The rapid global spread of COVID-19 necessitated changes to national behavioural patterns and working practices, including self-isolating, maintenance of social distancing and lockdowns. These steps are likely to have had consequences for mental health and wellbeing. Objectives: To assess the mental wellbeing of equine veterinary surgeons, equine veterinary nurses and veterinary students during the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated lockdown in the UK in June 2020. Study design: Electronic survey. Methods: The survey was run between 6 June 2020 and 14 June 2020, and consisted of 22 closed and open questions, including the 14-item scale Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS). The questionnaire was distributed through email via the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) membership database. Results: A total of 451 responses were received. The mean scores for the WEMWBS for veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses and veterinary students were 47.17, 39.53 and 44.29 respectively. These compare to 48.08 and 46.38 for equine veterinary surgeons and nurses respectively in the 2019 RCVS survey of the profession. The WEMWBS results indicated lower levels of mental wellbeing in equine veterinary nurses/student veterinary nurses and veterinary students, compared to equine veterinary surgeons, as well as in furloughed equine veterinary surgeons compared to working equine veterinary surgeons. Main limitations: Risk of self-selection bias and reporting bias. Low numbers of veterinary nurse respondents. Conclusions: There were lower levels of mental wellbeing among equine veterinary surgeons and equine veterinary nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the situation prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Equine veterinary nurses appeared to be more likely to report lower mental wellbeing than veterinary surgeons, and furloughed veterinary surgeons reported lower levels of mental wellbeing than veterinary surgeons that continued working during the lockdown. Clinical relevance • Veterinary employers should be aware of the negative impact that pandemics, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, have on the mental wellbeing of equine veterinary surgeons, nurses and students. • Strategies to support the veterinary team, especially veterinary nurses, during pandemics may help to improve mental wellbeing. • Restrictions to normal working practices, such as furloughing team members, can further affect their mental wellbeing, for which added support could be beneficial.

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Objective of the study was to compare the gross and histological appearance of one lateral suspensory ligament branch treated using autologous mesenchymal stem cells with one untreated lateral suspensory ligament branch in the same horse. Case records of a horse previously treated for lateral suspensory ligament branch desmitis using autologous mesenchymal stem cells were reviewed; the suspensory ligaments were dissected and the gross and histological findings recorded. Ultrasonographically, grossly, and histologically the treated suspensory ligament branch showed evidence of improved healing and formation of ligament-like tissue compared to the untreated suspensory branch in the contralateral limb. The implantation of cultured autologous mesenchymal stem cells into core suspensory branch lesions resulted in the formation of a matrix organisationally similar to normal suspensory ligament.

tions of real life. The truth is that interruptions are real life." -C.S. Lewis.

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