BEVA Awards

The winner of the 2024 BEVA Equine Welfare Award, sponsored by the Blue Cross, is Jan Rogers for her work on the Weigh to Win project. Jan is a psychology graduate who worked for British Equestrian for fifteen years before joining The Horse Trust in 2017 as Director of Research and Policy. Through her role she manages research grants and dissemination of the knowledge gained through those projects. Her exceptional understanding of the industry ensures that funding is directed to those areas of most importance and the benefits are maximised for those impacted by this work. The Weigh To Win project was started by The Horse Trust in May 2022, to raise awareness of equine obesity and reward healthy equine body condition in the showing community. The initiative has been embraced by the industry and its success continues to grow each year, thanks to the friendly and supportive approach taken by those involved. Through the guidance and advice it offers owners, riders and producers, both at events and via online resources, it has instigated a change in human behaviour that has paid dividends for equine welfare.

Jim Green was presented with The BEVA Welfare Award sponsored by The Blue Cross by Paul Manktelow, Veterinary Services Director of The Blue Cross and HRH Princess Anne. Jim joined Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service as a firefighter in 1996 where his rural background was instrumental in developing awareness of a range of rural issues, including response to animal rescues, agricultural fire safety and wildfire. But it was dedication to animal response that defined Jims's career. For 12 years Jim led a local and national drive to improve knowledge and skills for this challenging operational incident type, orchestrating teams within Hampshire and training rescue Team Leaders and veterinarians throughout the UK and further afield.

Jim co-founded the British Animal Rescue and Trauma Association (BARTA) which supports and trains vets and emergency responders in the resolution of emergency situations involving animals with informed, safe and welfare driven plans. Since Jan 2022 BARTA have trained over 100 vet responders, over 250 emergency responders (including vets and ground staff) for racecourses and British Eventing, members of the local authorities and the police. Jim’s team are constantly identifying new arenas in which incidents involving animals occur and considering how to work best with those agencies to improve safety and welfare.

Jim continues to respond operationally to animal incidents through his on-call role as an Animal Rescue Specialist with Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service.

Charlotte “Charlie” Thornycroft was presented with The BEVA Equine Welfare Award 2022, sponsored by the Blue Cross by Chris Burghes, CEO of Blue Cross. Since the start of the Ukraine conflict, Charlie Thornycroft has acted as a volunteer implementing the UK’s equestrian support initiatives, on the ground in Poland for three months and more recently from the UK. She has been selfless and unflinching in her support for the horses, and people, of Ukraine, working in exceptionally challenging circumstances. The level of support provided by the UK in partnership with the Ukrainian Equestrian Federation would not have been possible without Charlie’s voluntary work.

Charlie worked long hours, frequently going multiple nights without sleep. She endured trying and distressing conditions and never uttered a word of complaint. She was resourceful, patient, and compassionate throughout and never lost sight of her primary goal of alleviating the suffering of horses in Ukraine.

Lode De Smet was presented with The BEVA Equine Welfare Award, sponsored by The Blue Cross by David Catlow, Director of Veterinary Clinical Services for The Blue Cross.

Originally from Belgium, Lode has been a partner at Gibson & Jones veterinary surgeons in Llanelli for the past 20 years. He has dedicated his time to improving equine welfare and undertakes the RSPCA equine welfare work in South Wales and has dealt with more than 500 cases. With many cases unfit to travel, Lode will happily take them home to provide further rehabilitation. His case work is often very long, hard, cold and stressful and he never complains. His friends and colleagues feel he is a truly deserving recipient of the BEVA Equine Welfare award.

Dr. Suzanne Green was presented with The BEVA Equine Welfare Award sponsored by Blue Cross by Steve Swift, Vice Chairman of The Blue Cross for her tireless veterinary work to improve equine welfare. Initially finding her passion for welfare as a routine vet at equine charity World Horse Welfare’s Penny Farm in Somerset, Suzanne went on to work with the RSPCA’s ambulatory services. The importance of making a prosecution count led her to complete training as an expert witness and she is currently training for a master’s in forensic veterinary science.

Suzanne continues to work with Bransby Horses, World Horse Welfare, The Donkey Sanctuary and more recently with the SSPCA. She has lectured at Liverpool Veterinary School regarding welfare work with the RSPCA and has recently been involved with the training of trainee RSPCA inspectors at regional headquarters in Shrewsbury.

 Dr Peter Rossdale was awarded the BEVA Equine Welfare Award sponsored by Blue Cross and presented by HRH Princess Anne and Steve Swift, Vice Chairman of The Blue Cross. The award was received on Peter’s behalf by Rossdales partner, Deidre Carson.

In his early career as a stud vet, Rossdale became a leading figure in establishing equine perinatology as a scientific discipline, and in doing so stimulated research collaboration around the world. He was editor of the Equine Veterinary Journal from 1980 to 2011, securing its place in the top 10 of the world’s veterinary journals. In 1986 he launched Equine Veterinary Education and established it as the leading journal for equine practitioners. Peter retired from regular practice in 2004 but remains a consultant at the clinic that bears his name, where he still has an office and is often seen around the practice. He is still involved in research and his contributions to scientific research have been widely published. He also served for various periods on the scientific advisory boards of the Wellcome Trust, the Horserace Betting Levy Board and the Animal Health Trust. Peter obtained an FRCVS by thesis in 1967 and, in 1985, a PhD from Cambridge University on the basis of published papers in the peer-reviewed literature. He has received Honorary Doctorates from the Universities of Berne, Edinburgh and Sydney.

Peter was awarded a degree in Natural Sciences at Cambridge University in 1948, and graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 1952. He entered general practice in Rye, Sussex; and subsequently served in equine practice from 1954, setting up his own practice in Newmarket in 1959. In the following years he was joined by other pioneering veterinary surgeons and together formed the foundations of Rossdale & Partners, now world-renowned as Rossdales LLP, the largest equine practice in the UK and Europe, employing more than 50 veterinary surgeons and more than 100 support staff from its Newmarket, Exning, Hertfordshire and Lambourn bases.

Graham Duncanson was presented with The BEVA Blue Cross Equine Welfare Award. sponsored by The Blue Cross, for his work as a vet and equine welfare advocate. Formerly a government veterinary officer in Kenya, Graham went on to work in general practice at Westover Veterinary Centre, in Norfolk and is one of a small number of practitioners to be awarded a Fellowship of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. He is a trustee of the Animal Welfare Fund and last year cycled more than 8,000 kilometers (nearly 5,000 miles) from Norfolk to Cape Town, working with equine charities en route, to raise money for the Animal Welfare Foundation.

Roly Owers, veterinary surgeon and Chief Executive of World Horse Welfare was presented with The BEVA Equine Welfare Award, sponsored by Blue Cross. As Chief Executive of the charity since 2008, Roly has driven forward many major initiatives for the horse industry, most having a direct impact on animal welfare and disease prevention or control. He has used his position to develop programmes across the Equine Sector and has provided much needed dispassionate and effective leadership.

His key achievements include the establishment of the Horse Crisis group of charities, a successful campaign for the Control of Horses Act, the production of guidelines for transporters, including feed and watering stops and total travel time allowances and a successful refinement of the Tripartite Agreement, which controls the movement of horses between Ireland, UK and France.

Miss Johanna Vardon, founder and owner of The National Foaling Bank in Shropshire was presented with The BEVA Equine Welfare Award, sponsored by Blue Cross. The National Foaling Bank provides a nationwide service for horse breeders to pair foster mares with orphaned foals and to provide guidance through the adoption process. Johanna has documented involvement in over 20,000 cases of fostering. Without a doubt equine welfare would have been compromised significantly without the practical support and advice provided by Johanna and her team over many years.

Her Royal Highness, Princess Anne was presented with The British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) Welfare Award 2014, sponsored by The Blue Cross, by Zair Berry, Chair of The Blue Cross, in recognition of her long-standing commitment to horse welfare. Horses have been a consistent feature throughout The Princess Royal’s life and she is currently President or Patron of a large number of equestrian organisations and charities. She took a leading role in the introduction of the National Equine Welfare Protocol in the wake of the Amersham welfare scandal in 2008. The Protocol sets out guidelines on how cases of horse neglect and abuse should be reported and handled, and what organisations can do to help reduce the incidence of welfare problems. Uniquely it also provides a commitment from all the signatory organisations and agencies to work effectively together.

Professor A M “Mac” Johnston was presented with The BEVA Welfare Award 2013, sponsored by Blue Cross, by Steve Goody, Director of External Affairs at The Blue Cross, in recognition of his long-standing commitment to mentoring and supporting vets working in the remote Scottish Highlands, helping to improve the welfare of horses in the region.

Prof Johnston was a lecturer in equine medicine at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) for many years. Living in the Scottish Highlands and commuting to the RVC in London, Mac provided much needed expert help to local people and vets. Since retiring, he has continued to share his knowledge and guidance by working in the community mentoring younger vets and dealing with difficult cases. Mac is a widely published author and a renowned authority in public health.

Keith Meldrum was presented with the BEVA Equine Welfare Award, sponsored by Blue Cross, by HRH Princess Anne, in recognition of his tireless work to improve animal welfare through the development and enactment of regulation. Keith is widely known and respected throughout the equine charity sector and in government circles for his encyclopaedic knowledge of animal health and welfare legislation and no committee on these subjects is complete without the benefit of his experience and probing questions. Previously Chief Veterinary Officer for the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, over the past decade Keith has been veterinary consultant for organisations such as World Horse Welfare, and has been involved in issues ranging from transportation regulation, through contraception for semi-feral ponies, to disease control.

Brigadier Paul Jepson was presented with The BEVA Welfare Award 2011, sponsored by The Blue Cross, by Zair Berry, Chairman of The Blue Cross, in recognition of his contributions to equine welfare, not only as a vet and previous chief executive of the Horse Trust but also as the driving force behind strategic plans for disease management and control in the UK. Brigadier Jepson was Chief Executive of the Home of Rest for Horses (now the Horse Trust), from 1997 to 2010, where he was both hands-on equine vet as well as guardian of the Trust’s programme of funding cutting edge scientific research. He is the current chairman of a government and equine industry working party on African Horse Sickness that is seeking to ensure the UK is as prepared as possible to control an outbreak of the virus, which would cause similar devastation in the UK’s equine population as Foot and Mouth caused for other livestock. Paul is also chairman of the committee responsible for delivery of the GB Equine Health and Welfare Strategy and a past Master of the Worshipful Company of Farriers. The Blue Cross was founded in 1897 to care for working horses on the streets of London, and equine welfare still plays a vital role in its work today. Funded entirely by public donations, the charity rehabilitates and rehomes over a hundred horses and ponies every year at its equine centres in Burford (Oxon) and Rolleston-on-Dove (Staffordshire).

