Spring has sprung! Sunnier and warmer days are making us all feel better. Looking forward to more equine sporting and pleasure events and with the increasing workload comes the joy of being an equine veterinarian – managing tricky cases bringing new life into the world and successfully helping mares get in in foal. Sure, the hours are long and the stress increases but if I know anything it is that our members have legendary resilience.
There has been a lot going on over the last month with a major focus on our contribution to the AVA’s submission on the Queensland Governments review of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1936. In particular our Equine Dentistry Subcommittee has produced a strong document advocating for equine veterinarians. The EVA Equine Dentistry Subcommittee was formed to bring together a broad and diverse group of equine veterinarians all of whom work in, and are passionate about, the profession of equine dentistry. Guided by the work of this group and feedback from our members it is the position of EVA that we classify equine dental diagnosis, treatment planning, sedation and analgesia, local anaesthesia and nerve blocks, periodontal therapy, extraction and oral surgery, dental radiography and its interpretation, and the use of motorised dental instruments as RESERVED activities and an act of veterinary science. We are campaigning strongly for legislation to regulate this position. You can read the full submission here.
Our EVA Welfare Subcommittee is finalising our submission to DPI Queensland on welfare aspects of land transport. When finalised we will share this with you.
The EVA Racing Subcommittee had their first meeting this week led by Chairman Dr Mark McGarry. We are excited about providing a voice that advocates for the welfare of the racehorse and our members who are passionate about, and work in, racing. You can learn more about the members of the committee here:
Members 2027:
| Name | Position / Representation |
| Dr Mark McGarry | Racing Sub-Committee Chair & Queensland Representative |
| Dr Brian Anderson | EVA President |
| Dr Eoin Kelly | AAEP Representative |
| Dr Sophie Waddell | Young Member Representative |
| Dr Leanne Begg | New South Wales Representative |
| Dr David Garth | New South Wales Representative |
| Dr Maxine Brain | Victoria Representative |
| Dr Andrew Cust | Victoria Representative |
| Dr Holly Lewis | South Australia Representative |
| Dr Laura Cox | Western Australia Representative |
| Dr Ellie Crispe | Western Australia Representative |
| Dr Merrilyn Fitzgerald | Tasmania Representative |
AVA Team : EVA team support will be provided by Camilla Broughton, Executive Officer, and Shannon Moss, Administration Officer.
They are everyday working veterinarians only too willing to chat to you about all things racing!
I have been in contact with Dr Rob Hitchcock the president of Equine Veterinarians of the NZVA to discuss what I call CER or “closer equine relations” with our “sisters and brothers” across the ditch. We are excited at the possibility of sharing resources, and opportunities for continuing education as well as exchanging ideas and initiatives at board level. One idea is to have a roadshow with a Kiwi and an Australian presenter bringing new CE to the masses in the great spirit of the ANZAC’s – watch this space!
While it is likely that the veterinary schools of Australasia are producing enough veterinarians it would be true to say we are not seeing the injection of enough young graduates into equine careers. Not only this but we lose approximately 50% of those veterinarians from equine veterinary science within 5 years of graduation, mainly to small animal practice. One of the initiatives to attract more students to our vocation is “Love the Horse Day”. In this initiative the idea is to introduce the next generation of veterinarians to the world of equine practice. We want to show veterinary students that working with horses can be an exciting, rewarding and achievable career pathway.
Love the Horse Day is a free, hands-on workshop specifically aimed at first- and second-year veterinary students, giving them an early opportunity to experience working with horses in a safe, supportive and positive environment. Our aim is to help students become comfortable and confident around horses, while introducing them to the skills and knowledge that are fundamental to equine practice. During the day, students have the opportunity to meet inspirational equine veterinarians, learn about the diversity of careers within the profession and gain an appreciation of the unique relationship between the horse, the owner and the veterinarian.
A key focus of the day is teaching students how to safely read and respond to horses. We want them to understand horse behaviour, body language and reactions, and to develop the confidence to recognise when a horse is comfortable, anxious or potentially unsafe. Students are also introduced to practical veterinary skills, including learning how to use their hands as a diagnostic tool and understanding the basics of a TPR including what is normal and what may be abnormal.
The next two editions of Love the Horse Day are at the university of Queensland on October 11 and Adelaide University on October 17. For more information see here:
Congratulations to Dr Albert Sole Guitart and Dr Jacqueline McLeod and to all those veterinarians and teachers that give their time freely to help promote our profession.
That’s all from me. Have a great month and get out there and enjoy some sun.
Cheers Dr Brian Anderson EVA President
