BEVA Trust volunteers are continuing to show their passion for horse welfare. They have helped to make a difference to 1196 horses in the UK over the past four years, as well as hundreds of horses around the world.  The BEVA Trust provides opportunities, support and funding to allow BEVA members to volunteer for projects that enhance equine welfare both locally and globally. The BEVA Trust and British Horse Society have worked together for the past four years and in this time have run 25 education and welfare castration clinics around the country. So far 181 BEVA members, together with nurses, students, and farriers have volunteered their time and expertise to help a total of 1196 horses. Coordinated by the British Horse Society, and with practical support from a number of other equine welfare charities, the clinics provide dental care, farriery, worming, microchipping and passporting for horses identified to be in need, as well as castration if required. A total of 547 horses have now been castrated. ...

Three outstanding exhibitors at this year’s British Equine Veterinary Association Congress (11 -14 September 2019) were given special awards for their creative use of stand space. BEVA delegates voted for the winners of the competition, which was sponsored by Veterinary Practice magazine. Delegates voted via the BEVA App, identifying exhibitors who showcased their brand with flair and imagination within an inviting environment. Boehringer Ingelheim won the Veterinary Practice Best Large Stand Award for their fun, interactive Boehringer Ingelheim Derby stand which gave delegates the chance to compete on horse racing simulators. Pete Holland UK and Ireland Sale Manager at Boehringer Ingelheim said: “We are having a great time at BEVA this year and have enjoyed spending fun time on the stand with all of our customers and we are delighted to have won this award.” The Donkey Sanctuary won the Veterinary Practice Best Shell Scheme Stand Award for their colourful use of space and display of edu ...

BEVA presented Awards to some of the brightest and best in equine veterinary medicine at BEVA Congress on Thursday 12 September 2019. Seven Awards were presented in total, all established by BEVA, in conjunction with various sponsors, to reflect BEVA’s recognition of and support for significant accomplishments by equine vets and others involved in horse health and welfare. The BEVA Equine Welfare Award sponsored by Blue Cross was awarded to Dr Suzanne Green 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 ...

The Animal Health Trust (AHT) is joining BEVA at Congress for a big 15th birthday party this year. The two organisations are celebrating the longevity and success of their collaboration with Defra to produce the Equine Quarterly Disease Surveillance Reports. The AHT is joining BEVA in the members lounge for the duration of Congress, to showcase their work. In addition, BEVA has today presented the AHT with a certificate of appreciation for all their hard work to keep the equine veterinary profession fully informed about disease status. The Equine Quarterly Disease Surveillance Reports collate equine disease data arising from multiple diagnostic laboratories and veterinary practices throughout the United Kingdom. This provides an exceptional insight into equine disease occurrence on a national scale. It is produced by the Department for Food, Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra), the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA), the Animal & Plant Health Agency (APHA) and the Animal Health Trust (AHT) ...

BEVA has organised a survey to find out more about antimicrobial use and antimicrobial resistance in equine veterinary practice. Launched at BEVA Congress on Thursday 12th September 2019 the survey is directed at all veterinary surgeon members and gives participants the chance to enter a free prize draw to win £500 of BEVA CPD vouchers. Antibiotic resistance is increasing throughout human and veterinary medicine. At the same time there are very few new antibiotics being produced. This means that there is an increasing population of "superbugs" which are resistant to many or all antibiotics and in some cases cannot be treated successfully. While antimicrobials remain essential for the health and welfare of horses suffering from bacterial infections it’s imperative for vets to protect their usage to maintain their effectiveness for the future. The survey has been designed by Amie Wilson and Dr Gina Pinchbeck at the University of Liverpool and Tim Mair the incoming President of BEVA. The intention ...

Why should Equine Vets consider Income Protection? Many Equine Vets have financial commitments such as rent, mortgages and credit cards to the usual monthly bills. If you are unfortunate to be off work due to an injury or illness, these commitments will still need to be paid.  Income Protection could ensure that the bills are taken care of leaving you to get better, making sure your lifestyle and that of your family does not need to change. What does the PG Mutual policy cover? The policy can cover up to 70% of your gross income or £5,200 a month, whichever is lower. If you are injured, or you fall ill, the monthly benefit is payable until you are well enough to return to work or reach the age of 65, whichever is sooner. PG Mutual assess all policies before implementation and can also cover Equine Vets for equestrian sport. Are there any additional benefits to having a PG Mutual policy? - PG Mutual has no shareholders, meaning members share in any annual profits. - A 24/7 GP app prov ...

BEVA’s Learning Manager Sarah Gasper tells us what the 2020 course programme has in store for us. If you could only attend one course in 2020 which would it be and why?  It’s difficult to decide! Probably “Pain Management in Ambulatory Practice” as it covers practical tips on how to manage pain on a yard, something that with laminitics and fractures can be very difficult. “How to Heal Wounds in Horses” course would also be very useful though! What’s new for 2020? There are several new courses! PPE Imaging is designed as a step up from our popular PPE course. This new course will cover the imaging aspects of vetting with a theory and discussion day about interpretation of radiographs, ultrasound and endoscopy and a practical day looking at how to take the perfect set of TB and Sports Horse sales and insurance radiographs. The second day is aimed at vets, nurses and techs alike.  Also new for 2020 is Orthopaedic Ultrasound with Jean-Marie ...

This year at the annual BEVA Congress, we are launching a survey to investigate antimicrobial use and antimicrobial resistance in equine veterinary practice. The survey is directed at all veterinary surgeons who are BEVA members, with all participants able to enter a free prize draw for £500 BEVA CPD Vouchers! Antimicrobials are an essential tool for maintaining the health and welfare of horses suffering from bacterial infections, as a result we must endeavour to protect their usage and maintain their effectiveness in equine populations. To achieve this we need to understand both how antimicrobials are being used in equine practice and the current landscape of resistant infections encountered in equine practice.  However, there is a lack of current information about these issues in equine practice. Following on from a survey  of antimicrobial prescribing in equine practice in 2009  (Hughes, L. A., Pinchbeck, G. et al  Equine Veterinary Journal ) this survey will allow us to assess ...