Meet Veronica

The inspiration behind 'The Smiling Thoroughbred'

Veronica has been riding since a very young age, progressing from stubborn riding school ponies to both national hunt and flat racehorses. At the age of 14 (after many years of nagging!) she got her own horse Pushywoman (GB) (Lily to her friends), a 4 year old, extremely green, Thoroughbred by Swing Easy (USA), which she still proudly owns today. Veronica and Lily competed together for a number of years before Veronica went to University and Lily went to France. Whilst at University studying for a degree in Animal Science, Veronica kept a close eye on Lily who having been selected, on loan, as the lead horse for The Great French Ride, was completing 500 miles around the South of France. Lily made ease of the challenge, which was of no surprise to Veronica, raising £35,000 for charity.

On graduation Veronica was employed at the Veterinary Laboratories Agency as a Research Scientist, during which in her spare time also voluntarily taught Biology for the Institute of Animal Technology. In 2001 Veronica studied for an MSc in Equine Science and as part of her studies spent time investigating equine airway diseases at the Centre for Equine Studies in Newmarket. On completion of her MSc Veronica took on the challenge of a PhD in Exotic Animal Diseases, during which she tutored Royal Veterinary College students and also competed in the Biotechnology Young Entrepreneur competition, coming runner-up in the UK Final.

Veronica has spent over 15 years studying equine behaviour and has now set up The Smiling Thoroughbred using her extensive scientific and equine background to communicate Equine Science to the general public in order to increase the welfare of horses.

Current Activities

In addition to running courses and managing her mobile callouts, Veronica is involved in a number of other activities including supervising MSc Veterinary Physiotherapy students at the Royal Veterinary College, acting as a distance learning tutor for the Open College of Equine Studies, supervising Intelligent Horsemanship horse psychology projects and is the prinicipal scientist investigating the 'Art and Science of Horsemanship' with Kelly Marks, Monty Roberts and Dr David Marlin.

Veronicas Horse 'Lily'