RCVS President makes Christmas donation to international equid welfare charity

This year’s RCVS Christmas donation has been made to World Horse Welfare, an international charity that aims to support and improve the horse-human relationship in all its guises.

The College’s £4,000 annual charity donation is made in lieu of sending out cards to members of the professions, with this year’s charity recipient being chosen by RCVS President Professor Tim Parkin FRCVS.

Tim (pictured) said: “World Horse Welfare is a national and international charity that fundamentally seeks to ensure that every horse is treated with respect, compassion and understanding.

"Its work stretches from ‘working equids’ around the world, to playing a part in ensuring the welfare of horses involved in high-level equestrian sport racing is maximised.

“Having sat on the Veterinary Advisory Council for many years up until 2024, I have witnessed the impact of its work for both the horse and the communities in which it works and am very happy that RCVS can make this Christmas donation for 2025.”

The charity works across the world to improve equid welfare – providing rescue and rehabilitation for at risk horses in the UK and low and middle-income countries; supporting research to understand the causes of equine welfare challenges and use evidence to inform its work; sharing and promoting the latest knowledge in equine care; and achieving long-lasting change through shaping attitudes, policies and legislation to sustainably improve equid welfare.

Speaking about the donation, World Horse Welfare Chief Executive Roly Owers said: “We’re profoundly grateful to the RCVS for this hugely generous gesture. As an evidence-led charity, research is a key part of our work, helping us understand the root causes of the challenges horses face.

“This donation will be enormously helpful in supporting vital research next year, including a review of the implications of headgear on equine welfare and a project examining how we can better understand the horse’s experience during transport.”

To find out more visit the charity's website.