Aleen Cust was the first female MRCVS in Great Britain or Ireland and first female equine vet. 

Despite completing the Veterinary course in 1900 the RCVS refused to allow her to sit any exam. She practiced as a veterinary surgeon outside the professional law. It was only after WWI that the RCVS finally granted Aleen her diploma, 22 years after finishing her veterinary course. 

Professor Barrie Edwards CBE BVSc DVetMed FRCVS was one of the top equine abdominal surgeons and was a pioneer in developing colic surgeries. 

He was awarded a CBE in 2002 in recognition of his services to equine surgery. 

Dr Celia Marr BVMS, MVM, PhD, DEIM, DipECEIM, FRCVS is a RCVS Recognised Specialist in Equine Internal Medicine, Diplomate of the European College of Equine Internal Medicine and European Veterinary Specialist in Equine Internal Medicine. She was awarded a Fellowship by the RCVS and is Editor-in-chief of Equine Veterinary Journal (EVJ). 

She has published over 60 research papers and education material relating to a range of medical disorders of the horse.  

Dr Deborah Baker BVetMed MRCVS is BEVA’s first female president, juggling life as a new mother with her demanding role and various projects. She represented BEVA on the Horserace Advisory Committee (HAC) with the role to reflect the importance of equine welfare in the racing and breeding industries. Tackling stable hygiene issues and racetrack surfacing.

Whilst president, she conducted the first survey of veterinary facilities on UK racecourses which went on to identify some huge issues.

Another initiative Deborah was part of was the need for a pre-purchase examination, and courses to train vets on how to do this. This course still runs to this day and proves extremely popular still.

A Caslick’s procedure, also known as vulvoplasty, is a common surgical procedure veterinarians perform on mares. Dr E.A. Caslick, DVM, first described the operation in the 1930s, and it has since become a mainstay of equine reproductive practice.  

Gemma Pearson BVMS CertAVP(EM) MScR MRCVS has developed an equine behaviour service at R(D)SVS which has proved very popular amongst clients and referring vets alike. She is also the Veterinary Liaison Officer for the International Society for Equitation Science. 
 
Currently Gemma is undertaking a PhD investigating the stress response of horses undergoing veterinary treatment.  
 

Dr Jenny Hall is a pioneering equine sport horse vet who is the current first female chair of the FEI veterinary committee. She was the key to the success of many GBR eventing horses within her role as team vet and the vet services manager of the extremely successful London 2012 Olympics. She was the first female Chief Veterinary Officer for the British Horseracing Authority. 

Dr John Walmsley MA VetMB CertEO DipECVS HonFRCVS is the founder of Liphook Equine Hospital, and practiced at first single-handedly and was the only surgeon on call permanently for many years.  

He is a diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Surgeons, of which he is a past president and was awarded an honorary fellowship of the RCVS and current member of the RVC. 

Laurentius Rusius was an Italian veterinarian and the original author of Hippiatria sive Marescali, which translates to Book on the Health of Horses.

Professor Leo Jeffcott PhD MA BVetMed FRCVS DVSc VetMedDr has been an official FEI Event Vet, establishing FEI veterinary protocols and was Chairman of the FEI Veterinary Committee. He has been an official vet at six Olympic games. 

His research is wide ranging from reproduction to orthopaedics to exercise physiology and he has contributed widely to EVJ. 

Professor Marianne Sloet DVM PhD Dipl. ECEIM Dipl. ECVSMR Spec KNMvD Equine Internal Medicine is a former BEVA Council Member and former president of ECEIM. She is currently president of the Board of Animal Arbitrage of the Netherlands, president of the Equine Health group of SRP, member of the Council of Animal Affairs and member of the Ministerial Advisory Committee for Infectious Disease and veterinary advisor of the Dutch National Equestrian Federation and the Dutch Warmblood studbook (KWPN). 

Professor Dixon MRCVS, PhD, DECVD (Eq), Dip EVDS, FRCVS is internationally recognised as an expert in both equine respiratory and dental disorders, pioneering modern dentistry and making a significant contribution to working equus welfare.  

He is a specialist in equine head and neck surgery including dentistry, sinus and upper airway surgery. He has 200 peer-reviewed publication in these areas and authored numerous textbooks and has received awards by ACVS, BEVA and AAEP for contributions to equine head and neck surgery. 

Professor Renate Weller DVetMed PhD DipECVSMR MRCVS is a European specialist in diagnostic imaging and American specialist in Equine sports medicine/rehabilitation and is a professor of comparative biomechanics and imaging and research in imaging and locomotor biomechanics. She is the director of Learning, Education and Development at CVS group.  

Professor Sandy Love BVMS PhD FRCVS has served as both a BEVA council member and president. He was Editor of Equine Veterinary Education and chaired BEVA Trust and transformed the charity where now one of the main focuses is to provide opportunities for BEVA members to work on equine welfare-related projects. He is Charmain of the Veterinary Advisory Committee (VAC) to the HBLB. 

Dr Sue Dyson MA VetMB PhD is a European Specialist in Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation and a former BEVA president and veterinary advisor to the Saddle Research Trust.  

She is the major author of more than 200 peer-reviewed journals and books to include “Diagnosis and Management of Lameness in the Horse”, “Equine Scintigraphy” and “Clinical Radiology of the Horse”. She was awarded the BEVA John Hickman Orthopedic Award in 2000. 

Dr Angus Mckinnon BVSc MSc DACT DipVetMed Diplomate ABVP, an Australian Registered Specialist in Equine reproduction. He received a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for services to veterinary science, particularly equine reproduction.

He has published more than 65 peer-reviewed articles.

Barry Johnson is the current Chairman of the Horse Welfare Board on behalf of the British Racing industry. He is also a former RCVS president and was a RCVS Council Member for 28 years and a past Chairman of World Horse Welfare.  

He was awarded the Queen’s Medal from the RCVS in 2017 (highest honour the college can bestow upon a veterinary surgeon). 

Charles Vial de St Bel’s wrote the Plan for establishing an institution to cultivate and teach veterinary medicine (1790) which involved an introduction giving the reasons for creating the veterinary profession and practical suggestions for putting this into effort. 

The Plan resulted in the founding of the London Veterinary College in 1791 with St Bel as its Professor. 

Dr Dennis Brooks DVM, PhD, DipACVO is a former President of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists. He has written over 170 academic scientific publications, 76 book chapters and the book “Equine Ophthalmology”. 

He received the BEVAs Sir Frederick Smith Memorial Lecture and Medal Recipient in 2007 and received the Frank J. Milne State of the Art Award of the American Association of Equine Practitioners in 2010. 

Dr Ebony Escalona BSc BVSc MRCVS PhD AHE is the founder of the online support platform Vets: Stay, Go or Diversify which brings peer to peer inspiration for career pathways within and beyond the profession, space for veterinarians to explore and expand their careers. 

He served with the Royal Engineers and Royal Horse Artillery. After the war he qualified as a vet at the RVC in Edinburgh. He was active in leading vets and co-founded the Society of Veterinary Practitioners. In 1940, he served as President of the British Veterinary Association and Chairman of the Survey Committee (1939-1946)  

The Harry Steele-Bodger Memorial Fund was established in his honour in recognition of his great services to the veterinary profession and agriculture, particular during WWII. 

Dr Joe Mayhew BVSc, DiplOVC, PhD, DSc, FRCVS, DACVIM (LAIM & Neurology), DECVN, MANZCVS is a Diplomate of the ACVIM achieving certification in large animal internal medicine and neurology.  

He is the author of large animal neurology, equine medicine and comparative pathology. Dr Joe Mayhew was presented by the ACVIM with the 2021 Robert W Kirk Award for Professional Excellence. 

Dr J Auer MS, DipACVS, DipECVS is the co-founder of the ECVS and sole editor of the first edition of Equine Surgery, widely know as the “bible of Equine Surgery”.  

Professor Lawrence Gerring was a member and former president of BEVA, a member of the Editorial Board of the E.V.J. and instrumental in the development of E.V.E and was director of the Horse Trust. 

Lawrence was described by colleagues as “the saviour of phenylbutazone” as he researched and established the dosing regime in a safe and effective matter. 

