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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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Applications open for MMI research grants

News Story 1
 RCVS' Mind Matters Initiative (MMI) has launched round two of its veterinary mental health research grants.

Researchers have until 11.59pm on Wednesday, 28 May 2025 to apply for a grant for research which reflects MMI's 2025 focus areas.

Only one Impact Grant was awarded last year, and so this year there are two Discovery Grants and one Impact Grants available. Each Discovery Grant is worth £5,000 and the Impact Grant is worth £15,000.

For more information or to apply, email researchgrants@rcvs.org.uk to contact the MMI team.

 

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News Shorts
Germany livestock import ban lifted

The UK government has amended its ban on the import of livestock, meat and dairy products from Germany.

Defra said the decision follows 'rigorous technical assessment' of the measures applied and the current situation. "If the situation changes, we will not hesitate to take necessary action in response to the FMD outbreaks in the European Union to protect our domestic biosecurity," it said.

The ban was implemented in January following an outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD) near Berlin. Personal imports of meat, milk and dairy products will remain in place at a country level.