Mrs Jo White was presented with The BEVA Equine Welfare Award, sponsored by The Blue Cross . Ms White joined World Horse Welfare in 2001 and is responsible for running the campaigns department, covering all of the research, political lobbying and profile raising elements needed to run World Horse Welfare’s operational campaigns. The charity’s major campaign is to end the long distance transport of horses for slaughter in Europe. Ms White has put herself on the frontline of the campaign - embarking on countless field trips to gather evidence - often dealing with unpleasant individuals and difficult situations. This field evidence formed a key element of a dossier that was handed to the European Commissioner in November 2008 highlighting the inadequacies of current regulations, the abuse of these regulations, and the horrific suffering inflicted on around 100,000 horses in Europe each year. Ms White coordinated the publication of this dossier over a seven year period - combining the field research with scientific and desk research. Written declaration 54/2009 - calling for an immediate amendment of the transport regulation - was adopted by the European Parliament in February 2010. This involved getting over half of all MEPs to sign the declaration. This achievement is in no small part due to Ms White's efforts.

Josh Slater was presented with The BEVA Welfare Award, sponsored by The Blue Cross, by Kerstin Alford, Director of Equine Welfare at The Blue Cross in recognition of his important role in developing the Emergency Services Protocol, now known as Safer Horse Rescues. Josh has been the driving force behind the Emergency Services Protocol, which sets a national standard for all those involved in large animal rescue. It will have a valuable impact on the rescue and rehabilitation of horses and ponies throughout the UK by helping to minimise suffering and maximise chances of a positive outcome.

Josh Slater is Professor of equine clinical studies at the Royal Veterinary College and the director of the college’s equine referral hospital. He is a diplomate of the European College of Equine Internal Medicine and has active research interests in infectious respiratory diseases. He has recently been instrumental in the development of a surveillance protocol for equine endemic diseases.

Safer Horse Rescues is a nationwide initiative involving vets, the Highways Agency and emergency services. It was set up in 2007 following a number of incidents of horses dying slow, painful deaths following accidents or after becoming trapped. In addition to introducing the protocol Professor Slater has helped to develop training courses for vets and fire fighters involved with horse rescue.

Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) organization was presented with The BEVA Welfare Award 2008, sponsored by The Blue Cross, for its contributions to equine welfare through the re-training and re-homing of racehorses.Retraining of Racehorses was established in 2000 by the British Horseracing Authority. Its aim is to raise funds from the British racing industry to provide and maintain facilities for the care, retraining and rehoming of former racehorses. RoR awards prizes to ex-racehorses competing in almost all horse sports and showing disciplines and also works hard as a support system for new owners who are adopting retired racehorses. The achievements of ex-racehorses are publicized and the organization creates an impression of a community and a mission that is world-class.

Dr Elisabeth Svendsen was presented with The BEVA Welfare Award, sponsored by The Blue Cross. Dr Svendsen founded The Donkey Sanctuary in 1969. Since then, we have grown from a charity rescuing UK donkeys from neglect and abuse to an international welfare organisation transforming the lives of millions of donkeys and mules and the people who depend on them for a living. Dr Svendsen was awarded the MBE in 1981 for her services to donkeys and mules. She received an Honorary Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine and Surgery in 1992, and in 2009 was awarded a degree of Doctor Honoris Causa by the University of Edinburgh.

Lesley Barwise-Munro was presented with The BEVA Welfare Award, sponsored by The Blue Cross, by HRH Princess Anne for her work developing the Animal Welfare Act 2006. Lesley graduated from The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies (RDSVS) in 1986. Since then Lesley has worked as an equine practitioner with the Aln Veterinary Group, now part of the Alnorthumbria Veterinary Group. Lesley is Senior Veterinary Surgeon for Newcastle Racecourse and also carries out local point to point duties. Her main areas of clinical expertise are lameness, respiratory disease, dentistry and how they influence performance. As time allows, Lesley enjoys hunting and has two daughters.

In 1992 Lesley completed her RCVS Certificate in Equine Practice and in 1998 joined BEVA Council and was elected as President in 2005. During her time on Council she worked with the Government and the major animal welfare organisations developing the recent Animal Welfare Act 2006. Lesley has driven forward the development of the Equine Health and Welfare Strategy for Great Britain as well as playing a key role in developing the Equine Industry Welfare Guidelines Compendium, and is currently driving forward the changes to the law on the licensing of livery yards.

Brooke Hospital for Animals was presented with The BEVA Welfare Award, sponsored by The Blue Cross, for its charitable work that protects and improves the lives of horses, donkeys and mules which give people in the developing world the opportunity to work their way out of poverty. Brooke reaches over 1.4 million working horses, donkeys and mules across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East.

Derek Knottenbelt was presented with The BEVA Welfare Award, sponsored by The Blue Cross. Derek's expertise in equine internal medicine is recognised internationally. He is a Diplomate of the European College of Equine Internal Medicine and of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine and held a personal chair at the University of Liverpool until his "retirement" in 2010. He was then a consultant professor at the University of Glasgow and currently runs Equine Medical Solutions (www.sarcoid.co.uk). He has published a plethora of journal articles and something crazy like 12 textbooks. He received the Animal Health Trust Scientific Award in 2003, the BEVA Blue Cross Welfare Award in 2004, and received an OBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours of 2005 for his services to Equine Medicine.
Derek founded Vets with Horsepower in 2009 and the first trip took place in 2010. The first year he had ridden a total of 500 miles before we left on tour, and a week later had increased his total mileage by 1000 miles. As Josh describes Derek, he is a "force of nature" and is tireless in his efforts to support equine welfare.
His topics of interest as a speaker include a wide range of equine medicine topics, with a special interest in dermatology and wounds, oncology, ophthalmology and neurology including headshakers but the list certainly is not limited to this!
Derek also gets the prize for the best Horsepower induced radiograph...followed shortly by ankle surgery after a bike landed on top of him in South Africa.

Sir Peter O'Sullivan was presented with The BEVA Welfare Award, sponsored by The Blue Cross for his charitable work. Peter was involved, in the late 1940s, in some of the earliest television commentaries on any sport, and made many radio commentaries in his earlier years (including the Grand National before it was televised for the first time in 1960). On television, he commentated on many of the major events of the racing year, including the Cheltenham Festival until 1994, The Derby until 1979, and the Grand National, Royal Ascot and Glorious Goodwood until he retired in 1997. Peter became known as the "Voice of Racing".

Peter was actively involved in charity work fundraising for causes which revolve around the protection of horses and farm animals, including the International League for the Protection of Horses (ILPH), the Thoroughbred Rehabilitation Centre and Compassion in World Farming.

The 2024 recipient of the BEVA Nurse Empowerment Award is Phillippa Pritchard, in recognition of her unwavering support and advocacy for the equine veterinary nursing profession. Phillippa has worked at Liphook Equine Hospital for over 20 years and dedicated much of her career to supervising and training students, whilst also leading the VetPartners Equine Nurse Clinical Interest Group. This has seen her promote the profession and drive for improvements across equine practice, the experiences of our equine patients during their time under veterinary care. Earlier this year, Phillippa published research on horse owners' perceptions of RVNs in Veterinary Record, which was funded by an MSD Animal Health bursary. She driven for positive industry change, including a move that has seen RVNs conducting their own ambulatory visits.

Marie Rippingale was presented with The inaugural Nurse Empowerment Award for her tireless work to develop, promote and advocate the role of the equine veterinary nurse. Marie has been involved in all areas of curriculum development, lecturing and examining for multiple awarding bodies. She is an active member of BEVA and has volunteered in Gambia, helping improve welfare for working donkeys and provide education to their owners.

Prior to lecturing Marie worked as a head nurse in an equine practice where she provided many desperately needed CPD opportunities for equine nurses. She has been a champion in encouraging vets to allow and encourage equine veterinary nurses work to their full ability, complete schedule 3 procedures and to complement the veterinary team.

Francesco Comino was given the award for the paper ‘A novel tension relief technique to aid the primary closure of traumatic equine wounds under excessive tension’ by Francesco Comino, Patrick J. Pollock, Ian Fulton, Charlotte Hewitt-Dedman, Ian Handel and Dylan A. Gorvy published in the August 2023 edition of Equine Veterinary Journal.

 Tania Sundra was presented with The Richard Hartley Clinical Award 2023 for the paper ‘Preliminary observations on the use of ertugliflozin in the management of hyperinsulinaemia and laminitis in 51 horses: a case series’ by Tania Sundra, Erin Kelty and Dave Rendle published in January 2023 issue of Equine Veterinary Education.

Read the paper here.

Emily Floyd was presented with The BEVA Richard Hartley Clinical Award 2022 for the paper ‘Systemic antimicrobial therapy in foals’ by Emily F. Floyd, Charlotte A. Easton-Jones and Mathijs J.P. Theelen, published in the January 2022 issue of Equine Veterinary Education.

Read the paper here.

Gemma Pearson was presented The BEVA Richard Hartley Clinical Award 2022 for the paper “Difficult horses – prevalence, approaches to management of and understanding of how they develop by equine veterinarians” by G Pearson, R Reardon, J Keen, N Waran, first published in EVE in July 2020.

Read the paper here

April Lawson was presented the 2020 award for the paper “Application of an equine composite pain scale and its association with plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone concentrations and serum cortisol concentrations in horses with colic“ A. L. Lawson, R. R. Opie, K. B. Stevens, E. J. Knowles and T. S. Mair.

Read the paper here.

Dr Laura Mason was presented the award for the paper “Prophylactic therapy with Omeprazole for Prevention of Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS) in Horses in Active Training: A Meta-analysis“ by L.V. Mason, J.R. Moroney and R.J. Mason. First published in EVJ in April 2018 and online January 2019, Volume 51.

Read the paper here.

Dr James Rushton was presented the 2018 award for the paper “Effects of three blood derived products on equine corneal cells, an in vitro study” by J. O. Rushton, E. Kammergruber, A. Tichy, M. Egerbacher, B. Nell and S. Gabner. First published online in October 2017 and then May 2018, Volume 50 of Equine Veterinary Journal

Read the paper here.

David Rendle was presented the 2017 award for the paper "Does oral prednisolone treatment increase the incidence of acute laminitis?" by D.I Rendle, V.J Jordan and J.L Ireland. The article was first published December 2015, Volume 49, issue 1 of Equine Veterinary Journal.

Read the paper here.

Dr Annette McCoy was presented the 2016 award for the paper “Short and long-term racing performance of Standardbred pacers and trotters after early surgical intervention for tarsal osteochondrosis” by A.M McCoy, S.L Ralston & M.E McCue. The article was first published online in July 2014 and then July 2015, Volume 47, issue 4 of Equine Veterinary Journal.

Read the paper here.

Professor Paddy Dixon was presented the 2015 award for the paper “A long-term study on the clinical effects of mechanical widening of cheek teeth diastemata for treatment of periodontitis in 202 horses (2008-2011)” by PM Dixon, S Ceen, T Barnett, JM O'Leary, T Parkin, S Barakzai. The article was first published online in June 2013 and then January 2014, Volume 46 of Equine Veterinary Journal.

Read the paper here.

