I don’t see many horses in my vet work these days as I tend to stick to cats, dogs and other small animals so I was quite surprised to be asked to visit Goodwood racecourse to examine 30 thoroughbred animals last week. However all was not quite as it seemed on first impressions as it turned out that these particular horseswere not quite the racing thoroughbreds I thought – instead they were brightly coloured pantomime horses which were competing in the third annual More Than Pet Insurance Pantomime Horse Derby!
On the day of the event, I arrived to find pantomime horses of all different shapes, sizes and colours, not to mention a few pantomime cows, bulls and even camels. Teams from all over the country had been preparing for months for the event and there was a definite sense of competition in the air as the back ends of purple and yellow spotted horses chatted nervously to the front ends of green camels while they waited for the event to start.
At the parade ring I met my fellow judges, doctor and presenter David Bull, and TV fashion expert Trinny Woodall. After a brief conference between us on how 
the event was going to work, it was time to start as the first horse trotted eagerly into the ring. David introduced the horses and ‘owners’ before Trinny and I examined and commented on the physical – and sartorial – state of each entry. Each horse was different, with a look and style designed around their comedy name, and each posed a different challenge for the pantomime vet. ‘Cheryl Foal’ was a flirty and seductive mare who nuzzled up against me as I tried to examine her, whereas ‘Only Fools on Horses’ cantered around wildly and nearly trampled me under hoof – but none were quite as mad as the combined ‘Volcanic Ash & Not So Easy Jet’ horses which billowed smoke and cavorted around the ring! I’m not sure Goodwood had ever seen anything quite like it – and I know I haven’t in my career, that’s for sure!
It was a great day out and I thoroughly enjoyed myself – far more than if I’d been dealing with 30 real horses! – and loads of money was raised for good causes including the charity Action on Addiction as well.
