Three members of University of Liverpool staff will lend their expertise and support to the equestrian teams competing in this year’s Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Peter Bowling, BSc, BVSc, MRCVS, lecturer and clinical director of the University’s Equine Hospital, will lead a team of vets from around the world to look after the welfare of the horses competing in the Paralympic Games. The vets will provide general veterinary care including looking out for signs of exhaustion and dehydration due to the hot climate. They will also provide any emergency treatment or surgery necessary at the event.

Ian Hughes, a farrier who visits the equine hospital weekly to train students and fit specialized horseshoes, will also be part of the team. Ian will supervise a group of farriers and provide support for nine weeks throughout both the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Two tons of horseshoes have been delivered to the racecourse to cater for the needs of more than 300 horses.

Louise Lyons is a client at the Philip Leverhulme Equine Hospital and has been chosen as one of the Irish three-day event team competing in the Olympics. Louise’s horse Watership Down will be looked after by the University’s Equine Hospital yard supervisor, Jayne Tansey