home but I've really settled in and I like it now, and time has gone so quick, nearly the end of the 1st semester already!
 
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SPARSHOLT!

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another vote for Sparsholt?! Whatever is the world coming to?! They will be pleased... maybe just as pleased as when two Hartpury students (me and my friend) transferred to their course!
 


[/ QUOTE ]But the big problem with this approach is that people expect you to understand equine science at masters level...and you don't. I know quite a few people who did Masters in ES as a conversion course and they wouldn't know basic anat and phys, would have no idea about nutrition, etc.
It's a very hit and miss approach, to be honest.
S
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yes i understand your comment, but to be honest that just depends how much work you want to put into it. I was "scared" to begin with that i didn;t know anything compared to others in the class/year, but that just motivated me to work harder. as it was all so interesting and new that wasn't begrudging. In the end i found that the extra "catch up" work i did, did far more than "catch" me up. my knowledge was much more in depth than the others as they thought they knew it all!
 
I went to Writtle and loved it. BSC(hons) Equine Studies and Business. Great atmosphere, great modules (mostly!) and plenty of opportunities if you go out and get them.

Again, I agree with the 'a degree's a degree' thing. I knew I couldn't do 3 years of a purely academic degree and needed something practical to keep me stimulated. I'd also not decided if I wanted horses as a career or whether to keep horses as a 'hobby' (of course they're never a hobby, its a way of life!).

I left Writtle in '06 and am now a marketing assistant for a boat sales company which I love and have a horse on loan which I LOVE! Though the Equine qualification did not directly get me the job I'm in now, my uni experience was invaluable for gaining independance, confidence, knowledge and plenty of other skills I'm now utilising. Hey, I may end up needing the qualification later if I decide to go back into the horse indistry! Good luck!
 
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