Dr Elaine Norton was presented the 2019 award for her video abstract "Heritability of metabolic traits associated with equine metabolic syndrome in Welsh ponies and Morgan horses” by E.M Norton, N.E Schultz, A.K Rendahl, R.J Geor, J.R Mickelson and M.E McCue, The article was first published in November 2018 and the article includes a video abstract.

Read the abstract here.

Dr Thomas van Bergen was presented the 2018 award for the article and video abstract “Foramen epiploicum mesh closure (FEMC) through a ventral midline laparotomy" by T. van Bergen, A. Rötting, P. Wiemer, S. Schauvliege, K. Vanderperren, F. Ugahary and A. Martens. The article was published online in September 2017 and then in the March 2018, Volume 50, issue 2 of Equine Veterinary Journal. The video abstract was available online in December 2017.

Read the abstract here.

The winner of this year’s award is Brooke Boger for the paper ‘Intra-articular triamcinolone acetonide injection results in increases in systemic insulin and glucose concentrations in horses without insulin dysregulation’ by Brooke A. Boger, Jane M. Manfredi, Abigail R. Loucks, Maya Z. Salamey, Lydia E. Kapeller, Allie G. Fricano, Ani Winkler and Chelsey Yob, Aimee C. Colbath published in the September 2023 issue of Equine Veterinary Journal.

Edward Knowles was presented with The Peter Rossdale Equine Veterinary Journal (EVJ) Open Award for the paper ‘Predictors of laminitis development in a cohort of non-laminitic ponies’ by Edward Knowles, Jonathan Elliott, Patricia A. Harris, Yu-Mei Chang and Nicola J. Menzies-Gow, published in the June 2023 issue of Equine Veterinary Journal.

Read the paper here.

Rebecca Bishop was presented with The Peter Rossdale Equine Veterinary Journal (EVJ) Open Award 2022 for the paper ‘Effect of omeprazole and sucralfate on gastrointestinal injury in a fasting/NSAID model’ by Rebecca C. Bishop, Ann M. Kemper, Pamela A. Wilkins and Annette McCoy, published in the July 2022 issue of Equine Veterinary Journal.

Read the paper here. 

Amie Wilson was presented with The Peter Rossdale Equine Veterinary Journal (EVJ) Open Award 2021 for the paper “Equine influenza vaccination in the UK: Current practices may leave horses with suboptimal immunity” by A Wilson, G Pinchbeck, R Dean, C McGowan, first published in EVJ in October 2020.

Read the paper here.

Dr Monica Venner was presented the 2020 award for the research study paper "Changing policy to treat foals with Rhodococcus equi pneumonia in the later course of disease decreases antimicrobial usage without increasing mortality rate" by D. Arnold-Lehna, M. Venner, L. Berghaus, R. Berghaus and S. Giguère.

Read the research study paper here.

Miss Sonja Egan was presented the 2019 award for the research study paper "Research trends in equine movement analysis, future opportunities and potential barriers in the digital age: a scoping review from 1978-2018" by S.Egan, P. Brama and D. McGrath. First published November 2019, Volume 51 and online January 2019.

Read the research study paper here.

Miss Sarah Allen was presented the 2018 award for the research study paper “Description of veterinary events and risk factors for fatality in National Hunt flat racing Thoroughbreds in Great Britain (2000-2013)” by S. Allen, S. Rosanowski, A. Stirk, K. Verheyen. First published February 2017 and November 2017, Volume 49 of Equine Veterinary Journal.

Read the research study paper here.

Casja Isgren was presented the 2017 award for the research study paper “Risk factors for surgical site infection following laparotomy: Effect of season and perioperative variables and reporting bacterial isolates in 287 horses”. First published online in February 2016 and then January 2017, Volume 49 of Equine Veterinary Journal.

Read the research study paper here.

The winner of this year’s award is Camilla Lydiksen for the paper ‘Equine dental sinusitis – A statistical analysis of the effect of antibiotics on dental sinusitis following dental extraction' by Camilla Vestergaard Lydiksen, Jonathan Ingerslev Christensen, Jesper Grud Rosenmeier, Dan Børge Jensen and Casper Lindegaard, published in the November 2023 issue of Equine Veterinary Education.

Sirous Sadeghian Chaleshtori was presented with The Peter Rossdale EVE Literary Award for the paper ‘Measurement of ANP, BNP, and endothelin-1 concentrations in jumping horses with heart valvular regurgitation and their correlation with the dimensions of heart structures’ by Sirous Sadeghian Chaleshtori, Mohammad Reza Mokhber Dezfouli, Mohammad Hassan Najizadeh, Golam Reza Nikbakht Borujeni, published in the March 2023 issue of Equine Veterinary Education.

Read the paper here.

Nazaré Storms was presented with The new Peter Rossdale EVE Literary Award for the paper ‘Strangulating lesions of the small intestine associated with the greater omentum in horses: 32 cases’. Co- authors are A. Salciccia, S. Grulke, P. Barbazanges, J. Detilleux and G. de la Rebière, and the paper was published as an EVE Early View article in August 2021.

Read the paper here.

Guy Hinnigan won the Sam Hignett Award and a ticket to this year's AAEP conference for his abstract entitled 'Variation in the composition of the manica flexoria in the horse’.

Julia Shrubb, a vet at Ashbrook Equine Hospital in Cheshire, won the Sam Hignett Award for the presentation of the clinical research entitled Understanding UK parasite control practices: A horse owner survey the abstract of which was recently published in the Equine Veterinary Journal (EVJ). Julia’s prize is free registration to the 2023 AAEP Annual Convention in San Diego.

Mariana Castro Martins was presented with the 2022 award for her research entitled "Impingement of the dorsal spinous processes in Thoroughbred racehorses". Mariana will receive a free ticket to AAEP 2023 taking place in San Diego.

