BEVA Trust Veterinary Volunteers help improve Equine Welfare
Starling Equine Vets’ Grace, Mollie and Talia are three of 670 eager BEVA Trust volunteers who have shown their passion for horse welfare by helping make a difference to the lives of more than 2500 horses in the UK. This has been achieved through participation in a total of 66 Education and Welfare castration clinics and is in addition to those BEVA members who have volunteered their services for overseas work with the BEVA Trust.
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 nine years. vets, nurses, students, and farriers have so far helped a total of 2673 horses by volunteering their time and expertise at special clinics around the country. Coordinated by the British Horse Society, and with practical support from a number of other equine welfare charities, these clinics provide dental care, farriery, microchipping and passporting for horses identified to be in need, as well as castration and dental checks if required. A total of 1268 horses have now been castrated.
Grace said: “It was an amazing experience to be part of the Education and Welfare team at Lower Green Farm, Ickleford, Lower Green, Hitchin. The team approach to the way everyone works at these clinics is inspiring, with younger colleagues being nurtured and supported despite the high volume and pressure of the work that needs to be completed on the day. It is the reason so many of us want to keep volunteering. We had 24 horses attend the clinic with 10 castrations and 16 Passport and Microchip.
The clinics have been generously supported by Zoetis, Bransby Horses, Blue Cross, Redwings, World Horse Welfare and the RSPCA.
This clinic was Grace’s 8th, and 4th as Lead Vet, Mollie’s second and Talia’s first, and it was a fantastic opportunity for all involved.
You can find out more about the BEVA Trust’s work here: www.beva.org.uk/BEVA-Trust . If you would like to support the Trust’s work please visit https://www.justgiving.com/bevatrust
To volunteer for the BEVA Trust please contact Leaya Slater Leaya@beva.org.uk