Two vets working for the working horse and donkey charity, Brooke, have received a scholarship from the Sir Peter O’Sullevan Charitable Trust to help them enhance their skills.

Dr Javaid Khan, animal healthcare manager at Brooke Pakistan, and Dr Dinesh Kumar Gupta, programme lead for animal health and welfare at Brooke India, were selected for the Sir Peter O’ Sullevan Equine Education Scholarship.

The scholars visited the UK earlier this month to represent Brooke and attend lectures at the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) Congress in Liverpool. They also promoted Brooke’s work at the charity’s trade stand at the event.

Dr Khan and Dr Gupta also spent time working at equine veterinary practices and visited The Horse Trust in Buckinghamshire.

“We are very grateful to The Sir Peter O’Sullevan Trust for giving this learning opportunity to our overseas vets,” said Amy Barstow, global animal health advisor at Brooke.

“Our scholars are committed to sharing their learning with their colleagues and beyond. Ensuring our vets have the most up to date knowledge and skills means that we can do the best for the working horses and donkeys that we care for.”

Sir Peter O’Sullevan legacy

The Sir Peter O’Sullevan Charitable Trust was set up by BBC commentator Sir Peter O’Sullevan in 1998 and has donated over £10 million to charities since its conception, including £1 million to Brooke.

Peter, who was a patron of Brooke until his death in 2015, supported fundraising appeals and visited Brooke’s work overseas. This year the Sir Peter O’Sullevan Charitable Trust is also supporting Blue Cross, World Horse Welfare and Compassion in World Farming.

Brooke was founded by Dorothy Brooke in 1934 with the aim of helping abandoned war horses in Egypt. Since then, the charity has grown and now supports projects in Asia, Africa, America and the Caribbean to improve health and welfare services for horses, donkeys and mules in those areas.

BEVA, Brooke and Sir Peter O’Sullevan Charitable Trust have a close link and in both 2003 and 2005 Brooke and Sir Peter received the BEVA Equine Welfare Award.