Chairperson’s Report
Angela Rogers
Chairperson, SA Equine Veterinary Association Cell: 082 857 8224
We are already halfway through 2020, three months of which
have been in various levels of COVID-19 lockdown. This has
clearly resulted in challenges on many levels, not the least
of which is financial for many people. I hope everyone has
managed to weather the storm until now, and even find
positive aspects to, and changes precipitated by, this universal
pandemic.
We have returned to offering full veterinary services while
continuing to maintain necessary COVID-19 practice protocol,
staff PPE and social distancing. This will be our way of life for
the foreseeable future.
Unfortunately, as restrictions have been relaxed, the logic of
those remaining has become more difficult to understand in
the scheme of controlling COVID. Despite stellar efforts on
behalf of the NHRA and SAEF to achieve further relaxation
during level 4 this was not successful. Finally racing behind
closed doors with only essential staff in attendance has been
allowed in level 3. Recreational riding restrictions have also
been relaxed but shows are still not permitted and may only
be allowed to resume in level 1.
The 2021 SAEVA congress is currently scheduled for the 18-
21 February and Myra Barret and David Frisbie are confirmed
as our two international speakers, COVID permitting. Myra is
associate professor in equine diagnostic imaging at Colorado
Sate University. Her primary research and clinical interests
are equine musculoskeletal imaging and comparative
multimodality studies. David is the current AAEP president
and professor in the college of veterinary medicine and
biomedical sciences at CSU. He is an orthopaedic surgeon and
researcher. His research into musculoskeletal treatments and
pathogenesis includes translational and novel therapeutics
such as stem cells and other biological treatments.
This promises to be a practical and educational congress so
hopefully we are able to hold it as usual.
I was meant to attend the WVA and NEVA congress in
Auckland, New Zealand in April this year. This was cancelled
due to COVID and has been postponed until 2023. However,
congress recordings are available to everyone at a fee of 147
pounds for 6 months.
The BEVA congress has also been postponed until January
2021 and V-tech has again generously offered to sponsor my
flight.
One of my aims during my term as chair of SAEVA is to provide
members with as many educational benefits and opportunities
as possible.
There have been a number of new and continued benefits
since the previous EHU edition:
1. Journal article access – it is now possible to request an
article from the UP library via the SAEVA website. This is
free to members and it should take no more than 3-4 days
to receive the article.
2. Vetlexicon Equis – we voted to continue our membership
of Vetstream which gives up to 200 members access to
the largest online clinical reference library, including CPD,
websites and client factsheets. This is a significant annual
expense so please will everyone register and make use
of this valuable service. We will request feedback early
in 2021 to decide whether to continue this subscription.
This benefit will be made available to YMG students at the
4 • Equine Health Update •