Dr Neil Hudson MA VetMB PhD DEIM DipVetClinStud PFHEA FRCVS is a former BEVA Council member and the first vet to sit in the House of Commons since 1884. 

His research includes gastroenterology and veterinary medical education. 

Dr Pat Harris MA, PhD, Dipl.ECVCN, VetMB, MRCVS is a European Specialist in Veterinary Clinical + Comparative Nutrition and a RCVS Recognized Specialist in Veterinary Clinical Nutrition (equine) and a previous president of the British Equine Veterinary Association. 

She is the author/co-author of over 500 research papers and chapters most recently on obesity, laminitis, and senior horse nutrition. 

Dr Richard Newton BVSc MSc PhD FRCVS is an internationally recognised expert in infectious disease prevention and control, optimising the application of population-based studies to improve animal health and welfare. Newton was director of epidemiology and disease surveillance at the Animal Health Trust. 

Professor Sidney Ricketts LVO, BSc, BVSc, DSc(hc Bristol), DESM, DipECEIM, FRCPath, FRCVS is a RCVS Recognised Specialist in Equine Stud Medicine and a European Veterinary Specialist in Equine internal medicine and one of the first partners at Rossdales. He was at the forefront of equine reproduction and developed Beaufort Cottage Laboratories. 

He has been a board member to many of the veterinary and Thoroughbred industry’s professional bodies and currently is the veterinary advisor to the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association.  

Thomas Blundeville was an English humanist write and author of “The fower chiefyst office belonging to Horsemanshippe” 1566 and included a section on “The order of curing horses diseases”.  

Dr Wayne Mcllwraith is a pioneer in equine arthroscopic surgery and the mainstay of Colorado State Univeristy’s Orthopaedic Research Centre. His research interests focus on equine orthopaedic surgery and joint disease research, where many discoveries have informed human orthopaedic advances. He has authored 450 scientific publications and has authored 6 textbooks.  

Anthony Stirk designed the BHA racehorse injury and fatality database which has resulted in a decrease in fatalities by one third over the last 20 years.  

He is the Senior Veterinary Advisor at BHA and received the Outstanding Veterinary Achievement Award in 2017. 

Dr Elisabeth Svendsen MBE was the founder of The Donkey Sanctuary in 1969. She was awarded an MBE in 1980 and was given an honorary doctorate in veterinary medicine and surgery in 1992. 

Founder of Veterinary colleges at Lyon (1761) and publisher of Élémens d'hippiatrique ou nouveaux principes sur la connoissance et sur la médecine des chevaux (1750) (which translates to Elements of Hippiatric or new principles on the knowledge and on the medicine of the horses). 

Professor Derek Knottenbelt OBE BVM&S DVM&S DipECEIM DipACVIM MRCVS is an RCVS and European Specialist and Professor in Equine Internal Medicine. Derek established and runs Equine Medical Solutions Ltd and he is the primary author of 10 equine veterinary textbooks and over 100 refereed scientific papers. 

In 2005 he was honoured with an OBE for his services to horses. He also received the Animal Health Trust Scientific Award (2003), the BEVA Welfare award (2004, Merk-WEVA Welfare award (2006), and the RCVS Inspiration Award (2018). In 2019 he was awarded an honorary membership of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.  

Lieutenant-General Sir Frederick Fitzwygram was a British Army cavalry officer and an expert on horses. He was a member of the RCVS and as President he unified the veterinary profession Unifier of the veterinary profession. He reorganised the RCVS and obtained the supplemental charter.  

Jacques was a French author of books on horsemanship. He became Master of the Horse to the French Ambassador and learnt about veterinary practices in Germany. He wrote Le Parfait Mareschal (The Complete horseman) in two volumes, one in horse management and the second in equine diseases.  

Miss Johanna Vardon MBE is the founder and owner of the National Foaling Bank which has helped over 20,000 cases. She received the BEVA Welfare Award 2015. 

Johanna was awarded an MBE for her services to the horseworld. 

Dr Kathy Clarke MA VetMB DVetMed DVA DipECVAA FEHEA FRCVS is one of the founding members of the ECVAA. She was ECVAA representation on the European Board of Veterinary Specialisation and European editor of Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia. She also contributed to setting up the RCVS Certificate in Veterinary Anaesthesia. She made it possible to sedate horses as she did the initial work on alpha-2 agonists. 

