Jan Rogers Receives BEVA Equine Welfare Award for her Contribution to the #WeighToWin Scheme

Photo credits: British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA)

We are incredibly proud of The Horse Trust’s Research & Policy Director, Jan Rogers, for winning the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) Equine Welfare Award at this year’s prestigious awards ceremony during BEVA Congress earlier this month. This well-deserved recognition is a testament to her groundbreaking work on the #WeighToWin project, which is already making a significant impact on horse health.

#WeighToWin began in collaboration with the University of Liverpool, because it’s known that equine obesity is one of the largest contributors to health problems in horses in the UK. Now in its fifth year, this vital campaign has gone from strength to strength, with nearly 60 shows participating this year through The Horse Trust’s Healthiest Body Condition Awards scheme. The initiative has reached some of the UK’s most high-profile events, while also being embraced at grassroots horse shows, making a tangible difference across the equestrian world.

In the introduction to Jan’s award, Alison Thomas, Head of Veterinary Standards at Blue Cross, and 1992 Olympic Gold Medallist Sally Gunnell, remarked that the campaign had provided “friendly, supportive advice and guidance to owners, riders, and producers, both at events and in training sessions.” This praise underscores the importance of #WeighToWin in promoting long-term health for horses and supporting positive behavioural change across the industry.

BEVA Congress, a global gathering of the international equine veterinary community, serves as a crucial platform for discussing the latest developments in equine wellbeing. Year after year, this event continues to highlight efforts contributing to the advancement in equine medicine, and we couldn’t be prouder of the role #WeighToWin plays in this process. Jan’s dedication to disseminating knowledge and driving change within the sector is something we celebrate with immense pride.

Jeanette Allen, CEO of The Horse Trust, shared her thoughts:

We are extremely proud that The Horse Trust’s Weigh to Win scheme has flourished, rewarding owners who work hard to maintain a healthy weight for their horses and ponies. Jan’s expertise and Tamsin’s groundbreaking research have been instrumental in propelling the initiative forward. We are thrilled this growing program is yielding remarkable results.

Also recognised at BEVA Congress was Bruce Bladon, who was appointed as BEVA president. Bruce, whom we caught up with earlier in the year, was passed the Presidential medal at the Congress finale as he succeeded Roger Smith in the role. Having completed his Horse Trust-funded residency many years ago, Bruce’s career has resulted in him being one of the UK’s most renowned equine veterinary surgeons. Although Horse Trust-funded residencies have been replaced by PhD’s, we are proud of the legacy this investment into Bruce’s future has achieved for horses all over. Click here to read more about our conversation with Bruce.

Last though certainly not least, we were thrilled to see eight Horse Trust-funded research presentations featured in seminars throughout the weekend. This is a testament to the exceptional opportunities we are privileged to provide to research organisations across the UK and beyond. Our team made sure we took the opportunity to further our knowledge by catching up with researchers and talking about current equine healthcare and equine behaviour matters with these experts, so that we can make sure that we have the latest knowledge at our fingertips when caring for our herd and when advising policymakers about important considerations in the horse world.

Congratulations to everyone recognised for their efforts in equine welfare at this year’s BEVA Congress. We are especially overjoyed by Jan’s achievement, standing alongside so many other brilliant minds in the field. It was also touching to witness the ceremonial handover of the reins to Bruce as BEVA’s newest president. We look forward to seeing what this next year will bring for the equine veterinary world and the continued success of the #WeighToWin scheme.

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