This time last year, BEVA was tentatively preparing to stage the UK’s first major veterinary congress since the outbreak of COVID-19. But this year the event returns in all its former glory – and final preparations are under way for an event that will reunite and champion the equine veterinary profession.
In this Vet Times Podcast, BEVA president Huw Griffiths looks back at his objectives and previews congress, while president-elect David Rendle looks forward to his presidential term and reflects on the veterinary profession’s efforts to support colleagues in Ukraine since the country was invaded by Russia earlier this year.
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𝗛𝘂𝘄 𝗚𝗿𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗶𝘁𝗵𝘀 𝗕𝗦𝗰, 𝗕𝗩𝗦𝗰, 𝗖𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗔𝗩𝗣 (𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗲), 𝗠𝗥𝗖𝗩𝗦
Huw graduated from the University of Liverpool in 2000. After some time at Auburn University in Alabama, US, he worked in Tipperary where he was based at the Kedrah Stud, where he was primarily involved with sports horse breeding.
During this time he also spent time at Colarado State University, US, learning embryo transfer techniques. He then moved back to UK and worked in ambulatory equine practice in Surrey for two and a half years before joining Liphook Equine Hospital in 2004.
During his time as an ambulatory vet at Liphook, Huw has continued to develop his interest in stud medicine, and looks after some of the practice’s larger studs as part of its dedicated reproductive team. In 2016, he gained a certificate in equine stud medicine. Huw is the 2021-22 BEVA president.
𝗗𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗹𝗲 𝗕𝗩𝗦𝗰, 𝗠𝗩𝗠, 𝗖𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗘𝗠(𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗠𝗲𝗱), 𝗗𝗶𝗽𝗘𝗖𝗘𝗜𝗠, 𝗙𝗥𝗖𝗩𝗦
David graduated from the University of Bristol in 2001 and then worked in farm animal and equine practice before completing an internship at Liphook Equine Hospital. A three-year Horserace Betting Levy Board residency at the University of Glasgow and Liphook Equine Hospital enabled him to train as a specialist in equine internal medicine, and to gain a Masters by Research into equine asthma and an RCVS certificate in equine medicine.
David spent a number of years at Liphook before moving to Rainbow Equine Hospital, North Yorkshire, where he became a director and subsequently a clinical director following the hospital’s acquisition by the VetPartners group.
David returned to his West Country roots in 2020, and now works as an independent equine medicine and therapeutics consultant. He is president-elect of BEVA – taking over as president at BEVA Congress 2022 – and chairs its health and medicines committee.