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CLAIRE WILLIAMS
Claire was born and educated in Christchurch, New Zealand. After completing a Masters degree in modern languages, she worked in business consultancy with a Government Agency before moving to the sheepskin tannery G.L. Bowron Ltd. After learning the trade in NZ she was based in Germany from 1991 as European Trading Manager.
In 2000 she moved to the UK to take up the position of Chief Executive of BETA and then in 2004 became Executive Director of the BETA Group including EMC Ltd.
Alongside the work undertaken on safety equipment and feed her other focus has been to widen BETA’s involvement in the saddlery trade. This has included working with the Saddlers’ Company’s and leading the writing of an Occupational standard for saddle fitters. She has also worked alongside the SMS and utilised BETA’s international reputation in training to run saddle fitting and related courses overseas. She has also successfully lead trade missions to promote and assist in export development for British saddlery manufacturers and fitters.
BRIONY WITHEROW
A graduate of Aberystwyth University and the Royal Agricultural College, Briony started her career in the commercial sector, as senior nutritionist at one of the UK’s major feed companies. Briony went on to achieve registered nutritionist status with the Association for Nutrition (AfN) and started her own equine nutrition consultancy, Practical Equine Nutrition.
Briony currently works as an equine nutritionist through her private consultancy and lectures in Equine and Animal Science at Writtle University College. Her particular interests include feeding for performance, breeding and managing clinical issues along with grassland management. In her spare time, Briony has a PRE gelding which she rides and competes, and a Welsh section A which she drives.
SOPHIE COOKSON
Sophie is the Welfare Operations Manager at The British Horse Society (BHS) and also manages the Friends at the End scheme.
She has trained in Counselling Skills and has a passion for understanding the psychological impact that euthanasia has upon horse owners.
SARAH LOGIE
Sarah is a highly qualified farrier .She was the first female ever to pass the apprenticeship in 2006 with honours. She also holds qualifications in her associate exam (2007) passing with distinction and her Fellowship exam (2017), becoming one of only two woman to hold the qualification.
Now the founder of S.Logie Farriery, Sarah has traveled all over the world, including New Zealand and the USA, presenting her acclaimed thesis to events where she is warmly received.
Sarah also tutors as part of the Jay Tovey FWCF Farriery Tuition Group.
SOPHIE PICKARD
Sophie spent 9 years as a registered veterinary nurse in the UK, New Zealand and Sri Lanka, before continuing her education to become a veterinary physiotherapist. She started her own physiotherapy business in January 2020, treating both horses and dogs.
She lives in the Yorkshire Dales with her partner and 1 year old son. Sophie spends a lot of time using positive reinforcement training to improve her connection with her own horses and until the pandemic competed nationally in endurance riding.
REBECCA WATSON
Rebecca spent over 15 years working in equine veterinary practice (first opinion and referral) in the thoroughbred capital of Ireland; the Curragh, Co. Kildare. During this time she participated in
externships in Hagyard, Davidson, McGee & Assoc. the USA, Tierklinik Telgte in Germany and at the Australian Equine Behaviour Centre in Australia. She also volunteered as a veterinary technician during the London Olympics in 2012.
Rebecca is based in Ireland and works as an equine nutritionist for the Export Division of Connolly’s RED MILLS. When she is not travelling the globe, she can be found riding out racehorses for Kildare trainer Ross O’Sullivan.
SUE STANBRIDGE
Sue qualified as a City & Guilds bench saddler in 1981 while also taking her lorinery exams at this time. She has continued to attend regular courses in saddle and bridle/bit fitting over the years.
She passed the Neue Schule Fundamentals of Bitting exam with distinction and is one of a small number of LANTRA qualified bit fitters, passing with distinction, this time with Horse Bit Fit.
DR TAMSON FURTADO
Dr Tamzin Furtado is a social scientist at the University of Liverpool, where she studies equine welfare. Her PhD was around equine weight management, with a focus on positive welfare and the ways we can help people to help their horses. She works on projects across the equine welfare spectrum, including studying peoples’ perceptions of sport horse wellbeing, livery yard management, and anthelmintic resistance. In her spare time, she competes in endurance competitions, and also loves trail running in the Welsh hills.
DR KIRSTY LESNIAK
Kirsty is a Senior Lecturer (Research) in Equine Science at Hartpury University, Gloucester; her main teaching areas being anatomy and physiology, equine exercise physiology and equine sports medicine.
Kirsty’s PhD was on the prevalence of functional trait and distal limb asymmetries and their effects on equine performance. Her research areas are predominantly within anatomical symmetry and conformation, particularly of the distal limb and the foot.
LIZ EATON FBHS
Liz Eaton FBHS has over 35 years experience coaching riders from grass roots to advanced competition in all 3 disciplines.
Psychology and biomechanics of horse and rider play a large role in her coaching style and she works closely with professionals in related fields to facilitate this.
