Equine Science and Welfare Management (4 years including foundation year)

• Apply new and existing scientific principles to the management and training of horses, whilst embracing equine welfare.
• Study for British Horse Society qualifications alongside your degree.
• Study at our rural Northop campus in the beautiful North Wales countryside, with access to excellent equestrian facilities, as well as making use of the amenities at the Wrexham campus, on the edge of the largest town in North East Wales.
• Get ahead in the job market by gaining industry experience from work placements, educational visits and guest speakers.

During the first year students will combine theory and practice. They will investigate equine behaviour and how horses learn. They will question the ethics of our industry and gain practical skills necessary for their future career. Students will complete a work placement, and even at the start of their academic journey will be asked to focus on their career path.

• Foundation Zoological Science: This module aims to develop students’ understanding of the key principles of animal biology, laboratory skills and anatomical structure to function. The origins and classification of life will be covered together with cell and tissue structure and function. The main organs and systems of the animals’ body will also be covered.
• Practical Skills for Equestrian Science: This modules aims to ensure learners work safely and competently with horses. It covers the routine care and feeding of horses together with selection and fit of tack and equipment.
• Equine Behaviour and Cognition: Students will investigate the link between environment and behavioural patterns of horses, and link equine cognition to management practices. Equine evolution, behavioural development, domestication and the effects of modern equestrian practices on the horse will be studied. Understanding of learning theories will also form a significant part of the module’s delivery.
• Ethics and Welfare: This module aims to investigate contemporary issues within equine welfare and to introduce students to a range of relevant ethical issues. A variety of contemporary equestrian issues will be critiqued during the module.
• Academic and Personal Development: This module aims to familiarise learners with the higher education culture, to build on key skills (logical, mathematical and critical) necessary for successful study in higher education.
• Working in the Animal Sector: A range of career opportunities and associated challenges with gaining employment within the equestrian sector will be studied in this module. Students will also have the opportunity to develop their skills, knowledge and competencies within a workplace setting.
  
  

The second year provides students with the opportunity build on first year topics and to put learning into practice. Equine learning theory is applied to practical equine training, and the horse human partnership is explored. Scientific principles are developed, and research skills aim to prepare students for their final year. The applied project adds a unique dimension to the year allowing students to go out into the workplace and contribute to a business.

• Bioveterinary Science: This module aims to equip students with a working knowledge of topographical and skeletal anatomy and to enable them to identify anatomical landmarks. It will also cover the principles of animal health, and identify the impact of humans on animal health.
• Application of Equine Learning Theory: This module aims to reinforce the principles of learning theory as applied to equines, to link equine learning to training practices and to evaluate traditional and contemporary equine training methods and equipment. Theoretical and practical delivery will cover topics including equine learning and intelligence, methods of training horses, and dealing with problems within equine training.
• Horse Human Interaction: This module aims to enable students to critique issues associated with horse human interactions. A variety of issues will be covered within the module delivery enabling students to gain a broad understanding of the subject area.
• Research Methodologies: This module will enable you to understand the role of relevant research within the field of equine studies. In addition it will provide you with sufficient capability to plan a research project in your field of study, to define the research parameters, assess appropriate methodologies, and present your findings. You will learn how to examine and assess the appropriateness of different research methodologies to various research briefs and become aware of ethical and political issues in social research.
• Applied Project: This module will enable you to investigate workplace issues through a consultancy activity in an equine setting (e.g. compliance with legislation and welfare needs, customer service, cost effectiveness and time budgets). The module will include a significant amount of off-campus work within an organisation (work experience). This approach will allow you to learn from ongoing, meaningful and active involvement in a specific work environment.
  
  

The final year provides students with the opportunity to complete their own unique piece of research, thus enabling them to focus on a topic of choice. Equine health, reproduction and welfare are concentrated on in this final year, together with methods of behaviour modification. Career development is also a central theme, and third years are expected to complete additional professional development activities alongside their degree to enhance their chances of employment.

• Equine Health and Reproduction: Students will explore common equine disease processes, their aetiology, pathophysiology, treatment and management. The module also aims to provide an introduction to the anatomy and physiology of reproduction in the mare and stallion, and to investigate the effect of modern reproductive techniques on reproductive success. Routine health care, disease prevention and common and emerging equine diseases will be covered during the module’s delivery.
• Applied Research Skills and Professional Developmen: The module aims to equip students with the skills to evaluate research design critically as applicable to equine science and welfare management, to select and justify appropriate methods for data collection and analysis, and to reflect critically on personal development over the duration of the programme of study, linking scholarship and practice through reflection on specific professional development activities.
• Research Projec: This module aims to ensure students can evaluate research, and will guide students through the completion of a research-based study of a specialised area related to equine science and welfare management.
• Animal Behaviour Modification: The module aims to develop students’ awareness of the need for a systematic approach to understanding the aetiology of behavioural problems seen in horses. It will extend their understanding of how to analyse behavioural problems in horses and appreciate the limitations of relevant diagnostic techniques. It will also provide them with the opportunity to develop the necessary skills to suggest appropriate solutions to behavioural problems.
• Advanced Animal Welfare: The module enables students to explore how stress can be managed in a range of environments and situations. It also aims provide students with an understanding of the physiological and behavioural adaptations of horses resulting from modern use and husbandry.
  
  

The information listed in this section is an overview of the academic content of the programme that will take the form of either core or option modules. Modules are designated as core or option in accordance with professional body requirements and internal academic framework review, so may be subject to change.