Clinical Practice Committee

Bruce Bladon graduated from Edinburgh University in 1988. He spent one year in mixed practice and then six years in two equine practices (Endell Veterinary Group in Salisbury and O’Gorman Slater and Main in Newbury), before joining Bristol University as Resident in Equine Surgery. He was awarded the Certificate of Equine Practice in 1992, the Diploma of Equine Soft Tissue Surgery in 1999 and Diploma of the European College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2001. He returned to Donnington Grove Veterinary Group (as it is now) in 1998, and is now a Clinical Director. He has been recognised as a Specialist in Equine Surgery since 2000, and was awarded Fellowship of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2016. He has lectured extensively, including to the British, South African, Australian, New Zealand, Dutch, Italian and Israeli Equine Veterinary Associations, international meetings in Brazil Canada, Spain, Germany and to the European and American Colleges of Veterinary Surgeons. Bruce is the principle equine surgeon at Donnington Grove Veterinary Surgery. The practice treats a large number of racing Thoroughbreds, but also has a substantial leisure horse population, including a large referral case load. The practice performs a significant number of scintigraphy bone scans and a very large number of MRI scans, using the Hallmarq® standing low field scanner. Bruce’s key interests are surgery, especially fracture repair and colic surgery, though he undertakes all procedures presented to him. He is also very involved with advanced imaging, particularly MRI. Bruce Bladon was Emergency Services Team Leader at the Rio 2016 Olympics. Bruce is an eco warrior and drives a zero emissions vehicle. He is a (low level) rugby union referee. He can’t really run under 5 min per km pace anymore and can’t remotely keep up with his son (or wife). He does manage to squeeze in the occasional ski trip, but otherwise is not allowed out, and spends his time either in an operating theatre or looking at black and white images.

Safia qualified from Bristol University in 1998 and after a couple of years in mixed practice, did an equine surgical residency Edinburgh University. She stayed on at the University as a Lecturer and then Senior Lecturer in Equine Surgery for a further 9 years. During this time she sat the RCVS Certificate (2002) and then Diploma (2008) in Equine Soft Tissue Surgery, and gained the European College of Veterinary Surgeons Diploma in Equine Surgery (2005). After finally leaving academia in 2012, she spent 5 years working in large private equine hospitals before setting up her own peripatetic surgical consultancy in 2017 providing advice, overground endoscopic and surgical services to practices in the UK and abroad. She has over 90 peer reviewed publications in the veterinary scientific literature and currently sits on the Editorial Consultants Board for Equine Veterinary Journal. Her clinical and research interests focus on the equine upper respiratory tract, equine dentistry, minimally invasive soft tissue surgery (laser surgery and laparoscopy) and imaging of the equine skull. She regularly lectures at CPD meetings and conferences and outside of work is a keen kitesurfer.

Ian qualified from the RVC in 2006. He completed an internship at NEH in 2008 and then travelled to New Zealand where he worked as a repro and racing vet. In 2010 Ian joined Baker McVeigh in South Africa. In South Africa ian and his wife Laura began a road trip home from the southern to northern-most points in Africa. Ian moved to Chantilly, France in 2012 and returned to Newmarket in 2013 before joining the Baker McVeigh Lambourn practice in 2017. Ian joined BEVA as a Council member in 2021. He enjoys playing with his kids, watching football and riding his bike.

Neil graduated from Bristol University in 2004 and after a brief period in mixed practice joined Liverpool University as an intern, followed by a surgery residency at Edinburgh University. He re-joined Liverpool University in 2010 before joining Three Counties Equine Hospital in 2015. He holds European Diplomas in both Equine Surgery and Equine Dentistry. In May 2023 he set up his own Equine Dentistry and Surgery business. Neil was co-opted onto the Allied Professionals Committee of BEVA Council in from 2013 - 2015 before being elected in 2016. He has served on the Allied Professionals committee and served and been chairperson of the Allied Professionals and Careers committees. He is currently on Allied Professionals, Clinical Practice and Ethics and Welfare committees. He became a Trustee of the Association in 2018.

Angela graduated from the University of Bristol in 2009. After completing an internship in Pembrokeshire, she worked in a large equine clinic in The Home Counties for 6 years and was the clinical lead in their Berkshire based hospital. She moved to The Cotswolds in 2016, completed a Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice in Equine Medicine in 2017 and advanced to the role of clinical director. Angela is also an FEI Permitted Veterinarian. Angela joined the Equicall team in January 2023, alongside digital content creation for a veterinary flexible working initative. Angela is passionate about flexible working and it's implementation at all levels of the veterinary industry. With the aim of providing practicing vets with the much needed time out required, in order to have the capacity to thrive in clinical practice. Veterinary interests aside, Angela loves running, swimming and yoga. But most of all she enjoys exploring The Cotswolds with her little ones and their dog, George.

James graduated from Edinburgh in 2001. After four years in mixed practice, he transitioned into equine stud practice and now leads the team at Equine Reproductive Services (UK). In 2010 he gained the RCVS Certificate in Stud Medicine and became an honorary lecturer at the University of Liverpool, teaching and examining CertAVP candidates. James continues to perform and publish practice-based research and collaborates widely. He is an Advanced Practitioner in Equine Stud Medicine, a BEVA council member and trustee of the International Equine Reproduction Trust. In 2022, he was awarded an RCVS Fellowship for meritorious contributions to clinical practice.