This module provides a critical and interdisciplinary exploration of equine welfare within the context of performance horse industries. As public scrutiny and scientific interest in the ethical treatment of horses intensify, students will be equipped with the knowledge and tools to analyse and improve current practices in horse management, training, and competition. Through the lens of ethology, students will examine the horse’s behavioural needs, stress responses, and learning mechanisms, providing a foundation for understanding how management and training practices can either compromise or support welfare. A core focus will be on recognising welfare issues through behavioural observation to assess the psychological and physical well-being of horses. The ethical dimensions of equine sport will be explored, including stakeholder responsibilities, existing legislation, and codes of conduct that govern equestrian disciplines. The module investigates welfare concerns specific to different disciplines, critically evaluating training methods, use of tack and equipment, and overall management strategies. Students will engage with ethical and welfare assessment frameworks used in equestrian sport, gaining a deeper understanding of how these tools influence decision-making and policy development. Emphasis will also be placed on objective, evidence-based approaches to welfare assessment, including technologies and methodologies used to measure emotional and physiological responses in horses. By critically appraising current research and comparing it with industry standards, students will identify opportunities for advancing welfare through improved practices. Finally, the module addresses broader themes of sustainability and the sector’s social license to operate. Students will explore strategies for implementing change through education, stakeholder engagement, and human behaviour change models, supporting a shift towards modern, ethical, and sustainable practices in horse sport.
This module supports you to gain employment in a range of avenues within the equine industry or a broader graduate career. You will have the freedom over your own career path, and can choose an assessment suited to your own professional development on the pathway of their choice: performance consultancy, teaching in academia, technical sales and consultancy, event management, self-employed specialist or resource management. Regardless of your chosen specialism, our delivery will help you to foster a multidisciplinary approach to problem solving, develop transferable industry skills and enhance scientific communication to support you explore career opportunities and provide a springboard into your chosen career. You will gain an– appreciation of the different roles and remits related to industry placements. This will include writing, presenting and creative problem solving skills You will improve your confidence and and interpersonal skills beyond the university. Gain transferable workplace skills - time management; equality and diversity awareness; team working; leadership, self-reflection; career planning including reflection on one’s professional standing; goal setting and mature decision making. You will build you awareness of your desired sector - a global perspective; negotiation; integrity; responsibility; understanding how businesses work; health and safety; basic legal knowledge; sector specific skills and employer expectation awareness. By the end of this module, you’ll have not only a clearer vision of your career goals but also the practical skills and mindset to pursue them.
This module offers a comprehensive look at the biomechanics and sports medicine principles applied to equine athletes. You will explore the functional anatomy of the horse, movement analysis, injury prevention, and rehabilitation of sport horses, incorporating the latest cutting-edge technological advances in diagnostics and performance monitoring. Designed for postgraduate students with a background in equine science, this module integrates theory, practical skills, and research-driven insights, helping you build a critical understanding in equine performance and health. You will learn through a blend of online learning and residential in-person sessions. The online sessions will be a mix of ‘on demand’ screencasts, supported reading, online activities and ‘live’ webinars, discussions and activities, mostly available on the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). Your residential sessions will include 20 hours within the Equine Performance Science in Practice (EPSiP) which will focus on practical’s and visits relevant to the theory previously learnt. You will be expected to arrive at these sessions prepared and ready to engage in practical application. At all times there is an emphasis on participatory learning which will ensure that opinions, ideas and information can be readily developed, discussed and exchanged. This process is a vital and necessary part of the dissemination of the subject material and the building of skills
This module provides students with a comprehensive understanding of equine nutrition, focusing on both performance and clinical aspects essential for managing horses in various disciplines. Students will explore the role of key micronutrients and their functions, learn to assess deficiencies, and understand how to combat common nutritional gaps in the equine diet. The module also examines methods for assessing an equine’s nutritional status, such as blood and tissue analysis, and evaluates the efficacy of these methods. Additionally, it addresses clinical nutrition for complex issues such as gastric ulcers, muscle disorders, metabolic conditions, and post-surgery recovery for colic, liver, and kidney dysfunctions. Throughout the module, students will gain practical experience in managing the nutritional needs of performance horses, supporting their health and longevity from conception to retirement. Emphasis will be placed on feeding strategies across various disciplines, including endurance, racing, dressage, show jumping, and eventing. Through case studies, students will critically evaluate real-world nutritional challenges, developing recommendations to optimise the health and performance of horses. Creative problem-solving will be encouraged, allowing students to tackle complex issues within equine nutrition. Skills Developed: The module aims to develop a range of essential skills that are key for both professional practice and academic progression. These skills include: Critical thinking and problem-solving: The ability to assess complex nutritional challenges and develop appropriate, evidence-based solutions. Data analysis and interpretation: Skills in evaluating nutritional status through methods like blood and tissue analysis, as well as interpreting forage and feed analysis data. Practical application: The ability to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world scenarios, particularly in performance horse nutrition and clinical cases. Communication skills: Developing the ability to present clear, concise, and well-supported feeding recommendations, both in written and oral formats. Research and synthesis: The ability to critically appraise current research, evaluate different feeding practices, and apply this knowledge to the equine industry. Innovation: Encouraging creativity in problem-solving and the ability to propose new approaches to complex nutritionrelated issues. Overall, the module contributes to the personal and professional development of students, providing them with the skills needed to manage equine nutrition effectively in a variety of clinical and performance contexts.
