About Equine Performance, Health and Welfare, 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.

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Entry requirements for this course

Contact Nottingham Trent University (NTU) to find course entry requirements.

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