New Equine Science – Tavistock College

Tavistock College has recently introduced a new short course in Equine

Science for small groups of high achieving students interested in

veterinary and biological science or equine related careers. This unique

course has been specially designed to stretch and challenge students,

with topics on the evolution of the horse, the history of the horse in

human civilisation, functional anatomy compared and contrasted with

human anatomy, and finishing with an in depth discussion on common

diseases, injuries and treatments. All lessons are vividly brought to

life by the presence of the ponies Fleur and Treacle, enabling students

to gain hands on experience of assessing health, finding the heartbeat,

and listening to normal gut sounds; concluding with assessment of the

relative seriousness of different wounds - illustrated in this case with

tomato sauce!

The course is delivered by a uniquely qualified family trio with long

standing connections with the college. Helen Harris , currently Head of

Law at the college, District Commissioner of Lamerton Hunt Pony Club and

now President of the club, has many years' experience of working with

children and ponies. The expertise on science is provided by husband

Lawrie Harris, Cambridge Natural Sciences graduate and an inspirational

Head of Biology at the college for 25 years. Former student at Tavistock

Dr David Harris MRCVS is a vet with extensive equine experience, at

present lecturing in Higher Education, and he brings the veterinary

module to life for the students, who were riveted by his stories of

treatments in practice.

The course has been warmly welcomed by parents and students alike, who

feel that it really does give a truly academic perspective - indeed some

of the explanations of biochemistry are beyond what is expected at A

level Biology.