Equine science: UCD vs UL?

odessa19

Hi all! My first time posting so be nice:p Im starting college next year and Im definately going for a career with horses so equine science is my top choice. Im looking at either UCD or Limerick and I have to say the course in UL looks much better. I havnt heard much about the course in UCD but it looks like theres a lot of ag science involved whereas UL seems a bit more practical and more focused on horses. Anyone have any experiecne of either of these courses or know anyone that does? Thanks!:)
(P.s. Wasnt sure what forum to post this in so sorry if its the wrong one)

Hockey Chick

A friend of mine did vet nuring through UCD and loved it. I know they have the large animal hospital which gets lots of interesting things but dont know anything about UL but good luck and hopefully someone will know more

Ave Sodalis

I had to make the same decision myself and I went with UCD. It looks like a better course to me and UCD is an over-all better college facilities wise

rstax

i was thinkin bout this too myself! But taking a year out next year so have another while to think .. About UL though-was chatting to a lecturer there and he said that you might get out to a yard once a week through some stages of the year.. Just so you know and are prepared for labwork .. Good luck!

Car_Higher Then_The_Sun

rstax wrote: »

i was thinkin bout this too myself! But taking a year out next year so have another while to think .. About UL though-was chatting to a lecturer there and he said that you might get out to a yard once a week through some stages of the year.. Just so you know and are prepared for labwork .. Good luck!

Im in second year in UL doin the equine science course. I took a yr out after School to think bout wre 2 go 2 college too, it was the best decsion ive ever made. Im glad I picked Limerick its a great college..Der are sum really gud lecturers, You get to do horseridding once a week in a luvly riding school just outside Adare..lab reports are a bitch they really start 2 pile up in 2nd yr..but once u keep on top of them all you will b grand:cool:

They also hav been doin d Equine course in UL longer then in UCD...frm wat i hear we hav d best lecturers..

aoifemcd

I did a year of Equine Science in UCD and to be honest I hated every minute of it. I thought originally that it would be the best choice for me but about a month into it I realised that it wasnt what I'd been looking for at all. still, i stuck it out for six more months before finally dropping out. I know people who have done the Equine Science course in UL and said it was brilliant and I know that the head of equine science in ucd got her degree from UL originally too.

I ended up going to NUI Maynooth to do Equine Business and its brilliant so far. I absolutely love it...so a big vote for it here!

loopyloulilly

Hi,
I know you asked about UCD vs UL but here's another option.
You probably never heard of Cafre. But I studied Equine Science up in Enniskillen It is really hands on with Equation, stable care, chance to ride in competitions, theory based as well as hands on in the labs and yard.

Actually instead of me blabbing on here's the link.
Loved every minute of it.

http://www.cafre.ac.uk/index/information-for/prospective-students/courses/equine-management/bsc-in-equine-management.htm

odessa19

Thanks everyone!
loopyloolilly-Ive heard of cafre and I thought about it for a while but the fees for the north just arent practical at the minute:(
Well now Im kinda wondering whether or not college is the right choice for me at all, like I might be better going as a working student somewhere (I mainly want to be involved in the practical side of the horse world) or getting my bhs exams...maybe the fas course? Advice anyone?

eilo1

HI Odessa,

I did the HND in Enniskillen and then worked as a groom for a show jumper in NZ, then in the racing industry, riding work and breaking.

I also did my bhs in a riding school for a summer and part time in various livery and competition yards.

If you want to work hands on in the industry then you dont need to study an equine degree. No matter what qualifications you have, you need to be able to ride to get a riding job. All the interviews are the same, you just tack up and ride and are judged on that.

However, working as a groom or a rider is HARD! I did it until I was 24 and then went back to university to study physiotherapy. I hope to be an equine physio in the end.

My advise to you would be to really think about what you want to do. If you want to work in the racing industry then just get in as a work rider and work your way up. Or think about RACE. For sport horses get your BHS and then move to a competition yard.

If you think somewhere down the line you would like better money and hours you may be best to do the degree and have the option of working in a feed company/AI lab etc in the future.

I hope this helps and good luck!

siobhanc93

This is my first ever time on boards and i came on searching for someone to enlighten me on this exact topic! I'm having the same problem. I definitely want to study equine science next year, no doubt about that, but where?!?!
I have UCD down as my first choice atm but after looking at the course modules it seems to only specialise in equine science in the 3rd year, up until that it's general animal ag science? UL's course is specilised the whole way through and has a great reputation. I'm from donegal but and Limerick is so far away and the fact i always wanted to go to dublin is what its holding me back i think!! arrrghh confused.com!!!
I would love to hear if anyone had any more detailed info on the UCD course but??

pearliewhite

I did animal science in UCD and some of my friends did animal science (equine) and we all did the exact same 1st and 2nd year which was mostly science based ( physics, biology , chemistry, maths etc) and there was very little about animals of any sort! think we might of had one or 2 modules bout animals but def not anything much about horses.
The course is tough going for the first year or two and about 5 people dropped out in first year.
In 3rd year you start to go into the animal side of things more (reproduction, physiology etc) and the equine class begin to have their own modules too. There is also work experience in 3rd year and a few of the equines went to kentucky which looked really good!
If you are looking for a hands on career with horses go with UL as the only hands on in UCD is the work exp which is up to you to organise but if you are looking for a career in research such as genetics, reproduction etc then go with UCD as it is at the forefront of equine research in ireland. So it really depends what you're into!

hope this helps a bit:D

Nolimits12

pearliewhite wrote: »

I did animal science in UCD and some of my friends did animal science (equine) and we all did the exact same 1st and 2nd year which was mostly science based ( physics, biology , chemistry, maths etc) and there was very little about animals of any sort! think we might of had one or 2 modules bout animals but def not anything much about horses.
The course is tough going for the first year or two and about 5 people dropped out in first year.
In 3rd year you start to go into the animal side of things more (reproduction, physiology etc) and the equine class begin to have their own modules too. There is also work experience in 3rd year and a few of the equines went to kentucky which looked really good!
If you are looking for a hands on career with horses go with UL as the only hands on in UCD is the work exp which is up to you to organise but if you are looking for a career in research such as genetics, reproduction etc then go with UCD as it is at the forefront of equine research in ireland. So it really depends what you're into!

hope this helps a bit:D

UL covers genetics, reproduction, etc... Most of the employees the the Irish Equine Centre (which is a lab on equine forensics, healthh disease, etc..) are UL graduates. So we get the scientific knowledge plus the hands on experience. Clearly UL is a better course.