Kathy is the author of other 100 articles, co-author of several books and book chapters. 

Lord Lawson Soulsby was veterinary surgeon to Queen Elizabeth II and sat in the House of Lords, where he chaired the Science & Technology Committee reporting on antimicrobial resistance and helped the WHO develop the first global plan on AMR.  

He was a founding member of the World Association for the Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology. He is the only individual to have served as president of both the RCVS and Royal Society of Medicine (the first non-medically qualified president of RSM) 

He was awarded the Queen’s Medal in 2015 for his outstanding lifetime contribution to bridging the worlds of veterinary and medical science.  

Nils Obel was a veterinary surgeon in the Swedish Army and is a decorated officer 1st class Royal Order of Polar Star, 1957, Knight 1st class Order of White Rose Finland, 1969. He is also the recipient of Silver medal Swedish Veterinary Association, 1948 and honorary plaque College Veterinary Medicine, Helsinki. He also did extensive research on equine laminitis.  

Dr Pete Webbon was the first Chief Executive of the Horseracing Regulatory Authority and prior to this he was Chief Veterinary Advisor for the Jockey Club and then became the Director of Veterinary Welfare and Science and also worked as CEO of the Animal Health Trust. 

Dr Robert Kenney was Associate Professor of Reproductive Pathology in the Department of Large Animal Medicine, Obstetrics and Surgery at Cornell University.  

Sir Frederick Hobday CMG FRSE PRCVS was President of the RVC from 1927-1937 and was official veterinary surgeon to Queen Alexandra, King George V, King Edward VIII and King George VI. He made major advances to animal anaesthesia and to small animal surgery.  

A Hobday or Ventriculectomy was created by Karl Gunther but refined by Hobday to the procedure used today. 

Dr Tim Mair BVSc PhD DEIM DipECEIM DESTS FRCVS has RCVS diplomas is a RCVS Specialist in Equine Medicine (Internal Medicine) and Equine Surgery (Soft tissue) and is a founding diplomate of the European College of Equine Internal Medicine.  

He is editor of Equine Veterinary Education and has published widely and is a partner at Bell Equine Veterinary Clinic. 

He became Equine Veterinary Direct of CVS Ltd in 2018 and is a former BEVA president during the year of the Covid pandemic and a current BEVA council member.  

General Wayne O Kester renowned for his highly honoured military service. In 1933, he joined the US Army Veterinary Corps as a Second Lieutenant, he retired 24years later from the US Air force as a Brigadier General.  

In 1956 he was elected and served as president of the AVMA, the only one to do some whilst on duty in the military.  

He was instrumental in forming the American Horse Council in 1969 and served on its committee for 20 years.  

He received distinguished awards from over 20 veterinary/equine related organisations.  

Dr Barbara Weaver pioneered major advances in equine veterinary anaesthesia. She was awarded an RCVS Foundation Diploma in Veterinary Anaesthesia and she was one of the first three veterinary fellows of the Royal College of Anaesthetics.  

She was awarded the faculty medal of Faculty of Anaesthetists and was a founder member of the European College of Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia 

Bonny Millar RVN, REVN is a specialist Equine Veterinary Nurse. She is a council member and former President of The British Veterinary Nursing Association (BVNA), equine nursing editor of the VNJ.  

She mentors nursing and veterinary students and has a particular interest in critical care nursing, wound management, and neonatology. 

Captain Matthew Horace Hayes was famous as a trainer of horses and published several equine care books including “Veterinary Notes for Horse Owners”. 

For nearly 125 years, Captain Hayes book has been the standard work on equine health care, constantly amended and updated to continue to provide a comprehensive guide to horse medicine and surgery.  

The founder of The Old War Horse Memorial Hospital in 1934 (renamed in 1961 to The Brooke Hospital for Animals), which developed from one operation in Cairo into one of the world’s largest equine welfare organisations. 

Dr Gerardus Marinus van der Plank was Professor by special appointment in the health sciences of domestic animals and zootechnics and an ordinary professor in the health sciences of domestic animals and zootechnics, specifically working on biomechanics of the horse hoof and shoeing.   

