A group of horses and riders standing outside the entrance to a stable

Equine

If you dream of working with horses, our practical specialist courses at Writtle provide the skills, expert theory and qualifications required to enter the thriving equine industry.

Discover more at an Open Day

Develop your practical and academic skills with the support of highly-experienced equestrian experts and practitioners at Writtle.

Our extensive facilities offer you opportunities to practise your new skills outside of scheduled classes, work on the training, rehabilitation, or behavioural issues of project horses, and bring your own horse to university (subject to availability). Our Equine Academy offers additional support for 6-12 talented riders studying for higher education degrees each year.

We're well-connected with industry partners, helping you gain further hands-on experience and build your network. Our professional links include the Animal Health Professions Register (AHPR), World Horse Welfare, Highclere Stud, Far Westfield Farm, Newsells Park Stud, The National Stud, Juddmonte, Shadwell, Fittocks Stud, New England Stud, International Association of Animal Behaviour Consultants (IAABC) and the British Horseracing Authority.

Undergraduate courses – available in Clearing

Postgraduate courses

College courses

Equine student grooming a horse

Hands-on learning

Study equine courses with ARU in Writtle and benefit from:

  • dedicated Equine Training and Development Centre on our Cow Watering Campus
  • working stable yard, with around 70 horses on campus
  • indoor and outdoor riding arenas
  • oval horse walker
  • therapy barn
  • 150-hectare campus with grazing and space for events
  • DIY Livery Yard for students' horses.

Take a guided tour and meet our students

What our graduates say

Rachel Dyke with a pony on the other side of a stable door

"Studying at Writtle helped to deepen my understanding on areas such as nutrition, equine physiology, sports performance and veterinary conditions. This has been incredibly beneficial to my career."

Rachel Dyke

Marketing & Communications Officer - British Equestrian

Lauren Allport standing with her arms around a horse's neck

"Writtle was my first choice... it offered a variety of different courses in the field I was interested in (mainly horses and therapy) [and] the facilities were of a very high standard."

Lauren Allport

Equine Sports Therapist and Social Media Influencer

Lisa Redwin riding a horse through water

"I found the practical experience complemented my theory-based lectures perfectly as I was able to transfer the knowledge I was gaining in the lecture theatre to real-life scenarios."

Lisa Redwin

Assistant Claims Manager - A&H and Equine - Tokio Marine Kiln

Get in touch

If you're thinking about applying to ARU or have questions about your application, contact us:

Monday-Thursday 9am-5pm (Please note we close at 3.30pm on the first and third Thursday of the month for staff training)
Friday 9am-4.30pm

Lordship Road
Writtle CM1 3RR
Get directions