Racehorse Performance and Rehabilitation
Racehorse performance and rehabilitation is a specialised discipline at the meeting point of equine science, sports medicine, and the commercial world of horse racing and the bloodstock industry. Understanding how racehorses perform at the highest levels requires deep knowledge of equine anatomy, physiology, and biomechanics, while rehabilitation science addresses how horses recover from injury and return to full competitive fitness. Together, these scientific foundations are applied within one of the UK's most economically significant sport and leisure sectors.
At Hartpury University, this three-year full-time degree is distinctive in combining rigorous scientific training with an understanding of the business dimensions of the global racing and bloodstock industries. Core modules in applied anatomy, physiology, and practical equine competencies give you the scientific grounding to understand and support racehorse performance at a high level. You also have the option to study nutrition, behaviour, biomechanics, and sports medicine in greater depth, allowing you to develop specialist knowledge in the areas most relevant to your career aspirations.
The programme includes a sandwich year and work placements, giving you direct professional experience in racing yards, rehabilitation centres, or related equine industry settings. The typical entry tariff is 120 UCAS points.
Graduates of racehorse performance and rehabilitation programmes find careers in thoroughbred racing yards, equine rehabilitation clinics, bloodstock agencies, equine physiotherapy and sports medicine, and the wider equestrian and performance horse sector. The combination of scientific depth and business awareness the degree provides is valued by employers across the industry. Many graduates also pursue postgraduate study in equine science, animal physiology, or sports medicine, or go on to professional training in equine physiotherapy or related therapies.
The international nature of the racing industry means graduates with the right expertise can also build careers beyond the UK.