Member Article

Katie's top UK title for horse care specialists

Wigan equine expert Katie Hest is riding high after receiving a top national award for her knowledge of how to keep horses healthy.

Katie, aged 25, gained the highest marks in Britain in the professional E-SQP exams which allow successful students to prescribe and supply certain medicines to treat horses and other animals.

The exams are set by AMTRA, the official animal medicines training regulatory authority, and Katie’s score outclassed those of hundreds of other students.

Her trophy was presented at a special ceremony at the Birmingham Hilton Hotel, hosted by the Animal Health Distributors Association during its annual conference.

Born in Wigan, and currently living in Shevington, Katie is a senior nutritional specialist with Supplement Solutions in the village of Great Eccleston in North Lancashire.

She joined the firm nearly four years ago in a junior role, and now acts as a supervisor as well as providing advice to horse owners on keeping their animals healthy.

Educated at St Peter’s High School in Orrell and Winstanley College, Katie went on to read equine science at Aberystwyth University from where she graduated with an honours degree.

A keen horse rider from an early age, she has for three years been the proud owner of Murphy, a 21-year-old Irish cob which she keeps near her home in Wigan.

The pair have taken part and gathered rosettes in various local dressage and show-jumping events.

Katie was congratulated on her achievement by Hannah Wild who started internet-based Supplement Solutions ten years ago, and who is herself a keen rider and teacher.

Hannah’s company stocks over 5000 products designed to keep horses in good shape, including many types of nutritional supplements to treat different ailments:

“Although we are a mail order company, customers value greatly the quality of advice which we offer, and often seek guidance on the best way to approach a horse health issue.

“Katie has demonstrated that she possesses an extremely broad knowledge of how to help horse owners understand their animals’ problems and the wide arrange of products that are available.

“Her success means that she joins the limited number of people in this industry who are able to prescribe medicines outside veterinary practices”.

“Katie is a fantastic team member, and we’re all absolutely delighted with her achievement!” said Hannah who is herself also E-SQP qualified.

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This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Jon Boston .