Speakers
More speaker details TBC. Keep an eye on our site and socials for more information.
Neil Townsend
Neil qualified from Bristol University in 2004 and after a brief period in mixed practice embarked on an equine only career starting with an Equine internship at Liverpool University and surgical residency at the University of Edinburgh. He re-joined Liverpool University in 2010 as a surgery clinician, setting up an advanced dentistry service including standing CT. During this time, he gained European Diplomas in both Equine Surgery and Veterinary Dentistry (Equine). He is a Trustee of BEVA and became a Fellow of the RCVS in 2023.
He joined private practice in 2015 where he provided both an in-house and peripatetic advanced dentistry and surgery service. He set up his own peripatetic advanced dentistry and surgery consultancy service in May 2023. He is interested in all aspects of equine surgery and advanced dentistry and lectures nationally and internationally on these subjects.
James Carmalt
After graduating from the University of Cambridge in 1998, Dr. Carmalt did an internship in Large Animal Medicine. After that he worked in general mixed practice in Tasmania before doing two back-to-back residencies in equine practice and large animal surgery. After a short time in specialty equine surgery practice (on mainland Australia) Dr. Carmalt joined the Western College of Veterinary Medicine’s Department of Large Animal Sciences where he is now a tenured full professor. Dr. Carmalt travels extensively to work in private practices and academic institutions internationally. His main areas of research interest are equine dentistry (specifically TMJ disease) and evidence-based medicine. He holds a Fellowship from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in Great Britain and a PhD (equine pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction). Additionally, he is specialty boarded in equine practice, equine dentistry, equine sports medicine & rehabilitation, and large animal surgery.
Russell MacKechnie-Guire
PhD, BSc, BHSI, FHEA
Russell MacKechnie-Guire holds a PhD in Equine Biomechanics, graduating from the Royal Veterinary College in 2019. Russell’s thesis was titled ‘The Relationship between Saddle and Rider Kinematics, Equine Locomotion, and Thoracolumbar Pressures in Sports Horses’. Russell is based at Centaur Biomechanics, a company which he founded in 2006. He has extensively researched the effect that tack (saddle, bridle and girth) and the rider has on equine health and performance. Russell holds a post at Hartpury University as a Reader in Equine Biomechanics. Russell’s current area of research is horse-saddle-rider interaction, spinal kinematics in horses when ridden over ground, the effect that rider asymmetry has on equine back movement, and from a rehabilitation perspective, the effect that training aids and pole work exercise has on back movement. In addition, Russell collaborates with researchers on various research projects associated with equine health, rehabilitation and performance. Russell is a consultant for the British Equestrian Federations World Class, Team GBR programme and is a member of Team GBR’s Scientific Advisory Group. Russell also sits on the Society of Master Saddlers Scientific Advisory Group, and is part of the executive committee for the International Task force on Laterality in Sports Horses. Russell is also a Pilates instructor, Intrinsic (Human) Biomechanics Trainer, a BHSI equestrian coach, and a keen competitor in dressage and show jumping.