This module is designed to develop your understanding of the relationship between form and function in the horse. Taught in the first semester of the first year, this module will introduce you to the anatomical structure and physiological functions of all the major body systems, laying the foundations for future modules in health, nutrition and functional anatomy. The module will make use of theory-based lecture sessions and lab-based dissections to enable you to achieve a greater understanding of anatomy and physiology.
A common criticism of equine graduates entering the industry over recent years has been the lack of practical capability for individuals who have significant theoretical knowledge. This module will enable you to demonstrate your practical skills in a manner that will enable you to evidence 'first day competence' when applying for employment. The module will cover all aspects of daily husbandry tasks for stable and grass-kept horses, for both ridden and breeding animals. Linked to the practical skills acquisition will be the requirement for you to develop a mindset that questions normal practice. 'Why has the industry always done it like that' is a useful and pragmatic approach to considering improvements, and at this level, you will be expected to develop this enquiring nature to question and seek improvements to, usual husbandry practices. In order to do this, you will need to evidence that further reading has occurred to support your line of inquiry, including the consideration of sustainability for the systems employed and society. The completion of a practical competency e-log within this module will enable you to evidence that your skill set is 'industry ready'. Understanding the scope of the industry will enable you to consider personal skills development and identify development requirements to meet the demand of the industry in which you seek employment.
This module is designed to teach you practical skills for managing the routine health requirements of domestic horses, together with the underlying theory governing the approach to accepted husbandry practices. You will study common health problems in domestic horses alongside practical first aid skills and emergency management of health concerns. Parasitology and an introduction to internal disease processes will be covered, but the focus is on the practical management of health concerns.
This module is designed to develop your knowledge and understanding of the biochemical basis of equine nutrition. The structure of carbohydrates, proteins and fats is studied in the context of digestive physiology, energy provision and equine metabolism. Scientific principles are then applied to the practice of ration formulation used in feeding different types of horses. This module also develops an understanding of parasitology and microbiology in the context of equine health and performance.
This module will enable you to enhance some of the practical skills required for working with horses in the stud industry, alongside the development of essential theoretical knowledge of breeding and foaling horses. You will become familiar with the breeding year and its organisation as well as the interventions required to optimise breeding performance and neonatal management. There will be opportunities to tailor elements of the module to a particular breed/type of horse, or specific competitive discipline interests. Integrating scientific theory and practice is an essential aspect of study at degree level and a vital skill to possess regardless of the area of the sector you plan to work in.
This module allows you to explore current welfare issues in the animal industry both in the UK and abroad. Topics discussed may range from deaths on the racetrack to the ethics of veterinary treatment to genetically modified animals. Methods of measuring welfare objectively will be discussed. Comparisons will be made between management decisions based on scientific principles and those based on traditional or emotional values. The role of welfare organisations as well as the different types of legislation and codes of practice will be studied. Different philosophical viewpoints will be analysed and the ethics of keeping animals for human benefit will be considered. Ideas in this module will be explored through a variety of methods including seminars, journal club activities and lectures as well as giving students the opportunity to debate relevant issues.
This module will introduce you to the main principles of veterinary microbiology with a strong focus on the main types of microorganisms (eg virus, bacteria and parasites) involved in horse health and diseases. You will learn the structure and nature of micro-organisms, viruses and parasites and gain knowledge of how such organisms are cultivated/identified in the laboratory in order to aid the diagnosis of suspected infections. You will also gain practical skills in key laboratory activities (eg bacteriology, cell-culture, parasitology, microscopy).
Entering higher education is exciting; but it can also be a daunting experience. At ARU, we want all our students to make the most of the opportunities higher education provides, reach your potential, become lifelong learners and find fulfilling careers. However, we appreciate that the shift from secondary education, or a return to formal education is, in itself, quite a journey. This module is designed to ease that transition. You'll be enrolled on it as soon as you receive an offer from ARU so you can begin to learn about university life before your course starts. Through Into ARU, you'll explore a virtual land modelled around ARU values: Courage, Innovation, Community, Integrity, Responsibility, and Ambition. This innovative module is designed as a game, where you collect knowledge and complete mini tasks. You'll proceed at your own pace, though we you to have completed your Into ARU exploration by week 6. If for any reason you're unable to complete by that date, we'll signpost to existing services so that we can be confident that you are supported.
