Appreciating the singular difference this skilled professional has made to horses’ lives, and consequently to their owners’ lives too
Baileys Horse Feeds Vet of the Year 2024 winner
Philippa Hughes
Dyffryn Tywi Equine Clinic, Nantgaredig, Carmarthen
What made you become a vet? “Being a vet is something I have wanted to do since I was a child. I have always loved horses. I hated school, but the reason I was there was because I wanted to be a vet. Spending time with horses is a privilege – being a vet is my dream come true.”
A heartwarming story from 2024: “There have been many. We do a lot of work with mares and foals. This year, sadly a mare was lost owing to peritonitis. Her foal, who survived, was taken on by another broodmare to raise alongside her own. It was a heartwarming moment during a sad time. As a small, independent practice, I get to see horses right the way through their lives. The owners send us updates and I love the continuity.”
A satisfied client says: “Her dedication and commitment to every equine goes beyond any experience I’ve had with any other vet. She deserves this acknowledgement for her skill and heart.”
Also on the shortlist…
Adam Jackson
Jackson Equine Vet Practice, Liphook, Hampshire
What made you become a vet? “Like all vets, I love animals. As a pet owner, I always wanted to be a vet that cares deeply and provides comfort for the patient and their owners. I’ve always wanted to advocate for the horse, so I can be a part of making it a safer and better world for horses and their owners. I’m also passionate about science, research and the advancement of human and animal medicine.”
A heartwarming story from 2024: “I was called to a pony with a badly cut hock. The young lady and her dad were really worried, and the pony ended up with a very big bandage. I told them I felt confident the pony would recover well – to put a smile on her face, I signed the bandage, ‘Get well soon.’ When I returned to replace it, I noticed the old bandage was covered in get-well messages from friends and family.”
A satisfied client says: “Adam is not only an amazing vet but also a lovely person to deal with.”
Roisin Wood
Island Equine Vets, Jersey, Channel Islands
What made you become a vet? “I grew up in west London as a pony-mad girl with no pony, but with a bedroom wall adorned with Pony magazine pictures and a firm belief that Christmas didn’t start until you’d seen Santa at Olympia. I always wanted to be an equine vet, but didn’t apply until I was 25 after a brief career in an office inspired me to follow my dreams. I opened my own practice in 2022, the first dedicated equine practice in the Channel Islands.”
A heartwarming story from 2024: “Luca, one of our most popular Jersey team horses, sustained a serious tendon injury at the beginning of last year. It’s been a long road to recovery and his owner has worked incredibly hard. Seeing him back out competing happy and well is an amazing feeling.”
A satisfied client says: “Undoubtedly the most caring and knowledgeable vet on the island of Jersey. And despite being on call 24/7, she does it all with a smile!”
Katie Kershaw
Ryder Davies & Partners, Woodbridge, Suffolk
What made you become a vet? “I spent most of my holidays with my grandparents, helping on their neighbour’s dairy farm and volunteering with my granny at their local Riding for the Disabled Association centre. From this I decided I wanted to be a vet. I was lucky to ride lovely horses at a dressage yard as a teenager and couldn’t imagine not working with horses.”
A heartwarming story from 2024: “The week before my wedding, I had an emergency call from a client with a horse stuck up to its nostrils in a water-filled ditch. Between us and the fire service, we safely recovered the horse, who was completely back to normal in 48 hours – although we were all covered in ditch water! The following week, the same client gave me a hand into my wedding carriage and drove me from the church to our wedding reception. It shows how close the equine community is in rural settings.”
A satisfied client says: “An outstanding vet who demonstrates excellent care and knowledge when dealing with a range of equines.”
Previous Vet of the Year award winners
Previous winners of this award include:
- Sophie Fulton of SF Equine Vets
- Emily Willoughby of EW Equine Vets
- Elizabeth Frew of Kings Bounty Equine
- Tim Randle
- Ken Anderson
- Alistair Field
- Natalie McGoldrick
About the Horse & Hound Awards 2024
The Horse & Hound Awards returned for a ninth year in a row, in partnership with NAF and Agria.
As ever, the Horse & Hound Awards winners were nominated and voted for by you, with the exception of the Horse & Hound Lifetime Achievement award, which was decided by a Horse & Hound panel. We will recognise both the big names who have made 2024 special and the unsung heroes who make it possible for all of us to enjoy equestrian sport and our horses, at whatever level.
This year we returned to Dallas Burston Polo Club in Warwickshire, where some 300 people, including Olympic and Paralympic superstars, enjoyed a glamorous evening of champagne, winner reveals, Oscar-style speeches and dancing on Wednesday 27 November.
