The School of Equine Management and Science (SEMS) at the Royal Agricultural University (RAU) in Cirencester is pleased to present a new BSc (Hons) degree in Bloodstock and Performance Horse Management. This course is primarily for students with a keen interest and career aspirations in the thoroughbred and sports horse industries.
Launching for September 2016 entry, this innovative three year course specialises in the bloodstock and performance horse industries. Students will focus on the challenges facing the modern performance horse by studying horse physiology, ethics and production issues that challenge high performance horses. Businesses theory and practice with particular emphasis on equine businesses will furnish students with skills particularly pertinent to the racing and performance horse industry.
Dr Meriel Moore-Colyer, Dean of the SEMS at the RAU, said: “This is a unique BSc (Hons) degree that will take students on a journey of learning and development which is targeted specifically at the high-level performance horse industry. The blend of fundamental and production science in the context of performance horse business will produce the innovators of tomorrow and help develop and ‘future-proof’ this valuable section of the equine industry. Our ideal geographical location has facilitated our valuable consultation process with the Thoroughbred breeding and racing industry. I am excited about this new development for the SEMS, perspective students and the industry itself.”
Students will develop these skills through a variety of learning methods, including visits to racing and performance horse enterprises, and gain an insight into the different facets of European equine businesses. Students will complete a 20-week work placement in an equine-related business to apply and develop their expertise. It is this combination of vocational and academic skills which creates highly competent and employable graduates.
The University has a proven track record for graduate employability, with former students securing high profile positions in the many areas of the performance horse industry. Our employers include: Newbury Racecourse, Blair Castle Horse Trials, Juddmonte Stud, Tattersalls, Haygain (forage health specialists), Equinome (pioneers of the speed gene test), Weatherbys (Thoroughbred breed registry), and the National Trainers Federation to name a few.
Formed in 2014, the SEMS offers a portfolio of undergraduate and postgraduate courses and research opportunities:
· BSc (Hons) Applied Equine Science and Business
· BSc (Hons) International Equine and Agricultural Business Management
· BSc (Hons) Equine Studies (top-up)
· MSc Applied Equine Science
· Master of Science by Research (MScR) and PhD
Research in the SEMS is of international importance and is applied to many of the challenges facing the modern performance horse by working at the interface between veterinary research and practical horse owners and riders. Research specialisms include equine nutrition, genetics, and behaviour.
