Congratulations to Gayle Wotherspoon - our January Member of the Month and first recipient for 2026! In a recent conversation on the BEVApod Life podcast, Gayle shared her journey into equine practice, her philosophy on working with clients, and what she loves most about being an equine vet.
Gayle is a first‑opinion equine vet at Perth Equine Vets in Scotland, where she joined the team as a new graduate after spending time there as a student. Horses have been a constant in her life, but her route into veterinary medicine was not a straightforward one. After completing an initial degree in veterinary bioscience and gaining experience in large‑animal research, Gayle went on to study veterinary medicine in Slovakia as a second degree. While different from the traditional UK route, she reflects positively on the experience, feeling that taking time to work and gain perspective ultimately helped prepare her for the demands of vet school. "I think it really helped going later and taking just a bit of time to figure things out and then go into vet school ... if it's what you want to do, there's always ways to figure it out and different routes to get there".
Studying abroad offered a slightly different clinical emphasis, particularly within equine work, with more exposure to intensive hospital‑based cases. Gayle also valued the hands‑on approach, describing it as a setting where students were expected to get involved and learn by doing. She feels this experience, combined with graduating as a postgraduate student, helped her transition confidently into practice.
Since qualifying, Gayle has embraced the variety that comes with first‑opinion equine work. Her days are rarely the same, and for now she is enjoying the breadth of clinical cases rather than narrowing her focus.
A key reason Gayle was nominated as Member of the Month is her approach to client care. She places a strong emphasis on listening, taking time to understand concerns, and explaining things clearly. "Just taking the time to really chat things through makes a big difference, especially if they don't fully understand what's going on" she said. Clients frequently comment on how much they value being included in the process and value your efforts to make visits less stressful for all involved - "taking an extra five or ten minutes with a nervous or needly-shy pony really makes a difference".
Like many in the profession, Gayle acknowledges that equine practice has its challenging days, but she credits the support of both clients and colleagues for helping her stay positive. "Even on a rubbish day, someone will check in and ask if you're doing alright" and positive feedback from clients often provides a much‑needed boost after a difficult day.
Away from the clinical work, Gayle’s practice is also known for its sense of fun. The team has hosted two hobby horse events, the most recent at Scone Horse Trials, raising money for the Georgie Campbell Foundation. Always up for anything, Gayle even had a go herself all in the name of social media and raising awareness of a good cause, though she says it's not likely to be a new hobby.
As a BEVA member, Gayle values both the sense of community and the practical support available, particularly as an early‑career vet. She regularly makes use of CPD opportunities, journals, courses and tools such as the BEVA Drugs App, which she found especially helpful when first starting out in practice.
Gayle’s enthusiasm for her work, appreciation of teamwork, and thoughtful approach to clients certainly make her worthy of our Member of the Month award!
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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