View the full module definitionThe module is designed to develop the knowledge, understanding, skills and thought processes necessary for effective original research. You will study the nature and fundamentals of the research process, such as literature reviewing skills, the design of a research project, techniques for collection of research data and statistical techniques for analysing research data and drawing valid evidence-based inferences.
This module is designed to expose you to a wide range of technology and techniques currently used to conduct equine-based research. You will be able to identify quantitative and qualitative methods available for use in experimental design across a variety of different equine-related disciplines, such as biomechanics, exercise physiology, welfare and behavioural research. The relative advantages and disadvantages of various methods will be evaluated in relation to the validity of published equine research. Through a combination of theory and practical teaching, you will be able to appreciate the value and application of these tools within scientific enquiry. You will learn why, when, and how to carry out various sampling methods, which will also involve evaluating experimental design in research papers. Techniques to analyse and interpret this data will also be studied to provide you with the skills to perform your own research investigations within this and other modules.
This module develops an understanding of the scientific principles behind physical training and the physiological factors affecting athletic performance. Emphasis is placed on the physiological responses to exercise as well as the adaptations that occur as a result of long-term physical training. The module will look in detail at responses of the individual body systems as well as the athlete as a whole. Methods of both training and performance testing will be covered and the efficacy of specific training techniques discussed. Recent advances and techniques in the preparation for performance will be discussed with regard to the literature.
Understanding the behavioural mechanisms of the horse is fundamental to studying their behaviour in both natural and artificial environments. This module looks at the underpinning biology of how horses perceive their environment, the biological processes responsible for interpreting that information to produce the behavioural output we see, from natural, homeostatic behaviours, to undesirable behaviour patterns resulting from fear. The anatomy and physiology of the nervous, endocrine and sensory systems will be studied to identify their role in both processing information and effecting behavioural responses in a variety of environments. The impact of neurotransmitters and hormones on learning, stereotypies, stress and abnormal behaviours, as well as genetic influences, including breed and temperament, on behaviour will also be discussed as we apply this information to the training and management of domesticated horses.
This module is intended to develop the necessary commercial and professional skills to specifically prepare you for a career in the Equine Bioveterinary Science industry, as well as nurturing more generic career and business focused skills, transferrable across the wider equine industry and applicable to all workplaces. It is intended that the flexibility of this module will allow you to develop your skillset in the context of your own individual career aspirations. A key part of the module will be developing your understanding of the wider equine industry but with a specific focus on the key features of the Bioveterinary Science sector within that. This will include consideration of the types and characteristics of the organisations within the sector; the internal and external factors which influence their activities; and the career and employment opportunities arising as a result. You will get the opportunity to develop your wider business skills through analysing how the industry operates on a commercial scale and by learning about the sales, marketing and financial side of research and development. The legal and ethical considerations of the Equine Bioveterinary Science industry will be discussed, including developing your understanding of the legal and ethical frameworks currently in place, and the role of governing bodies and legislation that impact this area of the equine industry. It will also expand on issues relating to the ethics and welfare around the use of horses generally by developing this more specifically in the context of veterinary research.
You will gain an understanding of the principles and techniques used for the management of equine breeding stock. You'll demonstrate knowledge of correct industry practice along with the requirements and obligations required of the stud farm manager. The issues of reproductive management, manipulation and the problems raised by sub-fertile animals will be raised. The use and implementation of common breeding technologies (artificial insemination (chilled and frozen), embryo transfer) will be discussed along with introductory genetics relating to the breeding of horses. Practical sessions will be used when appropriate, eg at semen collections and laboratory analysis.
