29-year-old Horse Trust scholar achieves international qualification in veterinary pathology

9 July 2009: Horse Trust scholar Lucy Woolford, 29, has achieved a qualification in veterinary pathology from Australia, and plans to take further specialist qualifications in veterinary pathology in the next 1 to 2 years. This is the latest stage in Lucy's varied veterinary career¹, which included a PhD studying disease in an endangered Australian marsupial, the Western Barred Bandicoot.

Veterinary pathology is a branch of veterinary science that aims to understand the changes in an animal's tissues and organs which cause or are caused by disease.

Lucy returned from Australia on Tuesday, where she took written, practical and oral exams towards her membership of the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists. Lucy is delighted to have passed the membership exams², which requires candidates to achieve at least 70 percent in each of the five exams.

Lucy is now hoping to work towards qualifying exams for the American College of Veterinary Pathologists. This is an internationally recognised qualification enabling registration as a specialist veterinary pathologist.

Lucy was awarded a Clinical Training Scholarship by The Horse Trust in April 2008, which supports her training in veterinary pathology, specialising in equine pathology. The charity's scholarship scheme aims to improve equine welfare and performance through specialist training of clinical experts.

Lucy is following the three-year veterinary pathology training programme at the Royal Veterinary College in North Mymms, Hertfordshire and the Animal Health Trust in Newmarket, Suffolk. She spends her time at these locations examining biopsies and post mortems from a variety of species including horses, cats, dogs, rabbits and birds. She is also undertaking a small research project in equine reproduction.

"I am interested in all aspects of pathology, particularly of horses. I enjoy understanding the nitty- gritty of what's causing a disease," said Lucy. "My research project aims to understand one mechanism by which the mare's immune system might be down-regulated during pregnancy, and if this relates to certain diseases. Reproductive loss can be devastating, particularly in the thoroughbred industry, so this is an important topic," said Lucy.

Hertfordshire resident Lucy said she was grateful that The Horse Trust has funded her training and hopes to pursue a career in veterinary pathology.

"The Horse Trust's funding of my scholarship has been invaluable. I wouldn't have been able to continue my training in veterinary pathology without their help," said Lucy. "When I finish the training programme, I would like to work at a university where I could carry out both research and diagnostic work, as well as some teaching. There aren't many jobs for people to specialise solely in equine pathology, but I would like to maintain a focus on equine diseases."

Lucy is keen for an equine focus in a career due to her personal interest in horses.

"I used to ride when I was at school and would love to ride again, but I don't have a horse here," said Lucy. "I also really enjoyed working with horses in veterinary practice in Australia."