Equine Performance and Rehabilitation

Equine performance and rehabilitation with a foundation year is designed for students who are passionate about horses and who want to develop the scientific and practical expertise to support equine athletes through training, performance analysis, and recovery from injury. The discipline draws on biomechanics, exercise physiology, musculoskeletal anatomy, and rehabilitation science, applying them to the specific demands of working and competing horses across a range of disciplines.

At Hartpury University, the programme explores the fundamentals of equine performance analysis and rehabilitation while developing your practical horsemanship skills in parallel. The unique incorporation of practical competencies ensures continual development of skills including ground schooling and equine performance analysis, reflecting the importance of hands-on horse knowledge alongside scientific understanding. The programme includes a supported work placement in year two, a compulsory placement year between the second and final years, and further work placement opportunities, making the four-year full-time structure unusually rich in professional experience.

The typical entry tariff is 120 points.

Graduates of equine performance and rehabilitation programmes work in equine therapy and rehabilitation centres, performance yards, veterinary practices, equestrian sports organisations, and racing establishments. Many also develop careers in coaching, sport science support within equestrian contexts, or research into equine health and performance. The degree provides a strong foundation for postgraduate study in veterinary physiotherapy, sports science, or animal rehabilitation, and the combination of scientific rigour and practical horsemanship is valued across the equestrian industry.