Federica Cantatore was presented the 2021 award for her abstract entitled 'Can ultrasonography predict the location of manica flexoria tears?' 

Federica will receive a free ticket to AAEP 2022 taking place in San Antonio.

Callum Haseler was presented the 2019 award for his abstract entitled “Does Intra-Articular Triamcinolone Treatment Increase the Incidence of Acute Laminitis”. Callum will receive a free ticket to AAEP 2020 taking place in Las Vegas.

Read the abstract here.

Nadine Ogden won the HBLB Award and a free ticket to BEVA Congress 2025 for her abstract entitled 'Computed Tomography of the equine caudal back and pelvis: pathological findings in 56 clinical cases (2018-2023)'.

Victoria South, European Recognised Specialist in Equine Internal Medicine at the University of Cambridge Department of Veterinary Medicine, won the HBLB Award for the presentation of the clinical research entitled Increased risk of fatal laminitis during hospitalisation amongst phallectomy patients compared to laparotomy patients in a UK equine hospital over 10 years the abstract of which was published in the EVJ earlier this year.

Read the abstract here.

Inge J.M. Slenter was presented the 2018 award for her paper on ‘Clinical, ultrasonographic and histopathologic findings in seven horses with Descemet’s membrane detachment”. Inge’s presentation won the award at the Voorjaarsdagen Congress in April 2018; she will present again during the Clinical Research Sessions at BEVA Congress.

Read the abstract here.

David Rendle was presented the 2018 award for his presentation won the award at BEVA Congress in September 2018; he will present it again during the Voorjaarsdagen Congress 2019.

Professor Stephen May, Senior Vice Principal at the Royal Veterinary College was awarded this for his unwavering dedication, innovation and leadership in the equine veterinary profession.

Since graduating from the University of Cambridge in 1980, Stephen has pushed the boundaries in both equine surgery and veterinary education. He has published pioneering work on hindlimb lameness, overhauled the curriculum at the RVC and founded their Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, which focusses on life-long veterinary education (LIVE). In addition to his positions at the RVC, Stephen has served as President of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, the European Board of Veterinary Specialisation and the European College of Veterinary Surgeons, whilst also playing an influential role in the development of initiatives such as Competence Based Veterinary Education through the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges. His commitment to the profession on a global level is remarkable to say the least. We are honoured to present this award to Stephen in recognition of his remarkable legacy in veterinary medicine.

Professor Peter Clegg has been nominated for Honorary Membership in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the Association. This nomination reflects our gratitude for the support Peter have given over the years in his role as Associate Editor of EVJ and, in particular, for helping to achieve balance between the interests of our clinical readers and the priorities of academics relying on publications for career advancement. Peter has been instrumental in ensuring that high scientific standards have been maintained in our review process and policies, allowing us to continue to be the leading international journal in equine veterinary science.

Professor René van Weeren has been nominated for Honorary Membership in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the Association. This nomination reflects our gratitude for the support he has given over the years, in his role as Associate Editor of Equine Veterinary Journal and as an Editorial Consultant Board member. In particular we would like to thank Peter for his frequent contributions to our Congresses and for how he has improved understanding in equine practice through his personal contributions to equine sciences and education and also by ensuring that EVJ's articles on orthopaedics and musculoskeletal biology were of the highest possible standard while remaining topical and relevant.

Professor Rob Christley has been nominated for Honorary Membership in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the Association. This nomination reflects our gratitude for the support he has given over the years in his role as an editor and statistical advisor to EVJ. The ever-increasing standards and reporting which EVJ has been able to achieve over the last 12 years are a credit to Rob’s work. The invaluable support he has provided to authors has enabled many to overcome the challenges of analysing heterogenous clinical datasets and also helped them to find constructive solutions when problems were identified by reviewers.

Professor Lesley Young qualified in 1987 from Liverpool University. She is a Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Recognised Specialist in Veterinary cardiology and a Diplomate of the European College of Equine medicine. In 1992 she moved to the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies where she began to use ultrasound to study the effects of general anaesthesia on the equine heart and was awarded a PhD in 1995.

Though a specialist in veterinary cardiology, Lesley’s case load is exclusively equine Whilst based at the Animal Health Trust in Newmarket she made significant contributions to the understanding of heart murmurs and arrhythmias in athletic horses. In recognition of her contribution to this aspect of equine cardiology, she was invited to participate in the recent American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine Consensus statement entitled Recommendations for equine athletes with cardiovascular abnormalities. Lesley has been a specialist consultant in equine cardiology, working with equine practices across the UK and Europe for almost a decade.

Lesley has been a highly active member of BEVA and served on council between 2011 and 2017, representing the membership through the Education and Health and Medicine committees. She was instrumental in the development and execution of some of BEVA’s best Cardiology Courses “Practical Equine Cardiology” (later Hands-on Cardiology) and Practical Cardiac Ultrasound (later called Cardiac Ultrasound for the equine practitioner & specialist). Lesley is also highly published. A Research Gate search quotes her as having 64 publications, 11,832 reads, and 2,260 citations.

Deidre Carson qualified from the University of Sydney in 1982, and worked in general practice in Australia before heading to the UK. Original plans to stay only for two years were dropped when she started working for Rossdales in Newmarket, in 1983. She became a Partner in 1996 and an Associate Clinical Director in 2021. Her main areas of interest are stud farm medicine and youngstock care, but she also retains an interest in general equine practice.

Inspirationally for many, she has always put herself forward for roles where she can represent others and selflessly devotes her own time to those she serves. As a member of BEVA Council and Board of Management from 2005 to 2012, she worked tirelessly for the association when it was going through a fairly difficult time. She was appointed President in 2010 and proved herself a valued leader as the association transitioned structurally into what we see today. During this time she built many bridges for the association and the profession, and has remained a valued member who is frequently called upon as a source of sound advice and balanced views.

Aside from her professional commitments, she has tellingly spent several years as Chair and Trustee for a small charity near Newmarket, which supports human-animal relationships during times of hardship or vulnerability. On numerous occasions she has carried out fundraising and promoted this and other deserving charities, which is very much an exampled of her philanthropic nature.

In 2020, Deidre was appointed a Trustee of The Animal Welfare Foundation, where her passion for promoting animal welfare is being put to good use. Within this position she plays a key role in advising allocation of research funds, supporting veterinary education and encouraging debate on welfare issues, for the good of all.

She has been a powerful advocate for animal welfare and always puts herself forward in any situation where she can uphold her beliefs and help educate others. She strives for patients to receive the highest quality of care possible, whilst always taking into account factors relating to the owners, and industry as a whole. She endeavours to help others view the equine profession, animal welfare and the wider equine industry in a balanced and realistic way, in order to help maintain welfare at the forefront without losing sight of the big picture.

She has always played a vital support role within the profession, both as a clinician, an educator and as an advocate of wellbeing. She is highly regarded by fellow vets and nurses as a colleague who cares for individuals and the profession as a whole. She will have, and continues to, touch the lives of many within our profession in an unreserved way as a member who integrity is faultless and who speaks up for those who perhaps do not have a voice, or are unable to use it. She is very much an inspiring ambassador for our profession at every opportunity and is thoroughly deserving of Honorary Membership to the association she has served so well.

Professor Celia Marr has been at the forefront of the profession for her entire career. She is an internationally renowned medic, cardiologist, imager, academic and editor. She was among the first cohort of RCVS and then European specialists in equine medicine and was instrumental in the founding
of the European College of Equine Internal Medicine and its specialist training programmes. More recently she was a founding trustee of the British College of Veterinary Specialists. Her contribution to the advancement of equine medicine in the UK is unsurpassed.

She has published over 150 peer reviewed papers, including over 50 as first author, has written book chapters and edited the leading equine cardiology text. She is a regular speaker at national and international meetings and congresses. She is also a regular speaker and contributor to publications aimed at horse owners and trainers promoting equine welfare. Following in the footsteps of Dr Peter Rossdale as editor of the Equine Veterinary Journal, she has maintained the international reputation of BEVA’s flagship publication as the foremost veterinary publication focused solely on equines. Around her role as editor of EVJ she has been highly influential in advancing the causes of evidence based medicine and clinical audit within equine practice. Celia is currently chair of the veterinary advisory board of the Horserace Betting Levy Board, chair of the equine infectious disease advisory board of the British Equestrian Federation and a trustee of the Beaufort cottage educational trust. In recognition of her work she has been made an honorary professor at the university of Glasgow. 

Celia is an Associate at Rossdales Equine Hospital and Diagnostic Centre, Newmarket providing services in equine cardiology, internal medicine and intensive care. She graduated from the Glasgow University Veterinary School in 1985, then remained in Glasgow to complete a Masters degree on abdominal ultrasonography and subsequently a PhD on superficial digital flexor tendon injuries. In 1989, she was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to study equine cardiology and internal medicine at the New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania. Celia returned to the UK in 1993 to join the University of Cambridge Veterinary School as a lecturer. Subsequently, she spent 3 years in racehorse practice in Lambourn and then spent seven years at the Royal Veterinary College. Celia is a Diplomate of the European College of Equine Internal Medicine, an Honorary Professor of the University of Glasgow, and a Fellow of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. She has published many research articles and textbook chapters relating to a range of medical disorders of the horse, concentrating on cardiovascular disease and diagnostic imaging, and has edited a textbook on Cardiology of the Horse, the 2nd Edition of which was published in 2010.

Professor Alistair Barr is one of the country’s most respected equine authorities. He is professor of equine surgery at Bristol and is a highly respected clinician, as well as undergraduate and post-graduate teacher. He has contributed massively to the BEVA family over a period of several decades.

He was BEVA President 2003-2004 at a time when the Association was undergoing considerable change and played a major role in the ship being steered carefully through choppy waters. As his time in the BEVA presidential tree finished, he sustained his contribution through an active role as a Director of EVJ Ltd. He was central to the changes that were driven through in the publishing of the two journals and played a key role in ensuring that the Journal production came back into the heart of the Association, at a time when its actual publication was outsourced to Blackwells (now Wiley-Blackwell). He has been active in this role with BEVA Journals over an extended period (around 15 years) of constant change, always offering sound advice and providing clear direction regarding difficult decisions.

Alistair has also been President of the Federation of European Equine Veterinary Associations and has served on the Councils of the RCVS and BVA. He remains active in RCVS.

Professor Sandy Love has been a committed BEVA member throughout his entire careers and has made numerous important contributions to BEVA and the equine veterinary community. He served as a council member from 1994 - 2003, cumulating in the role of BEVA President for 2002. He served as Editor of Equine Veterinary Education 1992-2006 and was instrumental in developing this journal into the vibrant and important resource it is today.

Sandy chaired BEVA Trust from 2003 - 2012, transforming this charity from one which primarily looked inwards to support equine vets to its modern incarnation where one of its major focuses is to create and facilitate opportunities for BEVA members to work on equine welfare-related projects. Sandy has also been a regular contributor to BEVA Congress as a speaker and serving on numerous organising committees. 

