Huw Griffiths, clinical director at Liphook Equine Hospital in Hampshire, will be presented with his presidential chains of office on Monday in a ceremony at the BEVA Congress in Birmingham.
He will be taking over the reins from 20/21 president Lucy Grieve of Rossdales Veterinary Surgeons in Newmarket. Both Liphook and Rossdales are part of VetPartners, which is home to some of the UK’s best-known equine practices.
Huw said he is looking forward to having the opportunity to lead the Council and make a difference for his fellow vets over the next 12 months.
He said: “My mission statement is championing the equine vet and I want to put an infrastructure in place to help vets be the very best they can be. This will ultimately benefit the welfare of the horse, which is the key aim of BEVA.
“My main focus will be the vets who are at the very centre of the industry, the ambulatory vets who are, day-to-day, going out to visit owners and their horses and building and maintaining relationships and trust between clients and their equine practice. If you have a healthier, happier vet, the level of care for the horse will be increased.”
Huw graduated from the University of Liverpool in 2000 and joined Liphook Equine Hospital in 2004, rising to the role of clinical director in 2018. His career has also taken him to Ireland and the USA, and he has a special interest in sport horse breeding, holding a certificate in Equine Stud Medicine.
He is one of Liphook’s team of 10 ambulatory vets, travelling to see clients and their horses all over the South East, and also looks after the practice’s larger stud clients.
A BEVA Council member for six years, Huw has served on the breeding and reproduction committee, as well as chairing the clinical practice committee and the AI discussion forum.
He added that he hopes to use his presidency to encourage more people to pursue a veterinary career and reduce numbers leaving the industry, which is currently experiencing a shortage in vets.
Huw said: “Being a vet is a great profession and an amazing way of life and during my presidency I am keen to promote this. The well-being of vets is also very important to me, and I want to support those who are going through a chapter where they are finding it a less rewarding job and help them find a new path within our profession rather than outside it.”
Outgoing president Lucy Grieve will be continuing to contribute to the BEVA Council for next 12 months in the role of Senior Vice President.
Lucy has been a member of the Council since 2012 and has served on its Ethics and Welfare Committee. She graduated from Cambridge in 2007 and joined Rossdales in Newmarket, where she’s a member of the ambulatory team and has a strong interest in lameness, diagnostic imaging and poor performance. BEVA represents the veterinary industry on a wide range of topics and is committed to championing high standards of equine health and welfare. It also promotes research and education and encourages vets to share ideas that will have a positive benefit on the equestrian community.