Jean-Marie Denoix DVM, PhD, Ass. LA-ECVDI, DECVSMR (Equine), DACVSMR (Equine) is a European Specialist in Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation. 

He also manages CIRALE (Medical Imaging and Research Centre for Equine Locomotor Conditions) and is recognised as one of the best horse locomotion experts. 

Colonel John Hickman began his career in veterinary medicine as an RVC graduate in 1935, joining the Royal Veterinary Corps and serving for 12 years.

Changing direction he opted for academia, becoming a reader in animal surgery at the University of Cambridge in 1952 where he remained until retirement in 1980. Colonel Hickman was the first BEVA President and played a leading role in establishing the Association from the basis of the steering committee formed in 1960.

His efforts were awarded with a honorary membership in 1965. From its inception in 1968 Colonel Hickman served as the first editor of Equine Veterinary Journal until 1975. Outside of BEVA, Colonel Hickman was a member of the Veterinary Advisory Committee of the Horserace Betting Levy Board, Deputy Chairman of the Veterinary Committee of the Fédération Equestre Internationale and RCVS Council Member.

During WWI Dr Louis A. Merrilat was a veterinarian for the 41st Division and later became veterinarian for the First Army. 

He was the author of a major book on equine surgery and two books on military veterinary history and became editor-in-chief of the Journal of the American Veterinary Association, where he also served as president.  

Dr Keith Betteridge BVSc MVSc PhD FRCVS is a founding member of IETS and is a former president. Dr. Betteridge has made a significant contribution to the field of domestic animal embryo transfer.  Alongside his team he produced the first embryo transfer foal and calf. 

Dr Norman Rantanen served in the US Airforce Veterinary Corps at Walter Reed Army Hospital. He achieved diplomate status in the American College of Veterinary Radiologists. He is the author of more than 30 publications on diagnostic ultrasound and developed numerous techniques via ultrasonic guidance.  

He received the 1988 Pioneer Award and the AAEP’s 2003 Distinguished Educator Award and is the founding president of the Large Animal Diagnostic Imaging Society within the American College of Veterinary Radiologists. 

Dr Peter Rossdale OBE PhD MA DESM Hon.DVM&S BVetSts FRCVS is one of the founders of Rossdales Equine Practice and was a key figure in setting up BEVA. Peter was editor of the Equine Veterinary Journal from 1980 to 2010 and editor-in-chief of Equine Veterinary Education for the first 20 years of its publication. He introduced a modern scientific approach to equine practice and was one of the first veterinary surgeons to embrace evidence-based principles in his daily practice and was an author of over 200 peer-reviewed papers.  

In 1996 Peter Rossdale received an OBE for services to Equine veterinary science.  

Professor Roger Smith MA VetMB PhD DEO FHEA Dipl.ECVSMR, Dipl.ECVS, FRCVS is a RCVS & European Specialist in Equine Surgery (Orthopaedics) and a European Specialist in Veterinary Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation and is currently a professor of Equine orthopaedics at the RVC. 

Major General Sir Frederick Smith KCMG, CB, FRCVS served in India from 1878-1885 and was appointed Professor to the Army Veterinary School in 1886 and then Director General of the Army Veterinary Service in 1907.  

Smith was the author of 50 articles including the “Manual of sore backs” and “ Manual of veterinary physiology” as well as “The early history of veterinary literature and its British Development”. 

Tullis Matson is the founder and Managing Director of Stallion AI Services and also set up Equine Reproduction Supplies which is the UK’s largest distributor of equine artificial insemination equipment.  

In 2011 Matson received the Marsh Christina Award for Conservation in Genetic Bio-Diversity 

Professor William “Twink” Allen CBE ScD FRCVS was a professor of Equine reproduction  

Twink served on BEVA council for many years and is known for his pioneering work in equine reproduction which transformed racehorse breeding. He founded the Equine Fertility Unit from 1989 until its closure in 2007. 

He held numerous honorary positions including those within the International Equine Reproduction Symposia Committee, Society for Study of Fertility, Reproduction Research Information Service, BEVA and RCVS.