Becky always dreamed of working with animals, but her path to working as an equine vet nurse took some unexpected turns. Starting with a love for horses at age 11, she faced setbacks - including discovering an allergy to small animals. However, her passion for equine care has led her to a fulfilling career at Fyrnwy Equine Clinic. Becky's dedication and hard work paid off when she won the prestigious IVCE Equine Nurse of the Year award. She continues to thrive in her role, bringing a wealth of life experience and enthusiasm to her work, and looks forward to furthering the role of equine nurses in the industry.
I always wanted to be a vet! I got into horses at about 11 years old through weekly riding lessons at the local riding school. My mum would drop me off in the morning, and I'd spend the day tacking up for lessons, grooming ponies, and mucking out. There was a yard in my village that bred Appaloosas, and I would stand at their gate, admiring the horses every day for weeks. Eventually, the owner took pity on me in the pouring rain and let me in to muck out and do some yard jobs. I volunteered for them for years, going to shows and getting involved with breaking and training.
When it came time to apply for vet school, unfortunately, I didn't get in. I took a year out and got a job at a local stud. In the meantime, I applied to study veterinary nursing at Harper Adams University College. I was successful but soon discovered I was horribly allergic to small animals! My university was wonderful, and I transferred to the Animal Health and Welfare course instead. I graduated in 2007 and went to work on a show jumping yard where I'd been working weekends. Not a year later, I started working at Walford and North Shropshire College as a yard supervisor. I stayed there for 10 years, gaining my teaching qualification and BHS qualifications, and providing pastoral care and support 24/7 for the residential students.
I'd always wanted to work at Fyrnwy since I'd been with a horse from way back when I was at the Appaloosa stud. I decided I needed a career move, and someone I knew from the riding school days contacted me to say they worked at Fyrnwy and needed someone to muck out and help care for inpatients at the weekends. So that's what I did alongside working at Walford for a year or so. I got to see emergencies admitted and treated and asked loads of questions. This worked in my favour as eventually, they wanted someone to support a locum surgeon two days a week. I went part-time at Walford and did two days a week and weekends at Fyrnwy as a VCA.
As the practice grew, they employed a full-time surgeon and decided they needed a nurse. I was the natural choice! Fyrnwy decided to become a hospital, so they needed a registered nurse, and I offered the chance to train. A bit of research revealed that I could now train on an "equine pathway," thus getting around the small animal allergy issue. So off I went to The Open College of Equine Studies four times a year for a week at a time while training on the job full-time at Fyrnwy. I qualified in 2019 and haven't looked back.
Every day is different. I'm fortunate that I wake up every day excited to come to work. I think the fact that I didn't come straight from college or university into nursing means I have a wealth of life experience and transferable skills that I can bring to the table. This means my role is really varied from running repairs on much of our equipment, to teaching and supporting student vets, nurses, and new grads, and nursing equine patients of all breeds, ages, and sizes. I really do enjoy every aspect of my work. I like meeting and talking to owners, clients, suppliers, and students. I love caring for all of our patients holistically.
I think I get all the best bits of veterinary work without having the scary responsibility of big decision-making. My favourite cases are emergencies and intensive foal nursing as we all get to work as a team for our patients. It's hard and often can have an emotional impact, but when the outcome is in the patient's favour, it really is a great sense of achievement. I really love when our clients send updates about patients, sometimes even years later. It's nice to be there for the animals and their humans when it really matters.
This really did come as a surprise. It was my turn to attend the Congress as part of the nurse stream CPD this year, so I had no idea that winning could even be a possibility until Kelly (our practice manager) told me that I'd been nominated a couple of days before the event. So I had to rush off and buy a dress!
Having seen some of the amazing equine nurses who work as part of the IVC Evidensia network, I didn't think I'd stand a chance. There are so many powerhouses in their roles, practices, and the industry as a whole. I was just happy that someone at Fyrnwy thought I deserved a nomination. I'm just happy if I can go home at night knowing I've done my best all day!
On the evening I discovered that I'd won! I couldn't believe it – I was literally speechless for once! It was really wonderful to see all the nice things that my colleagues had said about me. I will dine out on that award for the rest of time though- I'll be like those villages that won "village of the year 1993" and still have the plaque up in 2054!
I count myself lucky to be very content with my life and work. I'd like to do this job forever. Of course, I'd like to win Nurse of the Year again, so I better start buying biscuits for everyone.
I've applied for the position of ERVN on the equine clinical board for IVC Evidensia as I'm so inspired by the nurses who were speakers at the Congress and how they have championed the role of EVNs in practice and in ambulatory practice. I'd love to follow in their footsteps and encourage the growth and utilization of equine nurses within the industry.
If life has taught me anything, it's that it will take you where you need to be eventually. You just have to look out for the opportunities and make sure you're the best you can be.
I have a thoroughbred rose who's now 20, called Mr. Diesel. I've had him for 10 years, and we do a bit of everything. I also have a 26-year-old Welsh section A pony called Dylan, who was the practice companion pony but was furloughed during lockdown, so he came to live with me and Mr. Diesel. He's so adorable and a bit of a celebrity on the yard. I also have four chickens and an elderly Jack Russell. In my spare time, I drive an artic lorry for a local company for a bit of stress relief. Dad had a haulage business as I was growing up, so trucks are in the blood, and it's a nice way to earn some pocket money doing something non-horsey!