Your data on MRCVSonline
The nature of the services provided by Vision Media means that we might obtain certain information about you.
Please read our Data Protection and Privacy Policy for details.

In addition, (with your consent) some parts of our website may store a 'cookie' in your browser for the purposes of
functionality or performance monitoring.
Click here to manage your settings.
If you would like to forward this story on to a friend, simply fill in the form below and click send.

Your friend's email:
Your email:
Your name:
 
 
Send Cancel

Winners announced for Sir Colin Spedding Award
The Princess Royal has recognised the work of Amanda Stoddart-West with the NEF award.
Joint winners received the NEF award.

The Sir Colin Spedding Award has been given to joint winners, during a ceremony held at the National Equine Forum (NEF) on 7 March.

This year’s award recognises two recipients, Kirsty Withnall and Amanda Stoddart-West, for their work on equine wellbeing.

Ms Withnall is a case officer for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA). Starting as an equine officer 23 years ago, Ms Withnall then became a case officer in the charity’s Special Operations Unit (SOU).

She gives uniformed response for the SOU, and conducts specialist criminal investigations into animal cruelty. This has included large-scale operations, involving cooperation across numerous agencies.

Ms Withnall said: "I am honoured and absolutely delighted to receive this extremely prestigious award.

“Through my 23 years working for the RSPCA, I know first-hand how rewarding but also extremely challenging the role can be, so it truly means a great deal to have my work recognised in this way.”

Sharing the award is Amanda Stoddart-West, a livestock and entries coordinator for the Great Yorkshire Show. She has worked on improving equine wellbeing at the show, including initiatives to improve rider to horse weight ratios and warm-up rules.

Ms Stoddart-West’s principles have since been widely adopted across other shows.

She said: “To be honest, I was totally shocked to be told that I had been nominated for the Sir Colin Spedding Award, and incredibly honoured to be a joint winner of such a revered honour.

“There are great efforts going into ensuring the highest standards of animal welfare nationally, and this award is a reflection of all of those who are doing such excellent work in this area.”

Ms Withnall and Ms Stoddart-West were presented with their award by the Princess Royal, who is president of NEF.

The Princess Royal also highly commended Award finalist Anne Dicker, a managing partner of the Catherston Stud. Ms Dicker provides advancing equine groom apprenticeships, as well as training fire responders, developing digital equine ID policy and furthering the principles of the Happy Equine Athlete.

Image © NEF

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

BEVA gives RVNs right to vote

News Story 1
 The British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) is to allow its registered veterinary nurse (RVN) members the right to vote.

RVN members will now be able to take part in key decision-making processes and stand for BEVA council.

Marie Rippingale, chair of BEVA's Nurse Committee, said: "I am very proud to be a part of BEVA.

"This change will help to empower nurses to speak up and contribute, but more importantly, it will give them an opportunity to collaborate with other members of the equine veterinary profession to bring about change that is positive for all." 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Farmer survey to reveal on-farm impact of bluetongue

A nationwide survey has been launched to better understand how the bluetongue virus is affecting UK farms.

Results will inform the support that farmers receive for bluetongue, as well as preparing the livestock industry for the future.

The short online survey is open to all livestock farmers, regardless of whether they've had a confirmed case of bluetongue on their farm. It asks how many animals have been affected, the severity of their clinical signs and how it has impacted farm business.

The survey takes five minutes to complete and is fully anonymous.

It is led by Fiona Lovatt, of Flock Health Limited, and the Ruminant Health & Welfare bluetongue working group, in collaboration with AHDB and the University of Nottingham.

Dr Lovatt says: "We need to find out what level of clinical signs farmers are seeing in their animals, whether they are experiencing mortality with BTV-3 cases, and what their appetite is to vaccinate in future for bluetongue serotype 3."

The survey can be found here.