This module includes analysis of the causes, prevention, diagnostic and control of infectious and non-infectious diseases of the horse. It aims to provide you with a broad and in-depth knowledge of equine microbiological and parasitic infection and diseases, including pathogenicity and associated immune response, therapies and treatments.
This project is designed to enable you to demonstrate autonomy within a project-based module of your choosing. The project will be linked directly to your award programme and demonstrate clearly the development and acquisition of academic, transferable and importantly employability skills pertinent to your chosen sector. You will be given several options for completing this project, that may comprise of one or more of the following (please note that not all options are available for every student or scheme): 1. (Traditional) Dissertation: Consisting of a project in which a student finds, analyses and interprets a unique data set, ordinarily consisting of data generated via an experiment designed and undertaken by the individual. 2. Systematic Review: Systematic reviews aim to find as much as possible of the research relevant to the particular research questions, and use explicit methods to identify what can reliably be said on the basis of these studies. Methods should not only be explicit but systematic with the aim of producing varied and reliable results. 3. Education/Science Communication Project: Working alongside a school, this project identifies a practical experiment that requires implementation within the school’s curriculum. The project will cover all stages of the development of the session from scoping the requirement, understanding contribution to the curriculum, developing and implementing the session, analysing achievement and feedback and project evaluation. 4. Entrepreneurial Project: Where the student identifies an opportunity to develop an innovative product or resource that could be taken forward in their own start-up business. To include a substantive research element. 5. Research/Conference Paper: (Limited to those who achieved a 2.1 or better in the prerequisite Research Methods module). This entails a student undertaking novel research where the output consists of either a research paper ready for submission to a relevant peer-reviewed journal publication, or a conference presentation ready to be delivered at an external conference relevant to the industry concerned. 6. Consultancy Project: A real-life business-based project that is (ordinarily) set by an industry partner. These projects are likely to entail a ‘what if’ scenario for business development, but could also encompass problem-based scenarios requiring specific technical knowledge. 7. Community Engagement Project: Working alongside the local council, school or community body (such as a church) this project will enable students to develop and implement a solution to an identified problem and encourage reflection on the impact that the project has enabled on the whole community. 8. Student-focused Project: Working within the University College, this project will enable the student to demonstrate their awareness of the interface between the student body and academic staff and will entail the student clearly articulating and implementing solutions to an identified issue, with clear and direct positive results for subsequent cohorts. 9. Team-based project. Working within a team, each student will identify and contribute to an agreed, defined part of a larger collaborative project, ordinarily in conjunction with an industry partner. Part of the assessment for this type of project will include reflection on the role played by the individual and the wider team in the success of the project. Summative assessment will include a group presentation (mark allocation to be agreed by the whole team) and an individual report. 10. Case Studies. In this instance, students undertaking a course that includes the acquisition of competency skills will be able to put together a portfolio to evidence these skills that includes documenting case studies and reflecting on personal professional practice. Alternatively, students may choose to research interventions made by professionals to management protocols and evaluate, using case study examples, the efficacy of the changes made. The project module is designed to enable you to gain experience by undertaking a substantive project which explores specific issues in greater depth than is possible elsewhere in the programme. It is a major opportunity for you to demonstrate that you have met the level 6 descriptors for Bachelor Degrees with Honours as detailed by QAA within their Framework for Higher Education Qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. You will also be expected to demonstrate the knowledge and skills expected of an honours undergraduate as defined in the relevant QAA Benchmark Statement. This project module is also designed to develop independent learning, self-reliance, work planning skills and a professional approach to study.
This module aims to keep you up to date with current aspects of the equine feed industry including feed legislation, marketing and those feeds which are suitable for a range of horses including performance feeds and those aimed at supporting horses with clinical disorders. Nutrition for the performance horse and discussion of the relevant research in relation to energy requirements, the suitability of different nutrients to support different disciplines and evaluation of ergogenic aids will also be covered in this module. Appraisal of the role of nutrition in the causation and management of various clinical disorders such as obesity, laminitis and other metabolic diseases will also be investigated. On completion of this module you will be equipped with knowledge of the current research and market trends in equine nutrition.
