Sue Edwards, widow of the doyen of equine colic surgery Professor Barrie Edwards, presenting The BEVA Richard Hartley Clinical Award to Professor Paddy Dixon

Recognised during BEVA Congress

The endeavours of four outstanding achievers in equine health were recognised at BEVA Congress last Thursday (10 September).

Each achiever was presented with a coveted award that reflects BEVA's recognition and support for significant accomplishments by equine vets and others involved in horse health and welfare.

Johanna Vardon, founder and owner of the National Foaling Bank in Shropshire, received the BEVA Equine Welfare Award, sponsored by Blue Cross.

Johanna's charity provides a nationwide service for horse breeders to pair foster mares with orphaned foals and provides guidance throughout the process of adoption. Since starting the company Johanna has been involved in over 20,000 cases of fostering.

Professor Paddy Dixon took home the BEVA Richard Hartley Clinical Award for his study into the clinical effects of mechanical teeth widening for the treatment of periodontis. The award is given for evidence-based papers and the prize is intended to support travel of the senior author and/or co-authors.

The BEVA Trust Peter Rossdale Equine Veterinary Journal (EVJ) Award went to Dr Andrew van Eps for the paper: “Continuous digital hypothermia initiated after the onset of lameness prevents lamellar failure in the oligofructose laminitis model.”   

The award is given for the paper that best achieves the EVJ's mission to publish articles which either influence clinical practice or significantly add to the scientific knowledge that underpins equine veterinary medicine.

Lastly, Dr Mathijs Theelen won this year's BEVA award for his paper on “Ethmoidal infection with Aspergillus spp. in 3 horses: successful treatment by transendoscopic removal of mycotic plaques alone or in combination with systemic itraconazole”.

Dr Theelen's presentation won the award at the Voorjaarsdagen Congress in April 2015 and was presented again during the clinical research sessions at BEVA Congress.

Image (C) David Boughey