Сư³æ´«Ã½

Сư³æ´«Ã½ logoHome
Students on a university campus

Equine Performance, Health and Welfare, MRes, MSc, PG Dip, Nottingham Trent University (NTU)

the United Kingdom

Nottingham Trent University (NTU)

Study options for this course

The award How you will study Study duration Course start Domestic course fees International course fees
MRes, MSc, PG DipFull-timefind outOctober 0 0
MRes, MSc, PG DipPart-timefind outOctober 0 0

About Equine Performance, Health and Welfare, MRes, MSc, PG Dip - at Nottingham Trent University (NTU)

This suite of courses is unique in the UK. The courses focus on the recent advances in equine health and disease, sports horse nutrition, behaviour, ethics, exercise physiology, equitation science, and genetics in
the context of enhancing equine performance, health and welfare.

They combine advanced research and academic skills with applied science skills. We are one of the few universities in the UK to offer taught multidisciplinary modules that develop the scientific expertise and understanding that employers are looking for.

You’ll study the current issues and insights at the forefront of equine performance, health and welfare, and the philosophical, ethical and legal issues related to these. You’ll gain insight into the latest scientific research findings, and critically examine these in a practical context. The research project enables you to undertake and develop your own research interests with the support of experienced supervisors.

The MRes courses offer you the chance to develop even further your understanding of equine research and
specialise within the fields of either performance or health and welfare. On these courses, you’ll enhance your research expertise, enabling you to analyse and report findings to a high scientific standard, and communicate them to a wide range of audiences.

How do you study?

You’ll be taught through a mixture of lectures, laboratory classes, demonstrations, and project work. You’ll also have opportunities to present your work to peers and academic staff.

Independent learning is required, and you’ll undertake high-quality research for the Masters awards. You’ll
research your chosen topic in depth, then design and implement a relevant research project, and communicate the findings to an informed audience in a comprehensive scientific report.

Teaching is supported by our British Horse Society-approved Equestrian Centre, which has stabling for over 65 horses. Its facilities include international-size indoor and floodlit outdoor riding arenas, a research arena, horse walker, round pen, group housing pens, a dedicated performance analysis room with mechanical horse, and a variety of equine housing systems including, traditional style stabling, American-barn style housing and crew yards. You’ll be able to use specialist equipment, including heart rate monitors, GPS equipment, Pegasys gait analysis system, DartfishProSuite®, Tekscanpressure mapping, infrared camera system, mobile eye tracking systems, and the Equistat Pro system.

You’ll also have access to specialised teaching and laboratory facilities. Modules are delivered by academic lecturers, who are research-active in their area of expertise. Their international research links provide opportunities and scope for a wide range of research projects in the field of equine performance, health and welfare. They liaise closely with industry, to ensure the course is relevant and meets the needs of employers.
Successful completion of the courses will create employment opportunities within the equine science, health and welfare sector, as well as within research areas. Some examples include:

• equine consultancy
• rehabilitation
• sports psychology and coaching
• equine behaviourist
• research assistant in animal or biological sciences
• nutritionist
• medical marketing and sales
• scientific journalist
• lecturer

What you'll study

  • Equine Health

This module integrates recent advances in equine genetics, immunology, epidemiology and nutrition with current knowledge on the prevention of disease and sickness, in order to safeguard equine welfare. The topics covered include: 

• clinical and applied nutrition

• immunology

• parasitology and microbiology

• equine genetic disease, and immunogenetics

• global disease factors

• aetiology and epidemiology of equine diseases

  • Equestrian Performance

Critically evaluate recent developments in the area of exercise physiology, injury and rehabilitation, in relation
to performance horse management and welfare. A strong component of this module is the practical application of research tools to the measurement of performance. The topics covered include:

• equitation science 

• biomechanics

• exercise physiology

• evaluation of the nutritional management of the performance horse

• assessment of fitness and performance for both horse and rider

• rehabilitation of the equine athlete

  • Ethics and Consultation

Explore ethical aspects of the modern horse-human relationship within the context of recent advances in
animal welfare philosophy. Review the ethical and legal implications of advising and consulting within the horse
industry in a professional capacity. The topics covered include:

• moral philosophy

• animal welfare and ethics

• cultural and social influences of attitudes to animals

• regulation of animal welfare (in statutory and regulatory organisations)

