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Nominations open for Sir Colin Spedding Award 2026
The winner of the Sir Colin Spedding Award 2025 was Di Arbuthnot.
Entries close midday on 31 July 2025.

The National Equine Forum (NEF) has opened nominations for the 2026 Sir Colin Spedding Award.

The accolade recognises the unsung heroes of the equine sector, whether they are individuals or organisations.

Nominations can be made using an online form on the NEF website. Nominators should submit no more than 100 words explaining why the chosen candidate should be considered for the award.

Multiple nominations for the same candidate will not carry additional merit and self-nominations are not valid. Entries close on 31 July 2025.

The winner of the Sir Colin Spedding Award in 2025 was Di Arbuthnot. Ms Arbuthnot is the former chief executive of Retraining of Racehorses (RoR), where she sought to give thoroughbred horses a meaningful life after racing.

Ms Arbuthnot said: “I am thrilled to receive this prestigious award, and I would like to thank the National Equine Forum.

“It was a privilege, 25 years ago, to become part of a charity that has helped many thoroughbreds have another career.”

The Sir Colin Spedding Award was launched in 2013 to honour the memory of NEF’s founding chairman. As chairman, Sir Colin ensured representatives from across the equine sector were welcome at the Forum and that a range of topics could be discussed amicably.

Jane Holderness-Roddam, chair of the award’s sub-committee, said: “In the 12 years since the Sir Colin Spedding Award was introduced it has become one of the most coveted accolades within the equestrian sector.
 
“We are proud to have been able to celebrate so many extraordinary individuals, organisations and achievements since its inception and look forward to adding to our outstanding roll call in 2026. If you have an exceptional individual or organisation in mind for the Award do let us know, so that we can give them the recognition and appreciation they truly deserve.”

The application form can be found on the NEF website.

Image © Shai Dolev Photography

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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."