Genetics degrees with link to horses??

[Cathpot]

Very bright, hard working motivated student in my tutor group (Yr11) was set on being a vet (biology/ chemistry/ maths as A level choices).

She competes at a national level in horse events and realised recently that it’s not so much she wants to be a vet but that she wants to work with horses and also have a well paid professional career. She’s had some work experience on a stud farm and was really interested in the AI / genetics side of things.

We were discussing whether a genetics degree of some sort with the option to specialise in horse breeding might be possible. Our careers teacher is having a look for her but I thought I’d open it to the hive mind and see what might be out there that would fit the bill? Any ideas gratefully received!

I'm not sure whether there's a job where you'd get into the nitty gritty of genetics on a day to day basis, while also working with horses 🧐.

I suppose other reasonably paid horse-related jobs exist - saddle fitter, physio, dentist, farrier.

Or she could be a geneticist for her actual job, and do something horse-y outwith that.

Yes I was thinking genetics degree would make her employable in general and then hopefully specialise in horse breeding, but you are right probably not much day to day horse time. She does have her competing for that. The issue is I don’t really know what career paths are open to geneticists outside research labs.

Check out Clinical Scientist jobs - there are a whole range of specialities including genetics, biochemistry, immunology etc.

You can be a vet and then specialise - so she could still do vet med and then work in equine reproduction / research in genetics etc rather than clinical practice. Might be worth contacting the RVC or another vet school re their postgraduate equine routes.

I live next door to a very well regarded horse stud. The women that owns and runs it started as a scientist specialising in genetics, then bovine genetics and now equine genetics and running a stud.

She is looking at the length of a vet degree and the hurdles to get into vet school and questioning if that is worth it when really she is only focussed on one animal! Her original plan was as you suggest to qualify as a vet and then specialise but she is wobbling. She’s not closing that door completely but starting to think about wider options.

I will also have a look at clinical scientist jobs, thank you.

@YYURYYUCICYYUR4ME
That sounds exactly what she is after. I can suggest she looks up stud farms and writes to them to see if she can get advice that way.

Look at veterinary biosciences or other non-vet courses at the 9? UK vet schools eg https://www.surrey.ac.uk/undergraduate/veterinary-biosciences#structure

Pure genetics is too specialised at undergrad, but any bioscience degree will include genetics modules and there will be final year projects where she chooses what to focus on. Obvs ones at the vet schools will have an animal focus - through afaik all mammal genetics are pretty much the same.

I've just looked at the website of horse AI/semen specialist business I know of, and their some of their laboratory staff seem to have a BSc in Equine Science. One also has a Masters in Research in Bio Science.

That’s great- thank you very much - I will forward her those links to have a look at.

RAU has an equine management/bloodstock degree that includes some genetics

@Cathpot These are the two courses at the RAU that she should look at.

I would also contact the major studs in this country and see what qualifications they value. I think you will find mating plans are about more than genetics - race results matter too. There’s are lot of top studs around Newmarket breeding very valuable thoughbreds. They are at the cutting edge of breeding horses. A little stud breeding riding horses won’t have much scientific input because it’s not a multi million/billion £ industry.

Major studs are: National, Chevely Park, New England, Lanwades, Dalham Hall, Banstead Manor and Shadwell. See if they have open days.Ask about jobs with them and what qualifications are needed. Many racing yards have open days. Lambourn is Good Friday. Breeding matters to the studs but the depths they go to to ensure the best outcomes is driven by their business and racing needs. Some are huge international stud operations like Darley and Shadwell.

Attached!

I meant to add: there are breeding studs for other competition horses such as dressage, shoe jumping and eventing but maybe not spending the money that the racing studs do. There’s also Arab horse racing.

You are all brilliant! Thank you very much.

I did a BA in Equine Studies at Coventry Uni / Warwickshire Agricultural College and studied modules in veterinary medicine, genetics and stud management. You could pick your modules depending on whether you wanted an emphasis on science, business management or practical skills.

We had a uni trip to Ireland to visit the National Stud and Coolmore Stud.

The college stud was amazing. We got to watch semen collection, egg collection and embryo transfer. One of the college mares was competing at Badminton the day a surrogate mare gave birth to her foal. Students were allowed to help during foaling.

I did a placement year at a Connemara stud. My dissertation was based on stud management practices.

If she specifically wants to focus on breeding horses, I think an equine degree would be perfect.

@Cathpot I saw the attschec today at Cheltenham. Worth asking about careers perhaps?

Thank you, will look into. I’ve passed all this on, she seems keen to look into the options and is also looking into degrees in Europe. She is very bright and quietly determined - she will do well wherever she goes.

Would this interest her? Studying in Ireland… https://www.ul.ie/courses/bachelor-science-equine-science