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BEVA Congress to celebrate vet nurses with VN stream
BEVA Congress will include workshops where equine RVNs can develop their nursing skills.
The stream will include a progressive vet nursing workshop.

The British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) has announced details of an educational stream designed specifically for veterinary nurses.

The stream at this year’s BEVA Congress, which takes place from 10-13 September, is intended to develop and promote the skills of an equine RVN.

The speakers in the stream include Louise Pailor, who will discuss sustainability, and Roger Smith, who will address the role of equine RVNs in orthopaedic care. David Rendle will demonstrate the process of a gastroscopy.

There will be veterinary nursing workshops in the afternoon, which will seek to develop nursing skills through discussion, practicals and group learning tasks.

The workshops will include stations for diagnostics, consulting skills, medicine and foals. They will be hosted by tutors including Jane Devaney, Rosina Lilywhite and Marie Rippingale.

Delegates will be invited to explore arthroscopy, acting in the role of orthopaedic scrub nurse. There will also be opportunities to improve suturing skills, master hands-on techniques for foals and learn how to prepare and set up Equine Biologics.

These practical sessions will be guided by practical experts, including David Stack, Sophie Haylock and Rosina Lilywhite.

Closing sessions will begin with an update from BEVA’s nurse committee. Cassie Woods will then discuss the role of the equine veterinary nurse outside the clinic and how the skills can be maximised out and about.

The day will close with a talk from Kayleigh Warren, who will explore the rehabilitation of the equine patient and how nurses could extend their care.

Cassie Woods, guardian of the vet nursing stream, said: “We really hope to see many of our amazing RVN and Student RVNs in attendance for what should be a day of exciting topics and the chance to get stuck in and further learn and develop skills to take back into your clinics,
 
“We are also excited to learn who will be the winner of this year’s Vet Nurse Empowerment Award, which highlights the invaluable skills and versatility of equine nurses by commending any individual within the profession who is actively championing the role of the equine nurse.”

Image © BEVA

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Equine Disease Surveillance report released for Q4 2025

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 The latest Equine Disease Surveillance report has been released, with details on equine disease from Q4 of 2025.

The report, produced by Equine Infectious Disease Surveillance, includes advice on rule changes for equine influenza vaccination.

Statistics and maps detail recent outbreaks of equine herpes virus, equine influenza, equine strangles and equine grass sickness. A series of laboratory reports provides data on virology, bacteriology, parasitology and toxicosis.

This issue also features a case study of orthoflavivus-associated neurological disease in a horse in the UK. 

Click here for more...
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NSA webinar explores sheep tailing and castration

The National Sheep Association (NSA) is to host a free webinar on the castration and tail docking of lambs.

The webinar, 'Understanding the tailing and castration consultation: A guide for sheep farmers', will be hosted online on Monday, 2 March 2026 at 7.30pm.

It comes during a government consultation into the methods used for these procedures. Farmers are encouraged to engage before the consultation period closes on Monday, 9 March 2026.

The webinar offers clear and actionable guidance to support farmers to contribute meaningfully to the consultation and prepare for potential changes.

On the panel will be former SVS president Kate Hovers, farmer and vet Ann Van Eetvelt and SRUC professor in Animal Health and Veterinary Sciences Cathy Dwyer. Each panel member will utilise their own specialism and expertise to evaluate risks and outcomes to sheep farming.

Find out more about the webinar on the NSA website.