Animal

MSc Equine Performance Science

This taught master's programme, can be studied over one year on a full time basis or two years on a part time basis.

Designed to take your equine knowledge, academic skills and research practice to the next level, the course provides a range of modules carefully planned to enhance your experience through a range of delivery methods and unique learning experiences. Our research-led teaching team will deliver the programme through a range of lectures, demonstrations and a variety of other platforms to ensure that your learning experience is exciting and challenging. At our stunning equine campus, set in rural Essex, you will gain practical support from our teaching team of industry specialists supporting competitive horses in training. This will allow to you to fully integrate the theory taught with ongoing case studies to gain 'real life' on understanding of the ages and stages of training in relation to nutrition, farriery, training, breeding, behaviour and much more.

The course will focus on equine performance through the study of gait evaluation, pathophysiology of injury, advanced and applied nutrition, exercise physiology, equitation science, human influences on equine performance, and methods to evaluate and enhance performance in a range of disciplines. We will provide you with current research focussed materials and work with cutting edge technology used both within academic research and in the field to monitor and evaluate performance and welfare. Underpinned by 'real' industry experience, we will support you to ensure that you are well prepared for the work-place and your personal career aims, by developing skills to plan and manage significant projects and develop outstanding interpersonal and people management skills.

TERM THREE
Taught Masters Degree - Dissertation
(60 Credits)

Candidates from the United Kingdom higher education sector will normally hold a first honours degree at 2.2 or above in a related subject .

Prospective students with a first honours degree at 2.1 or above in another discipline but with significant work experience in Equine Science or related areas will also be considered for entrance on the masters' programme.

Our Equine Training and Development Centre situated on Cow Watering Lane offers extensive facilities to optimise the student experience

  • Around 70 Horses on campus
  • Equine Academy Centre
  • Three Indoor Riding Arenas (24m x 60m), (24m x 55m), (22m x 22m)
  • Oval Horse Walker
  • Mechanical Horse
  • Equine Water Treadmill
  • Therapy Barns
  • Outdoor Arena (20m x 60m)
  • Stabling for 92 horses
  • Semen collection area
  • Classrooms

Due to changes in the facility to benefit the student experience, from the 2022/2023 academic year we will no longer foal mares on campus; we will however retain youngstock and our pony stallions .

Students interested in gaining specific foaling-related stud duties will be supported to gain experience with industry partners.

Our enhanced facility now has increased grazing for all horses allowing more students the opportunity to bring their own horses to university as well as additional space for events and commercial partnerships.

For more details please email the equine resource team, equineresourceteam@writtle.ac.uk

This postgraduate qualification is aimed at those wanting a wide base of knowledge of all aspects of equine performance development and enhancement. You may wish to apply this broad knowledge base into a practical business enterprise or use the breath of the transferable skills to gain career opportunities across the equine industry into a wide range of fields including nutrition, academia, research, consultancy, design and development of equine training aids and technologies.