• the use of the horse in sport, production, research, and as a companion

• consultation, knowledge dissemination, and legal implications

  • Ethology and Welfare

Evaluate the behaviour and management of the domestic horse (Equus Caballus) from a comparative ethological perspective. Compare the members of the Equidae and related species, taking account of habitat, ecological niche and patterns of behaviour. Evaluate methods of recording behaviour, and apply findings to the management and behaviour of the domestic horse. Review theoretical and practical methods of evaluating welfare, and apply them to a variety of situations, including stabled horses and those used in conservation projects. The topics covered include:

• diversity of Equidae and related species

• behavioural ecology

• methods of recording behaviour

• behaviour patterns in free-ranging and domestic species

• equine perception and cognition

• practical and theoretical aspects of welfare assessment

  • Research Methods and Data Analysis

Learn advanced skills in the interpretation of quantitative and qualitative research data relevant to whole-organism biology, and develop a critical understanding of the ethical considerations involved in the collection of data. You’ll present your findings and research in a variety of ways, as well as critically evaluating, interpreting and relaying knowledge gained from secondary sources, to peers. 

  • Research Project

Research in depth a chosen topic area related to equine performance, health, or welfare. Design and implement a relevant research project or equivalent technical or professional enquiry, with a strong aspect of originality. Communicate the findings to an informed audience in a comprehensive scientific report.

For full details of which modules are included in each course, go to www.ntu.ac.uk/course and search for Equine.

Entry requirements

We accept qualifications from schools, colleges and universities all over the world for entry onto our courses. If you're not sure how your international qualification matches our course requirements please visit our international qualifications page.

Pre-masters and foundation courses

If you need to do a foundation course to meet our course requirements please visit Nottingham Trent International College (NTIC). If you're already studying in the UK at a school or college and would like to know if we can accept your qualification please visit our pre-masters and foundation courses page.

English language entry requirements

If English is not your first language you need to show us that your language skills are strong enough for intensive academic study. We usually ask for an IELTS test and we accept some alternative English language tests.

  • For a list of our language requirements please visit our English language page.
  • If you need to do a pre-sessional English language course to meet the English requirements please visit our pre-sessional English course page.

Help and support

If you have any questions about your qualifications or about making an application to the University please email our international team for advice.

Courses you may be interested in at other institutions

Below are some suggested courses at other providers that you may also be interested in:

Creative Production (Music) MA

Catalyst - Institute for Creative Arts and Technology

Find out more

Professional LLM in Canadian Common Law LLM

Osgoode Professional Development, York University

Find out more

Screenwriting MA

London Film School

Find out more

Social Inequalities Master Degree

Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences (ESSB), Erasmus University Rotterdam

Find out more

Creative Writing MPhil, PhD

Swansea University

Find out more

Undergraduate Visiting Student Program Short Course

Columbia University, School of Professional Studies

Find out more

Business Administration (five profiles) Master Degree

University of Groningen

Find out more

Postgraduate pathways and pre-masters at other institutions

If you do not meet the entry requirements for this course then consider one of these postgraduate preparation courses from another institution:

Youth Work

Sheffield Hallam University

Find out more

Graduate Diploma in Forensic Anthropology

The University of Western Australia

Find out more

Master in Global Leadership

Zurich Business School (UIBS)

Find out more
See all Postgraduate pathway courses

Other courses at Nottingham Trent University (NTU)

There are 495 other courses listed from Nottingham Trent University (NTU). A selection of these are displayed below:

Accounting and Finance BA (Hons)

Nottingham Trent University (NTU)

Find out more

Advanced Materials Engineering MRes

Nottingham Trent University (NTU)

Find out more

Advanced Social Work Practice MA

Nottingham Trent University (NTU)

Find out more

Agriculture BTEC

Nottingham Trent University (NTU)

Find out more

Agriculture BSc (Hons)

Nottingham Trent University (NTU)

Find out more

Agriculture BSc (Hons)

Nottingham Trent University (NTU)

Find out more

Agriculture (with foundation year) BSc (Hons)

Nottingham Trent University (NTU)

Find out more

Analytical Chemistry MRes

Nottingham Trent University (NTU)

Find out more
View all 495 courses at Nottingham Trent University (NTU)

Related Information

Find out more about studying in the United Kingdom