A look back to where BEVA began
By the early 1950s the horse was becoming a less familiar sight on farms and in cities. With mechanisation in the form of the motor car and tractor there was no longer a need for the trusty work horse or reliable pony and trap. The war years had also taken their toll on the popularity of the horse, with the cavalry horse replaced by the tank on the western front and the decreasing number of horses required for sport and recreation on the home front.
The war was also to claim an impact on the veterinary profession, as many equine veterinary surgeons left their practices or studies to fight for King and country, thus leaving the field of research and technological advancement in the equine world to stagnate.
However, in the post war years that followed, the horse made a slow come back and by the early 1960s, seemed to become more popular than ever. The Association was founded in 1961 to assist the veterinary profession in meeting the increasing demands made upon it by the dramatic rise in the horse population and popularity once more for the equine world.
As one of the most distinguished members of the veterinary profession Col. John Hickman (see painting to the right) was unanimously elected as the first President of the Association which had 157 founding members. Since BEVA's inception the membership has continued to grow and now exceeds 4,000 members.