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King awards OBE to World Horse Welfare chief
Roly Owers is a qualified veterinary surgeon and has been chief executive for World Horse Welfare since 2008.

Roly Owers recognised for services to equine welfare in King's birthday honours list.

Chief executive of World Horse Welfare, Roly Owers has been awarded an OBE for services to equine welfare in King Charles III birthday honours list.

Dr Owers is a qualified veterinary surgeon and has been chief executive of the UK-based charity since 2008.

Graduating from Cambridge University in 1992, Dr Owers went on to achieve a masters degree in nutrition from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in 1997. He gained veterinary experience in roles at the Blue Cross and Royal Army Veterinary Corps.

As chief executive for World Horse Welfare, Dr Owers leads the charity’s endeavours to improve horse welfare in the UK and worldwide, working with governments and institutions in the UK, the European Union, the World Organisation for Animal Health, the Food and Agriculture Organisation and the United Nations. 

World Horse Welfare chairman Michael Baines said: “I am delighted that Roly has been recognised for his unceasing hard work, leadership and drive which has been instrumental to the success of World Horse Welfare. He has embodied the compassionate, pragmatic approach to improving the lives of horses that has inspired the charity since it was founded by Ada Cole and continues to make us so relevant today.” 

Dr Owers said: “It is a privilege to be entrusted with leading the work of World Horse Welfare, and I am hugely thankful to my team and my family as this is as much for them as for me. What I find inspiring is that recognition at this level demonstrates the continued relevance of horses to society and the part we all play in protecting their welfare for future generations.”

As well as his work for World Horse Welfare, Dr Owers gives horse welfare advice to the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), the International Horse Sports Confederation (IHSC) and the British Horseracing Authority (BHA).

Image (C) World Horse Welfare

 

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Cold-water dip to raise funds for Vetlife

News Story 1
 The veterinary mental health charity Vetlife is inviting the veterinary community to join it for a sponsored cold-water dip.

The event will take place at Walpole Bay, Margate, on 17 May during Mental Health Awareness Week. Participants of all abilities can join in the challenge and are advised to bring a towel, a hot drink, a snack, and warm clothes to get changed into afterwards.

Those taking part are being asked to try to raise £100 each to support the work of the charity.

Details about how to take part can be found here. 

Click here for more...
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Bluetongue low vector period ends

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With winter over, Defra is planning for a possible increase in cases as midges become more active. It has warned that farms along the east coast of England from Norfolk to Kent, and along the south coast from Kent to Devon, are at highest risk from infected midges blown over from northern Europe.

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Farmers are asked to continue to frequently monitor their livestock and ensure their animals and land are registered with the Animal and Plant Health Agency.