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LONDON 2012
AUTUMN 2012 ISSUE
EQUINE MATTERS
4
Lesley Barwise Munro BSc BVM&S CertEP MRCVS
Alnorthumbria Veterinary Group
Being an Olympic volunteer vet for me was
one of the best experiences of my veterinary
career and the camaraderie with the vets,
nurses, physios and farriers was second to
none. I kept having to remind myself that I
had a job to do as well as soaking up the
atmosphere and admiring some of the best
equine athletes in the world.
The crowds were phenomenal and certainly
gave us advance warning when a GB team
member was on the cross country course.
Congratulations to our GB riders for their
phenomenal performances at 2012 they
were great ambassadors for our sport.
After watching Team GB Dressage with the
mighty Valegro and Charlotte Dujardin on the
Friday afternoon I took a train home later
Friday night, and by 9.30 Saturday morning
I had taken my youngest daughter to the Pony
Club camp and was helping to put toilet rolls
into the camp toilets - back to reality!
Veterinary field team member and cross
country vet team for fence 20 (the drop).
As a vet field team member I spent a day
at the ESF health checking the show
jumpers as they were arriving and was
on duty at the main arena for the Grand
Prix dressage.
Role:
We had two fallers at our fence both
horses and riders were unhurt. Fortunately
the weather conditions were cooler but
the undulating course with 39 jumping
efforts and a tight time led to some
tired finishers. In total only one horse had
significant injuries suffering a bleed into
the chest after a fall at fence 24. Thanks
to the intensive care team at the fully
equipped vet clinic on site at Greenwich
Park and later the Rossdales team at
Newmarket, the horse went home fit and
well a few days later.
Vet report:
My London 2012
experience:
Alan Walker BSc MA PhD VetMB DER MRCVS
Hook Norton Veterinary Group
With spectators standing between five and
ten deep around the course the atmosphere
was electric. When our first British competitor,
Nicola Wilson, blazed a trail the noise level
went up, even higher when Mary King
followed. The noise when Zara Phillips
competed was very emotional.
My lasting memory came at the end as
I walked out from the secure area following
members of Team GB who were carrying their
saddles back to the stables. As they emerged
from the relative quiet secure area into the
public gaze, three young girls were waving
their flags furiously, when Mary King walked
over to them and asked them if they would
like a photograph with them. Although tired,
the ladies were lovely, patient and kind,
especially when within seconds other
youngsters descended on them like a swarm
of locusts. At this stage I said to Mary,
‘This sight to me is worth GOLD’.
Veterinary services team on cross country
fence 3 (a combination).
Role:
There were five incidents at fence 3; no
horse was injured, but unfortunately one
of the Canadian riders sustained a painful
lower back injury.
Vet report:
My London 2012
experience: