Doing a degree in Equine Science is a complete waste of time and money isn't it?

[Miladymilord]

Because dd wants to put it as her insurance and I just think it's a load of bobbins.

[Themidnightcircus]

Yeah there's no money in horses/ horse racing/ polo etc.
None at all.

Hhm 🤔

[steppemum]

she needs to find out what people do with it afterwards.

if there are proper job opportunities, it might be an unusual and interesting field. But I suspect not!

What is her first choice?

[Miladymilord]

First choice is sports science.

[winewolfhowls]

Depends! Have you researched the uni's links to industry and work experience opportunities? You haven't given us much to go on, what careers does your dd have in mind?

I live in a very naice horsey area and people who want to work with horses often end up in low paying jobs because of their love of the animals. However, there are also lots of better paid jobs like horse dentistry, but I don't know if perhaps you need a specialist course for that from the get go.

[winewolfhowls]

If she isn't horsey don't do it!

[Maybugger]

I agree OP, as parents attending an Open Day for Equine Studies we were told that if your DC wanted to be a 'glorified groom' that's what the degree would offer! We were somewhat shocked at such bluntness and luckily DD chose a very different career path. The speaker emphasised how few lucrative jobs there were for their ES graduates.

[TownHall]

Start doing some job searches and see what’s on offer and what the salaries are. It’s worth her putting some time into it. She needs some facts.

[Miladymilord]

Yes she's horsey. She doesn't want to be a groom! You can do that in this area without a degree. I think she just thinks it will be a lovely way to spend three years

[Hoozz]

Yeah there's no money in horses/ horse racing/ polo etc
There isn't unless you are the wealthy owner who pays a pittance to the poor slave youngster with the equine degree.

Many years ago a horse mad friend followed a similar route. After ten years of working unspeakable hours for a breadline existence she gave up and switched careers to one that paid enough for her to buy a horse. 30 years later her horse mad DD was also going down the horsey qualification route but decided in the end to do Sports Science.

What about Vet Med? (Though it's more competitive than medicine and less well paid.)

[Miladymilord]

She won't get the grades for vet med.

[hellsbells99]

What about something like equine physiotherapy?
www.harper-adams.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/201002/veterinary-physiotherapy

[hellsbells99]

Sorry that link was got general vet physio but there is equine as well.

[Aprilshowersnowastorm]

Neigh......

[wizzywig]

Shed loads of money in equine therapy.

[LIZS]

A lovely way to accrue at least 30k debt!

[TiaMariaAndCoke]

I went to agricultural college and a lot of my friends did it. None still work ft with horses. Most did it a few years after graduation then did other things - most retrained - eg teacher/biomedical scientist/lecturer/etc.

I wish I'd become a groom aged 16. I'd have ended up very wealthy - I'd have married the trainer's son.

[titchy]

There's no money in sports science either - they often end up a personal trainers in the local gym...

[BubblesBuddy]

If you earn little, you effectively have no debt!!!! You don’t pay a penny until you earn over £25k. However if you are not horsy, this wouldn’t be a great choice in my view. You are not a vet. You are not a vet nurse or anything really. I guess they train people to work in labs or in studs maybe. If she likes horses, I could see the interest but otherwise I cannot really see the point. Loads of people who work with horses don’t have qualifications. Experience is better. You need to know horses.

[Feelings]

I was going to say sports science is also useless as well but looks like PP has beat me to it.
I did Biology and a lot of people in my lectures were sports science and forensic science, I think very few people go on to do well in the sciences unless it is biomedical science.

Anyway, I would pick something that is in demand, other people have given you good suggestions here.
If she wants to do something similar to sports science I would pick physiotherapy, there are tons of jobs available and its close to sports science.

[Miladymilord]

Yeah sports science isn't great but she's very interested in it. It's too late for physio as she has no work experience!

[Merrylegs]

DS does Sports Science (at the uni you would expect). He is super employable - and loaded, as his bank balance will testify after his lucrative placements in industry. He trains with Olympians and is at the cutting edge of research. His future is exciting. Good luck to her!

[Miladymilord]

Wow that's inspiring merrylegs!

[Jonsnowsghost]

I did Equine science, now have a good job in animal nutrition. Although I probably wouldn't if I had the chance to do it over again! You do get discounted a lot during job applications, I have a masters too (also horse related) and I think that helped.

[SeaGlassHunter]

A friend of mine did Equine Studies with Business Management around 20 years ago. She has done quite well for herself, I won't out her by saying what her business is but she certainly isn't a groom!

[Honeyroar]

Take a year out. Get the work experience to be able to do physio. A few people will do well from sports science and perhaps even a few from equine degrees, but most won't.