I really wanted to work with horses from a young age. Growing up and living on our family farm (which has been in the family since 1536!), we had beef cattle, sheep, horses, dogs, cats, and the odd few geese. I always got involved when the vets were there on routine visits or emergencies, and this is where my love of the veterinary world started.

When it came to taking my GCSEs, I unfortunately did not get the grades I needed to get on the road to veterinary school. Not letting this deter me in my quest to work with horses, I decided to take a slightly different route and went to Askham Bryan Agricultural College and then continued my Equine Science studies at the University of the West of England. During my time at university, I worked at a Stud and Racing Yard in Gloucestershire, where my interest in equine reproduction and breeding began to develop.

Once I had completed my studies, I moved back home to Yorkshire and started work as a freelance groom, working with event horses, show jumpers, and show horses. During this time, I was approached by Phil Dixon of Churchfield Veterinary Centre, who asked if I would be interested in joining their equine team. Without hesitation, I said “yes” and snapped up the offer! The rest, they say, is history, and Churchfield is where I have stayed - 23 years later and still loving my job!

A typical day for me consists of dealing with clients both on the phone and in person, administration work, scheduling appointments, ensuring lab reports are handled quickly and efficiently, coordinating medication reviews and repeat prescriptions, processing payments, helping with horses that come into clinic as day patients or in-patients, and site visits too. I have a very mixed role within our clinic, which keeps me very busy!

I feel very privileged to have been nominated for this award. It came as a complete shock to me when I found out I had been nominated, but I was also absolutely over the moon, especially when I realised, I was through as a finalist. To get to this stage is incredible, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has supported me and been with me on my journey throughout my time at Churchfields!

I really enjoy the work I do; every day is different, so it keeps you on your toes! As a team, we all play a vital role in ensuring we deliver safe and quality veterinary care to all our equine clients.

One of the hardest parts is sharing the sad occasions with our clients, both human and equine. We often become the “go-to person” for a shoulder to cry on or the voice of reason and reassurance when things become stressful due to a horse’s illness. We try to be a safe space for clients, offering reassurance on the phone or face to face, but also knowing when to give clients the space they need to process what is happening and make difficult situations easier.

 The most rewarding part is seeing owners and horses happy and healthy, getting our equine friends back to peak fitness and enjoying what they do - whether competing, hacking, or just an older horse still loving life and running around. I especially enjoy the stud/artificial insemination work, where we see conception and early pregnancy, then meet the newborn foal the following year. It fascinates me every time.

We have a small team at Churchfield Equine Clinic, which makes us very personable - not just to our clients but to one another. We are very supportive, whether lending a helping hand, sharing knowledge, handling difficult situations, or just baking cakes and making hot drinks to keep us fuelled. We all share the same vision: to provide excellent patient and client care while supporting each other.

 Outside of work, my home life is busy and helps me switch off. Living on a farm, we have quite a few pets: two Rottweilers, Heidi and Roxy; two Caucasian Shepherds, Blue and Bell (shouted as “Bluebell” so people think it’s one dog, not two); Dot, our working Border Collie; and a working farm cat named Daisy who thinks she’s a Jack Russell. She’s always nearby - hanging on gates, jumping into wheelbarrows, or lying in the beds you’re trying to muck out!

I have a keen interest in breeding dressage horses with my sister, so we have quite a few. I enjoy riding our horses with my daughter, attending clinics, and seeing our young horses progress in their disciplines and new homes. I also enjoy taking my son to various local and county shows to show his Pedigree Hereford Cattle.

My proudest moments are having my children, Liam and Abbie, and seeing them grow into kind, hardworking, and caring individuals who share my passion and love of animals. Liam, at age 13, after a successful first year showing his Hereford Bull in 2023, achieved Silver in “Bull of the World,” and we took him to Texas, USA, for the presentation. It’s a huge accomplishment for someone his age, especially with his first pedigree bull, and I will forever be proud of his dedication to his herd.

The personal values I bring are to treat people how I would like to be treated and to ensure that the client experience always remains my priority.