HELEN WHITELEGG
Helen first joined Redwings in 2001 and has worked in the charity’s horse care, welfare and communications teams.
Now Senior Campaigns Officer, Helen draws on first-hand experience of horse health and welfare issues to support owners and share practical ideas and information that can have a positive impact on equine lives.
EMMA SHIPMAN
Emma graduated from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) in 1999 and after several years in private practice completed an internal medicine residency at the Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Centre, part of the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine.
After working as a medicine clinician at the RVC she moved to the University of Nottingham Veterinary School in 2009 as Clinical Assistant Professor in Equine Medicine.
Based mainly at Oakham Veterinary Hospital in Rutland, she sees a wide variety of medical cases, and is responsible for the final year undergraduate students during their equine clinical placement.
DIANE GILBY FCCA, RSQP
Technical Director, EPLA Ltd
Diane has been working in parasitology at EPLA for over 20 years, carrying out risk assessments and managing worm control plans for Intelligent Worming and ScientifEQ.
She has won two awards as an SQP for the depth of her knowledge and has been the driving force pioneering the development of risk assessed parasite control worm control plans.
She is currently representing AMTRA on the steering group of CANTER and in many of the sub groups developing standard guidelines for prescribing and laboratory diagnostic standards. Her speciality is youngstock and stud management and she personally manages all stud programmes and advice methodology at EPLA.
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ROSIE WITHEY
Rosie has spent her whole life on and around horses: competing, training and simply spending time with them from a very early age.
They supported her through her darkest times and, accompanied her on her most exhilarating experiences.
She says: ‘I have learned (and continue to learn) so much from horses. When I look back on my own journey I realise that interactions with horses have been some of my greatest catalysts for change and healing.’
Rosie coached the British pentathlon team for 2 years – to Olympic gold success. She holds qualifications in Reiki and Radionics and has integrated the practice of the Alexander Technique and Mindfulness for several years.
CHRISTA DILLON
Christa Dillon is a young horse producer, based in the Irish Midlands. Together with her husband Niall and their son Charlie, the family run a beef suckler herd, and a livestock haulage business. Christa works part time in social media marketing, and as a content writer for equestrian websites.
Christa is a Centre 10 Advanced Coach, with a particular interest in helping riders to overcome confidence difficulties. She has worked in the equestrian industry for all of her adult life, and has a great love of horses. Christa is also a best selling author, having published her first book in 2020.
EMMELINE HANNELLY
Emmeline is the Welfare Education Manager for The British Horse Society. With years of practical experience, Emmeline is passionate about supporting and advising horse owners and carers on a wide range of issues.
In partnership with the colic team at the University of Nottingham, Emmeline helped to produce and coordinate the launch of the REACT Now to Beat Colic Campaign.
EVA MARUNOVA
Eva is freelance BHSAI coach and rider based in Hertfordshire. Her main interest lies in developing a horse-rider relationship based on biomechanics principles and equitation science. Apart from professional BHS qualifications, she completed a postgraduate diploma in Equine Science at Hartpury University and is currently in the final stages of a PhD programme at The Royal Veterinary College. Her research focuses on the quantification and evaluation of movement symmetry in horses – an area which is quickly gaining momentum in veterinary circles as well as in the wider equestrian community.
EMMA HUTCHINSON
Emma Hutchison is co-founder of HorseBack UK, a multi-award-winning Scottish charity (registration number SC040765) based near Aboyne, in the Scottish Highlands.
HorseBack UK works to improve health and well-being by inspiring recovery, positive change and renewed purpose amongst those who need it most and improving education and employment prospects for those who are disadvantaged or marginalised.
Using horsemanship, equine assisted learning, rural skills and the outdoors, the charity delivers award-winning projects and personal development programmes that encourage participants to acquire new coping strategies, life skills and lasting resilience while gaining nationally recognised awards and qualifications.
KIERAN O’BRIEN
Kieran joined Penbode Equine Vets in Tavistock, Devon, in 1998 after spells as a lecturer and clinician at the Universities of Cambridge and Bristol. He is the author of Essential Horse Health and enjoys breeding sport horses and Connemara ponies.
ANDY DURHAM
Professor Andy Durham qualified from the University of Bristol in 1988 and worked initially in the Midlands where he gained a postgraduate qualification in Equine Practice before coming to Liphook in 1994. After a brief period away in Sussex, he returned to Liphook in 1999 and became a partner in 2001.
He gained the RCVS Diploma of Equine Internal Medicine in 2003 and the Diploma of the European College of Equine Internal Medicine the following year. Andy acts as a consultant for internal medicine providing a referral service for referring vets and has a particular interest in equine metabolic syndrome, liver disease and ophthalmology. Andy has published extensively on a wide range of equine medicine subjects and lectures frequently both in the UK and abroad.
EDWARD BUSUTTIL
Ed graduated from the Szent Istvan University of Budapest in 2015. He then spent a year interning at a referral hospital in California, before working as an ambulatory vet in England. He has a keen interest in alternative treatments, aimed at treating compensatory pain to improve performance and rehabilitation and, decrease the risk of injury.
Edward obtained a Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice with a focus on Internal Medicine from the University of Liverpool in 2019, a Certificate in Veterinary Acupuncture from the Chi Institute in the same year and a Professional Diploma in Animal Chiropractic in 2020. In November 2020, Edward set up his own complementary therapy practice, EB Equine.
JULIA DUBUC
Julia graduated from the University of Montreal in 2013 in Quebec, Canada. The following year, she undertook a one-year internship specialising in equine surgery, at a busy referral practice in Ontario Canada, treating mainly Standardbred and Thoroughbred racehorses.
In 2014, she undertook a three-year surgical residency, focusing solely on equine surgery, as well as a Masters programme, at the University of Montreal.
Julia joined the University of Nottingham in 2017 as clinical assistant professor of equine surgery, working on a daily basis at Oakham Veterinary Hospital in Rutland.
Her main area of research is centred on the equine stifle, although she enjoys colic surgery.
Orsolya Losonci BSc CEBC EEBW
Orsolya gained her BSc in Equine Behavioural Science at Writtle University College where she became passionate about equine nutrition and rehabilitation. She qualified as an equine behaviourist, nutritionist and bodyworker in 2020, the same year she launched her company, HORSI.
She has been around horses since the age of five and has been working with horses with problematic behaviours since 2015. She has trained a range of equines from feral to actively competing Grand Prix horses. In 2020, she received an Entrepreneurial Excellence Award for her successes in the industry and for her international dissertation project.
She is a published author, an IAABC Certified Equine Behaviour Consultant and a fully insured and member of the IEBWA. She is based in England and Hungary, providing a holistic approach to client horses while doing her MSc in Animal Nutrition at the University of Glasgow. “My aim is to make this world a better place for horses and to help as many as come my way.”
ALEXIA ROSS
Starting out as a Classics graduate from the University of Sheffield with a career in Corporate Communications, Alexia soon prioritised her passion for Arabian horses, their history and breeding. Exchanging her sensible Connemara pony for an Arabian gelding who accompanied her, her mother and her grandmother on long rides over the South Downs, sealed the deal.
Alexia has bred Arabians for nearly 30 years and was one of the founders of The Crabbet Organisation in 1999, a non-profit company formed to promote the achievements and breeding of traditional riding-type Arabian horses. She is a Director of the company and has become established as an international authority on Arabian bloodlines. Her published writing covers Arabian horse history, the use of pedigrees and the practical application of genetics in breeding.
Her daily life juggles 6 horses, 2 dogs and 3 cats with writing, seemingly endless correspondence and the delights of a foal or two every few years. Her small breeding programme nonetheless produces highly-rated Arabian sporthorses.
Alexia has bred Arabians for nearly 30 years and was one of the founders of The Crabbet Organisation in 1999, a non-profit company formed to promote the achievements and breeding of traditional riding-type Arabian horses. She is a Director of the company and has become established as an international authority on Arabian bloodlines. Her published writing covers Arabian horse history, the use of pedigrees and the practical application of genetics in breeding.
Her daily life juggles 6 horses, 2 dogs and 3 cats with writing, seemingly endless correspondence and the delights of a foal or two every few years. Her small breeding programme nonetheless produces highly-rated Arabian sporthorses.
CAROLINE ARNOLD
Caroline started Mates Rates Horse Transport in January 2018. She soon found that the more she loaded and transported other peoples horses, the better she became at understanding each individual horses needs.
When Justin joined the venture, he brought a new level of understanding about the horses. Together we realised that we were able to support each other in helping the horses who were tricky to load. It’s our aim to support owners and their horses throughout their journey – every journey starts somewhere!
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RUTH DANCER
Director at White Griffin, Ruth is the leading equine environmental sustainability specialist.
She has authored three reports for the British Horse Racing Authority, Horse Sport Ireland and British Equestrian Federation, to help the industry understand the impacts of the environment on equine sports and horse racing.
Ruth spent 18 years working at some the biggest names in sport, including the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games, and Formula 1. Retraining in environmental sustainability, she now supports the sport and entertainment sector in making the transition to a sustainable future, and focuses particularly on the relationship between equine welfare and the environment.
DR GRAHAM HUNTER
After graduating from the Royal (Dick) Veterinary School, Graham joined Ardene House Veterinary Practice, Aberdeen. His focus quickly became equine work and, he was instrumental in building the first equine hospital facility in the north of Scotland at Kingswells in 1997.
Graham has undertaken extra equine qualifications, most recently attaining a certificate in equine surgery and orthopaedics. In 2009 he was appointed as an RCVS examiner for the Certificate in Equine Practice and continued in this position for 5 years. Although interested in all aspects of equine medicine and surgery, his focus over recent years has been on lameness, gait analysis and surgery cases.