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National Equine Forum introduces special COVID-19 award
The National Equine Forum.
Sir Colin Spedding Award 2021 to celebrate 'exceptional efforts' during 2020.

Organisers behind the National Equine Forum (NEF) have changed the emphasis of the Sir Colin Spedding Award 2021 to celebrate those who have gone 'above and beyond' during this difficult year.

The NEF said the decision had been reached 'given the exceptional circumstances of 2020 and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic'. The deadline for nominations has also been extended to 16 October 2020.

NEF Chair Tim Brigstocke, said: “We have already received many nominations for individuals and organisations, as yet without accolade, who have made exceptional efforts beyond their usual job or remit, during this troublesome year.

“The pandemic continues to present challenges for the equestrian sector on an unprecedented scale and we believe we should acknowledge the trials, tribulations and extraordinary efforts undertaken to overcome the challenges we have all been living through over the past seven months.”

Introduced in 2013, the Sir Colin Spedding Award has become one of the most respected annual awards within UK equestrianism. Previous winners include Suffolk Punch champion Nigel Oakley (2020 joint winner); welfare-driven equestrian journalist Eleanor Jones (2020 joint winner); equine sector stalwart Gordon Wesley (2019), and exceptional farrier Dr Simon Curtis (2018).

The award is named after the founding chairman of the NEF, who chaired the event for 20 years until his death in 2012. He ensured that representatives of all areas of the equine sector felt welcome and that topics of general interest and concern could be openly discussed.

For 2020/21, the award will be re-named to the Sir Colin Spedding COVID-19 Award. Individuals or organisations from any equestrian field are eligible for nomination, as long as their outstanding qualities have not been formally acknowledged elsewhere.

Non-pandemic related nominations that have already been received will be carried over to 2022. For more information and submit a nomination, visit the NEF website.

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
RCVS pays tribute to well-loved equine vet

The RCVS and the Riding Establishments Subcommittee has paid tribute to well-loved veterinary surgeon and riding establishment inspector, Rebecca Hamilton-Fletcher MRCVS.

Linda Belton MRCVS, RCVS President, said: "I, along with my colleagues on the RESC, RCVS Council, RCVS Standards Committee, as well as RCVS staff, was very saddened to hear of the sudden death of Rebecca, or Becca as we knew her, last week.

"She was a true advocate for equine welfare and in her many years on the RESC worked to continually improve the quality and consistency of riding establishment inspections, all in the interests of enhanced horse welfare and rider safety."