View the full module definitionThis module will focus on elements of the professional research process applicable to students studying for a postgraduate qualification in Equine Science. You will determine appropriate ways to evaluate the design, ethics and conduct of research, learn how to critically analyse different sources, and prepare effective and professional reports and papers, demonstrating critical awareness and originality on any subject linked to equine performance. As well as studying approaches to traditional research and experimental design, you will learn the systematic review process and effective database searching, always in topics related to the equine athlete. Emphasis will be placed on methods that are objective, systematic, reliable, valid, ethical, effective and efficient and will prepare you for dealing with research in all modules and in particular the Taught Masters Dissertation module. This module also includes learning of advanced skills in the interpretation of quantitative and qualitative research data, and develops a critical understanding of the ethical considerations involved in the design, completion and data collection for research in the area of equine performance. The learning outcomes, activities and assessment for this module are designed to help you develop the skills required to plan efficient research, collect and analyse valid, reliable and usable data and interpret the results. The module is complementary to the Postgraduate Major Project Module and will also hone the skills required to plan, produce and report high quality research. The main skills developed are: initiative, independence, active learning; library and internet search and synthesis; numeracy and computer skills; critical analysis and evaluation of peer reviewed papers, information, theory and research techniques; innovation in theory/practice integration and interpretation; effective oral, visual and written communication. This module makes an important contribution to your personal and professional development.
The demands of equestrianism today recognises that achieving a competitive edge requires specialist input due to the impact of multiple influences that may limit performance outcomes. This module explores the measurable outcome parameters of performance and considers the evidence of musculoskeletal development of a horse produced as an athlete. Your evaluation will include intrinsic factors such as breeding and conformation in relation to discipline specific performance along with other extrinsic and environmental factors influencing development and welfare of competition horses. You will review the influence and priorities of the multifactorial paraprofessionals utilised in modern society and you will develop an in depth understanding of discipline specific needs and identify physical requisites and skills that denote success and longevity in competition horses. This will include reviewing current issues in an ever evolving competitive environment that may impact further on the rider/horse dyad. Throughout this module, you will examine in depth, and prioritise, the rider influence which potentially has the most overriding effect on any short and long term performance outcomes. This will include reviewing the internal and external drivers that formulate the responses of riders and emphasis will be placed on the motivational incentives and comparisons of training practices in industry relative to the competitive status and levels of the horse and rider. This module is intended to scrutinise and evaluate all elements that influence the development and potential of the equestrian athlete. The following opportunities for academic and professional skills development exist: You will develop an appreciation of the demands of the industry and will enhance your interpretational skills in evaluating and relating to both industry practice and research through review of the literature. You will acquire an in-depth knowledge of training and an understanding of what defines the ‘competitive edge’ and any associated consequences whilst your discussion and presentation skills will be enhanced through the embedded assessments. You will learn to analyse information from a variety of sources, generate practical ideas, develop decision making and discussion skills and apply existing knowledge in detecting and solving problems. Other skills you will gain, will relate to communication as an individual and as a team using oral presentation at a conference level. In order to meet the learning outcomes stated above you will demonstrate how to: Evaluate the quality of current research and literature and at an industry level, demonstrate evaluation on the topic and incorporate it as appropriate into your assessments. Demonstrate understanding of the role of multiple factors involved in training and how they may influence performance outcomes. Show understanding of knowledge of the physiological and psychological influences on performance in the short and long term.
This module brings together the knowledge and ideas from a variety of subject areas within the field, and uses a multidisciplinary approach to evaluation of the performing equine athlete. You will learn how to critically analyse previous and recent developments, as well as evaluate how to continue to develop the industry moving forwards. A range of theoretical and practical based learning will be encompassed, and industry representatives incorporated to assess the current state of performance management and welfare. You will be able to practically apply some of the tools to measure performance and evaluate how they can be used to monitor and enhance performance. This module will assess your understanding of exercise physiology from a discipline demand to accurately build up the ability to analyse the performance requirements of horses in different disciplines, to establish how to effectively monitor performance, and evaluate a range of different methods and management practices to enhance performance. By the end of this module, you will demonstrate expertise in performance requirements of various disciplines and how to enhance performance ability; as well as be able to effectively analyse the different mechanisms of performance analysis and how to utilise them to evaluate methods of performance enhancement. You will be able to evaluate complex issues surrounding performance and welfare, and make sound judgements based on scientific evidence and practical application. This module will allow you to consolidate learning from the entire MSc, and develop the confidence and skills as a professional to contribute effectively to analyse and enhance equestrian performance.
During this module, you’ll undertake a significant research project in your field of study and will present the research results in an oral presentation and thesis prepared to the highest scientific standards. During the course of the project, you’ll have the opportunity to raise significant and meaningful questions in a chosen related specialism. You’ll need to demonstrate good knowledge, which may require substantial theoretical and/or research understanding. The module will help you to communicate your research in a variety of ways in a concise fashion to scientists, lay people and potential employers. You’ll develop skills to evaluate and troubleshoot research questions, analyse complex data sets and/or draw meaningful and justifiable conclusions from your research findings. You’ll work within a team to develop the capability to expand or redefine existing knowledge by developing new approaches to changing situations and contributing to your chosen field. In addition, you will learn how to identify potential ethical and/or risk implications of research and gain an ability to work within good research practice guidelines. Your learning will be online via live Teams sessions and supported by online and library resources.