Equestrian careers: Vet

So, you want to work with horses but have no idea where to begin. It would be an exaggeration to say that there are an infinite amount of careers available in the equine industry, but safe to say there are many more than you might imagine. In this series of ‘how to’ articles, we take a look at a few and see if we can inspire you and point you in a new and previously unexplored direction.

What does it involve?
Obviously, if you choose to train as a veterinary surgeon you will have to learn about lots of animals, not just horses. You may decide whilst studying that actually you enjoy the diversity of treating many species, but if by the end of your course you still favour equines, you can specialise.

There are various areas you can work in once you have qualified:

General practice
You will be responsible for treating a variety of animals including household pets, zoo animals, farm animals as well as horses, but if you wish to work only with horses and ponies, there are practices that specialise in equine work. Once you qualify there are further exams you can take, for example through the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS), which are necessary to keep your skills and knowledge constantly up to date.

Veterinary teaching and research
You could decide that research is the road you want to travel, learning more about diseases and working to find preventative methods and cures.

Government service
You could choose to protect public health through government agencies like the State Veterinary Service, the Veterinary Laboratories Agency and the Veterinary Medicines Directorate.

Other opportunities
You could decide to work with pharmaceutical companies, with charities such as the RSPCA and PDSA, or wildlife and environmental conservation.

What qualifications do I need?
You need to attend a Veterinary College and read for a degree, either a Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery (BVM&S) or Bachelor of Veterinary Science (BVSc). On gaining one of these qualifications you must become a member of the RCVS – then you can practise. The course lasts five years, six if you go to Cambridge, and is widely acknowledged as one of the hardest degrees you can undertake. But as long as you’ve got passion and drive, and can commit to the study hours required, which can often eat inbto your holidays, then you’ll be rewarded with a fantastic career at the end.

Where do I start?
As passionate as you may be about horses, in order to study to be a vet you need to have a love for all types of animals, not just equines. School qualifications required vary from college to college, but as a general guide you will need A level Chemistry plus two other subjects, and one of those will preferably be Biology, Physics or Maths. Non-science subjects will be considered as long as they are academically sound. Grades-wise you need at least two As and a B. Universities also require you to have good GCSE grades, and generally expect you to have attained at least a C in English Language, Maths and Science. Even if you have excellent grades, you are not assured a place at a veterinary school. Courses are always oversubscribed, so it pays to approach the university personally. Write initially, and attend all relevant open days so they know you’re keen.

Who can I contact to find out more?

• Veterinary Admissions Clerk, University of Bristol - 0117 928 9000
• Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge - 01223 337600
  
• The Cambridge Intercollegiate Applications Office - 01223 333308
  
• Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh - 0131 650 6130
  
• University of Glasgow Veterinary School - 0141 330 5700
  
• Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool - 0151 794 2000
  
• The Royal Veterinary College - 020 7468 5000, or www.rvc.ac.uk
  
• The School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham - 0115 951 6417
  
• The British Veterinary Association
  
• The British Equine Veterinary Association – 01223, 836970
  
• Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons