Are you considering taking your horse to university? Here are the pros and cons…
Rebecca Storer and Cas ready to load up to head off to university.
(Image credit: Rebecca Storer)
Taking your horse to university with you is something many riders heading into higher eduction will consider, but it can be tricky weighing up the pros and cons of taking your horse to university. Is it affordable? Will you be able to cope with the workload of your studies, while also having the time to take care of your horse? These are just a couple of the questions you should ask yourself before taking the plunge.
I sold my horse before I started studying at the Royal Agricultural University in 2010 as I didn’t think it would work, but once there, I realised how much I missed my horse time and that having a horse would be feasible around my course. So, six weeks into my course, I bought an inexpensive youngster to bring on alongside my studies, placed him in a DIY livery yard, and it was a decision I never once regretted.
Why transport is an important consideration
Taking your horse to university: part-time jobs
Securing a part-time job while studying can be a good way to help finance your horse while at university, although it may eat into the time you have to spend with your horse – as well as time socialising with friends.
“I started working part-time in the November of my third year, so quite quickly I had a horse, no car, a dissertation to write and a part-time marketing role to balance,” says Emily. “I quickly gave up partying, apart from very rare occurrences where I would often be found asleep stood up, I was so tired!”
Working, studying and owning a horse means you have to become incredibly self-motivated to be able to fit everything in.
“I would be at the yard for 7am, mucked out and turned out by 7.20am to get home, showered and back on my bike to get to work for 9am or to a lecture,” explains Emily. “I rode most days, studying in the evening and making sure I was finished and in bed by 10pm each night. I became very structured in my routine as there was simply no other choice but to get it done.
“It taught me an awful lot very quickly about time management and prioritising, which has certainly helped me in my professional life. I made some wonderful horsey friends, who I still speak to and see now, despite having left the yard over six years ago. My advice would be to do it, but be realistic about the care you can provide your horse, what your back ups are and be prepared to make a lot of sacrifices and work harder than before. It also helps if you have kind housemates, who don’t mind the door shutting in the early hours, mud brought into the house, or the whiff of horse every now and again!”
Former University of Northampton student, Penny Baker, says it was “definitely hard work” keeping horses at university.
“For two years I worked five nights a week to help with the costs, but it was well worth it,” explains Penny, who also states that if there is an option to keep your horse on campus, you can reap the benefits of the facilities on offer. “I went to Hartpury College between the age of 16 and 18 and the first-class facilities were amazing, but the lack of turnout was a real struggle and that didn’t suit my horse at all.”
Annastasia Cross was a veterinary physiotherapy student at Moreton Morrell and she opted to take her horse with her.
“I horse was a rising four-year-old at the time and having access to all of the facilities and regular physio in lectures has been a game changer to his dressage career,” she explains.
Lizzie Beech has had her horse at university with her for the past three years.
“The hardest thing was finding the right yard for us both. I wanted group turnout, but I also needed to consider holidays,” says Lizzie. “I leave him at the same yard so he stays in a better routine, but that means I return to university earlier than other students so that I don’t spend too long away from him.
“There’s no denying that having a horse can make university harder depending what livery option you’re on, but I wouldn’t be without him.”
Often, if you are on a DIY or part livery option, you can make friends with fellow liveries and work together helping each other out, as and when you might need to. For example, one of Emily’s fellow liveries proved very helpful.
“I was extremely fortunate that my stable neighbour often offered to bring my horse in or turn him out when I was swamped,” says Emily.
Friendships can be forged when you take your horse to university too.
Penny says: “It helped cement a friendship and we have been best friends for 30 years. We came out of our education with the best memories ever, and those memories always have a story that involved our horses.”
You may also be interested in…
Riding horses while at university — what’s on offer and how can you get involved?
How to get involved with or create a school riding team
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