Derek Knottenbelt, the Professor of Equine Medicine at the University of Liverpool, was speaking at Oatridge College in West Lothian, the only Scottish stop on a 1,200-mile marathon motorcycle journey by a team of seven “Vets with Horsepower”,  to raise funds for two international animal charities.

“Quite rightly the priority is to feed starving humans beings during the current emergency, but their animals are dead or dying and without them, these people will simply face a life of dependency,” he said. 

“Vets with Horsepower” undertook their four-day trip to raise money for World Horse Welfare’s overseas charity work and the Society for the Protection of Animals Abroad (SPANA) to help equip an equine clinic in the West Africa republic of Mali.

At four stops, at Hartpury College in Gloucester, World Horse Welfare’s Hall Farm in Norfolk, Bishop Burton College near Hull and finally at Oatridge College, the specialists gave advice to horse owners and lovers on how to deal with illnesses and injuries to their animals. In West Lothian their presentation attracted an audience from all over Scotland and beyond, each paying a minimum of £30 towards the fundraising effort. 

Professor Knottenbelt said he chose Oatridge because of its central location, the proximity of the on-campus Scottish National Equestrian Centre and because he believes it to be the best equestrian college in Scotland. He added: “The staff have been absolutely fantastic and I would like to thank them for the first class job they did in organising our visit. I’m also delighted with the number of people who turned out to support us”. Oatridge donated the iconic Arran conference facilities for the event.

Anyone unable to attend the presentations by Professor Knottenbelt and his expert colleagues can still donate by visiting: www.justgiving.com/horsepowerCPD

In the attached picture of the “Vets with Horsepower” group at Oatridge College, Professor Derek Knottenbelt is on the extreme left.