Barry Johnson qualified as a veterinary surgeon from the University of Liverpool. He founded Oakhill Veterinary Centres and was senior partner of what is one of the largest practices in the North-west. Whilst a practising vet, Barry was an elected member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Council, becoming its President in 1993 and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in 1994. As a member of RCVS Council, he chaired many of its main committees and was involved in many changes to the governance of the profession. In 2017, he was awarded the RCVS Queen’s Gold Medal for outstanding achievements to the veterinary profession.

Barry has many years’ experience serving on charitable boards, including The Animal Health Trust, Newmarket and World Horse Welfare. He retired as Chair of World Horse Welfare in 2016. He has also been an independent non-executive director of the British Greyhound Racing Board.

Dr Polly Taylor was awarded Honorary membership of BEVA due to her long term commitment to our shared goals of equine welfare and in particular her recent direct contributions to the association and the equine sector through her position as Senior Advisor on the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (until 2010) and most recently her support of BEVA’s health and medicines committee over the Home Office rescheduling of Ketamine and her considerable work relating to the proposed UN scheduling of Ketamine. In so doing, Dr Taylor has given BEVA considerable insight and advice in these areas helping to achieve the committee’s strategic objectives.

Polly has a long term commitment to equine welfare, analgesia and anaesthesia having published more than 100 peer reviewed papers and contributed to numerous books and chapters on anaesthesia and analgesia. She has received numerous awards for contributions to equine science. Her recent contributions to equine analgesia and pain scoring are have had considerable impact the welfare of horses undergoing veterinary treatment and clearly aligned to the objectives of BEVA. She was founding President of the European College of Veterinary Anaesthesia (and Analgesia) and established the specialty of veterinary anaesthesia within Europe as well as past president of the Association of Veterinary Anaesthetists. She is a member of the independent Scientific Committee on Drugs

Katherine Kissick qualified as a Registered Veterinary Nurse in 1983. Whilst working as head nurse in a small animal practice she embarked on what was to become a distinguished teaching career embracing her lifelong passion for horses. In 1995 Kathy was appointed Head of School for Veterinary Nursing and Farriery at Myerscough College which is part of the University of Central Lancashire. She held this post until her recent semi-retirement and she has been a driving force in developing degree courses in farriery and veterinary nursing which subsequently included equine modules. Kathy has a long association with the RCVS, initially as a nursing examiner and subsequently as a RCVS Council member culminating in her current position as Chair of the Veterinary Nursing Council. She has numerous publications and media presentations to her name including regular appearances in Animal Hospital. Kathy now lives on Alderney where she works as a nursing locum and is a trustee of Alderney animal Welfare. She remains a consultant to Myerscough on Veterinary Nursing Ethics and the farriery Train the Trainer award.

Dr Geoff Lane graduated from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) in 1969 and after post-graduate training at the University of Bristol and the RVC he was awarded the Fellowship of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in 1974. Geoffrey joined the staff at the University of Bristol in 1974 and taught soft tissue surgery there until 2007. Since then Geoff has developed a private referral practice in equine ENT surgery. Today this generates over 500 surgeries annually. A past-President of the British Equine Veterinary Association (1989) he has been a Director of the Equine Veterinary Journal as well as being on its Executive Committee and Editorial Advisory Board. He is particularly interested in comparative aspects of oto-rhino-laryngology. Geoff is recognised by the RCVS as a Specialist in Equine Surgery and is a holder of its Diploma in Equine Soft Tissue Surgery. He has published over 100 articles on comparative ENT disorders but in recent years his research interests have concentrated on the diagnosis and surgical management of respiratory impediments in athletic horses.

Joe Mayhew is a pre-eminent recognized world expert in equine neurology, and has dedicated his entire career to research in this field. In addition his specialist knowledge in equine internal medicine is paramount. He is ACVIM Diplomate boarded in both Veterinary Neurology and Large Animal Medicine and the scope of his research into the diagnosis, clinical management and neuropathology of equine neurologic diseases in the form of scholarly publications of papers, chapters and books is unparalleled. Professor Mayhew was the first veterinarian to rigorously investigate the problem of ‘wobbler horses’, and the diagnostic criteria he established in his PhD thesis still make the basis of diagnostics today. In that and later work he recognised that a number of other disorders can result in ataxia in horses which led him to investigate several important previously unknown diseases.

In addition to over 100 refereed papers in the field of large animal neurology, Prof Mayhew has published in excess of 30 books, chapters and monographs and 50 abstracts, letters and clinical articles. Of particular note is authorship of the sole text dealing with just large animal neurology, now in its second edition.

Perhaps most importantly he has been a ceaselessly enthusiastic teacher of veterinary students, clinicians and clinical scientists on three continents and has inspired a generation of veterinarians to critically examine horses with neurological signs. He regularly promotes excellence in equine neurology as an invited speaker international conferences and has won numerous university teaching awards including Teacher of the Year and Large Animal Clinician of the year at the University of Florida. He was the DLT Smith Honorary Visiting Scientist at the University of Saskatoon and was honoured by becoming the 1999 AAEP Frank Milne Honorary Lecturer with his Mime Memorial Lecture on the equine spinal cord. He was the invited John Hickman Memorial lecturer at BEVA in 2008 and was inducted into the University of Kentucky Equine Research Hall of Fame in 2009.

He developed and standardized several of the procedures currently used in the investigation and diagnosis of neurological diseases in large animals. Joe Mayhew’s diagnostic techniques have resulted in significant advances in equine neurology, and no doubt will continue to do so for years in the future.