Last week, colleagues and friends gathered to celebrate with Andrew McGladdery, who has retired from his role as a stud vet and Clinical Director after 38 years at Rossdales.
Andrew and Celia Marr, pictured in 2004
Andrew joined the practice in 1988 as Peter Rossdale’s assistant, and in addition to stud medicine, he was the main medicine clinician during the 90s and early 2000s, before the medicine team developed into our current magnificent team. Andrew has shaped and led our stud team throughout his time here. Well respected by vets across the world, Andrew has contributed to the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association (TBA) and Newmarket Stud Farmers Association (NSFA), to clinical research and he has lectured widely.
He became a partner in Rossdales in 1994, and has been an important part of the management team since, during a period that has seen a huge growth and development of the practice from around 12 vets, to 60 vets working from 4 sites. He has worked with some of the best people and studs in the bloodstock business, and looked after some of the very best bloodstock, in addition to providing guidance to all members of the stud team when dealing with difficult cases.
Andrew with HM Queen Elizabeth II in 2008, when she visited Exning to open Rossdales Equine Diagnostic Centre
During his speech at Andrew’s retirement party, fellow Clinical Director and stud vet Ian Cameron said: “Andrew has led the stud team, with a combination of deep knowledge and deeper generosity. He never just gave answers; he taught ways of thinking. He has spent a great deal of time discussing cases with less experienced colleagues, pushing us to ask the next question, and backing young vets to make the right call. The result? A generation of clinicians more capable, more confident, and more kind. Teams don’t just appear; they are built, conversation by conversation, case by case, encouragement by encouragement. It is our responsibility to sustain and develop the standards that have been set, and we are grateful for Andrew’s influence on how we will go about that. For me personally and from the whole practice, thank you. Have a great retirement, Andrew.”
Although no longer part of our day-to-day stud team, Andrew will join our team of consultants to continue his involvement and support of various areas of our business.