Our guest speaker was Professor Brian Perry of the University of Edinburgh College of Veterinary Medicine accompanied by Philippa Herd of Vets4Pets. Brian presented his great interest and involvement in equine health and welfare which is well controlled in the UK but has very different realities globally.

His greatest problem was the lack of policies for equines on development agendas. It looks like some 112 million equines are in the hands of the poorer sectors of society. In this respect Brian has been involved with the World Veterinary Service in Ooty, India training vets in the problems of husbandry and health.

Brian’s great involvement has led to more sustainable development goals in treating animals which have spread worldwide. Policies have become more ownership based within developing communities improving the personal involvement with working equines. This has spread to other agencies like World Horse Welfare, the Donkey Sanctuary and the Brooke Foundation so that there is a better understanding of development goals across a wide area.

Brian was thanked for his talk by Rotarian Willie Monks who reiterated the comments and questions from other Members in how little everyone really knew about the problems. Such enterprise and work was to the good for the future.