BEVA Trust Veterinary Volunteers help improve Equine Welfare

Jo Gillingham is one of 227 eager BEVA Trust veterinary volunteers who have shown their passion for horse welfare by helping make a difference to the lives of more than 1000 horses in the UK. This has been achieved through participation in a total of 31 Education and Welfare castration clinics and is in addition to those BEVA members who have volunteered their services for overseas work with the BEVA Trust.

The BEVA Trust provides opportunities, support and funding to allow BEVA members to volunteer for projects that enhance equine welfare both locally and globally.

The BEVA Trust and British Horse Society have worked together for the past six years. Vets, nurses, students, and farriers have so far helped a total of 1405 horses by volunteering their time and expertise at special clinics around the country. Coordinated by the British Horse Society, and with practical support from a number of other equine welfare charities, these clinics provide dental care, farriery, worming, microchipping and passporting for horses identified to be in need, as well as castration if required. A total of 648 horses have now been castrated.

Jo said: "It was an amazing experience to be part of the Education and Welfare team at Bridgend, South Wales. The team approach to the way everyone works at these clinics is inspiring, with younger colleagues being nurtured and supported despite the high volume and pressure of the work that needs to be completed on the day. It is the reason so many of us want to keep volunteering. We had 48 horses attend the clinic with 24 castrations.

The clinics have been generously supported by Zoetis, Bransby, Blue Cross, Redwings, World Horse Welfare and the RSPCA.

You can find out more about the BEVA Trust's work here: www.beva.org.uk/BEVA-Trust . If you would like to support the Trust's work please visit https://www.justgiving.com/bevatrust

To volunteer for the BEVA Trust please contact Leaya Slater Leaya@beva.org.uk