We’re excited to celebrate Emiliano Espinar as our December BEVA Member of the Month - a vet whose warmth, humility and genuine passion for his work have clearly made a lasting impact on those around him. We sat down for a chat to find out more about him…
Nominated by a colleague for being an incredible mentor, boss and advocate for independent practice, Emiliano was so grateful for the nomination and is happy to be part of our club of members of the month.
Community is something Emiliano values deeply, and it’s been an important thread throughout his journey. He always knew he wanted to be a vet, studying in Córdoba in Spain before taking the leap abroad for an Erasmus externship in Germany. “That was eye-opening,” he reflected. “You learn so much from different experiences.” Since then, he has worked in both Spain and England, beginning with mixed practice before eventually finding his way fully into the equine world he loves.
Today, Emiliano runs his own independent equine ambulatory practice based south of Newbury. Although opening a practice wasn’t always part of a long-term plan, it evolved naturally from the way he wanted to work. “I like a very personal touch with clients,” he explained. “I like to know them. Starting on my own was the best thing.” His earlier experience in bigger practices helped shape the way he works now. “I’ve learned a lot from many, many people,” he said. “You always have an exchange of ideas.”
When asked about being such a valued boss and mentor, Emiliano kept returning to one key idea: shared values. “Having a vision and sharing the values is really important,” he said. He recognises that every team is a mixture of personalities and ideas, so fostering unity matters. When asked to summarise his practice’s core values into three points he said: optimisim, humour and love for what you do.
For anyone thinking of setting up their own practice, Emiliano’s advice is both heartfelt and honest: “Follow the heart and do whatever you feel. You only live once.” But he’s equally open about the challenges - “the toughest thing is the admin side… but the vision is really important.” And like every equine vet, he’s experienced his share of highs and lows, what keeps him going is a mix of optimism and perspective: “At the end of the day, you do what you can, and that’s what counts.”
Emiliano has been a BEVA member for many years, even during his time working at a racetrack in Spain. “Being part of the community… that feeling of community” is what he values most about his membership. He also highlighted our CPD, resources and ability to stay up to date with what matters in the profession as key reasons to stay a member.
We’re delighted to recognise Emiliano Espinar as our December Member of the Month. His positivity, dedication and genuine love for what he does make him a wonderful representative of the BEVA community. Congratulations, Emiliano!
Do you know someone who deserves a shout out? Someone who is absolutely crushing it at work? We want to hear about them. Nominate someone for our Member of the Month campaign today.
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