Supporting the next generation of Britain’s equine vets

The Horse Trust was proud to sponsor this year’s Student Equine Veterinary Association (SEVA) Congress at the University of Liverpool between 26th – 28th January. The event was organised by the SEVA committee in what proved to be a perfect location, renowned for its world class equine hospital.

With a mix of lectures and practical sessions delegates were addressed by leading experts in a range of subjects including Donkey medicine, Orthopaedics, Dentistry, Infectious diseases and Surgery practical’s.

The event was a perfect opportunity for the Trust to unveil some of its exciting new online courses for veterinary surgeons and students. These include courses for vets based on legislation: presenting evidence in court, treating welfare cases and transportation.

Other online courses provided by The Horse Trust focus on Equine Behaviour Modification Techniques for veterinary professionals. These are aimed at veterinary professionals dealing with horses in practice and help develop the practitioner’s skills with handling horses that are difficult to manage or treat making the treatment of these horses safer for the vet and providing a more positive experience for the horse. Details about the courses proved extremely popular with the students and there are 97 of them on the waiting list eagerly anticipating their start date.

The Trust also showcased their partnership with The British Animal Rescue and Trauma Care Association (BARTA) by highlighting the courses they offer to veterinary surgeons on the role of the vet in large animal rescue and exhibited the veterinary response bag and Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) now available to veterinary surgeons. Along with a goody bag for all delegates, BARTA and The Horse Trust contributed two raffle prizes, a voucher for a free place on the Equine Behaviour Modification Techniques course run by The Horse Trust and a BARTA small veterinary response bag.

Carolyn Madgwick, Head of Field Skills at the Trust delivered a lecture on applying animal welfare legislation within the role of a veterinary surgeon which included many real-life scenarios that veterinary surgeons may face in practice. Carolyn was able to explain how courses delivered by the Trust can provide the students with the tools and confidence to deal with the welfare situations they may face in their future careers.

The SEVA Committee presented The Horse Trust with a beautiful plaque in recognition of their sponsorship which helped make the exciting event possible. In receiving the presentation, The Horse Trust confirmed it looks forward to working further with these future veterinary surgeons and forging relationships that will impact positively on the quality of life of the UK’s equines.

Rowan Wright, SEVA Committee member, Student Equine Vet said “I would like to sincerely thank The Horse Trust for their commitment, time and enthusiasm over this last year. We have enjoyed forging this new relationship for SEVA, which we hope will be sustained for many years. Having a string of dedicated sponsors, allows for tickets to be subsidised and thus retains the viability of an inclusive congress. We are very grateful to have The Horse Trust on board”.

Charlotte Launder, Training Manager at The Horse Trust said “The congress was brilliant, it was really useful for all the students who attended along with The Horse Trust. This event was really relevant to the work that we do with veterinary surgeons and researchers and this was the perfect platform to promote that. The students who were part of the committee were extremely welcoming and accommodating and nothing was too much trouble. They are all a credit to the University of Liverpool”.