Equine Biotechnology explores the development of current tools and technologies available for use within equine reproduction, genomics and a variety of other subject areas. This module will expose you to the most up-to-date advancements in equine science research and technology and give you the opportunity to see how these techniques are now used in practice. This allows you to understand how underpinning, scientific principles can be applied to achieve ‘real-world’ outcomes within the equine industry. You are also tasked with evaluating the potential use of these technologies and tools within future research, to further enhance knowledge and industry-practice.
Epidemiology is the study of the origin, distribution and determinants of animal health-, welfare- and production- related states or events in specified populations and it is an integral component of animal health and veterinary public health. This module aims to provide you with knowledge and understanding of the conceptual bases of veterinary and medical epidemiology and a range of different epidemiological methods used for disease surveillance, outbreak investigation, and observational studies to identify risk factors of disease in both human and animal populations and the environment. The importance of identifying the risk factors and applications of epidemiological principles and one health and global health approaches to sustainable surveillance and disease control and contributing factors within animal and human populations will be addressed. This module will also give you the opportunity to investigate the major health issues in both human and animal populations and the contribution of epidemiology to other health related disciplines, as well as the impact of socio-economic, political, and cultural challenges on disease control.
The activities of any organisation take place against a background of a rapidly changing external environment. The diverse nature and scale of the equine industry within the UK, European Union (EU), and wider international context means that there are a wide range of political, economic, legal, social, cultural, environmental and technological issues currently affecting individuals, enterprises and organisations within the equine industry. The horse as a living animal also presents issues relating to its health and welfare which require monitoring on a regular basis. This module aims to develop your awareness and ability to analyse and evaluate the impact of various complex issues on participants, businesses and other organisations within the UK and wider international equine industry. Current and historical case studies of issues of significance in the equine industry will be used to analyse the interaction of appropriate organisations with government and other decision makers on a local, national and international basis. Future predictions for change within the equine industry will be investigated, together with opportunities for growth, development and diversification. Comparisons between different animal sectors and countries will be used to develop rationale and future models of improved structures, processes and systems for the equine industry.
This module reviews the principles behind the growth and development of the equine from conception through to maturity. The processes of musculoskeletal, circulatory, neurological and endocrinological development will be examined, along with aspects of nutritional demand and change. You will enhance your understanding of the changes in physiological demand of the horse, through critical phases of their developmental process and the problems associated with interruption to normal patterns. This will enable an understanding of developmental aliments and diseases, their likely cause, treatment, prognosis and prevention in the developing equine.
This module will discuss the intrinsic and extrinsic elements that effect health and performance in animals. A range of injuries associated with different activities will be studied. This includes discussion of up to date diagnostic procedures, veterinary and complementary therapies including surgical techniques, rehabilitation methods and prevention. The use of drugs and nutraceuticals as a therapeutics and as performance enhancers will be analysed. Equestrian disciplines such as racing, eventing, showjumping, dressage and endurance are associated with stress on different limbs and physiological systems of the horse. It is important for the equine graduate to understand the injuries and conditions that horses that they work with are likely to be predisposed to, how to minimise risk and what treatments are likely to be offered if it occurs. In addition to the differing stresses that occur to the horse's limbs and physiological systems when being trained and competed in different equestrian disciplines this module will also look at a wide variety of activities that dogs take part in that may result in sports injuries and diseases. These activities include dog agility, fly ball, gun dogs, sheep dogs, racing greyhounds and pet dogs. A veterinary physiotherapist needs to know what injuries are likely to occur during different activities, what predisposes an animal to these injuries and conditions and what treatments and therapies they could receive both from a vet and other para-professionals. Some of the conditions studied in this module will include joint pathologies in the horse such as side bone, ringbone and bone spavin; joint conditions in the dog such as elbow and hip dysplasia and cruciate ligament rupture; spinal conditions including kissing spines and disk disease.