Expertise &
Appointments
With 40+ years’ experience and close involvement with both UK and European performance horse, mare & stallion gradings, Cambridge graduate Jane’s key interest is the performance horse and young horse development.
Not just one, but two lifetimes of experience
Equine Vet Jane Nixon has a wealth of knowledge in most areas of equine veterinary practice gained over the last 40 years, enhanced by her late husband Stewart Hastie’s 30+ years experience gained in advance of Jane’s. Stewart was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award by BETA at their Gala Dinner in 2013, while Jane was awarded the British Equestrian Medal of Honour by the BEF in 2022. Jane holds several prestigious equine industry consultancy appointments & chairmanships. Since opening her first referral practice in 2005, Jane is still very much involved with her private equine veterinary consultancy & referral practice.
Equine consultancy appointments
British Horse Foundation (BHF)
In 2020 Jane was appointed Chair of the BHF — a registered UK charity whose mission is to advance equine breeding and welfare through research and education.
Worshipful Company of Saddlers
Awarded Yeoman by the Worshipful Company of Saddlers in 2022 and appointed Ambassador / Honorary Freeman in 2021
British Equestrian Federation (BEF)
The BEF is the NATIONAL governing body for the Olympic equestrian sports in the UK and affiliated to the FEI. Jane was a BEF Director for 8-years until 2020.
The Showing Council
In 2021 Jane was appointed Chair of the Showing Council, an amalgamation of nineteen key showing bodies which came into being under the direction and guidance of the BEF.
Federation Equestrian Internationale (FEI)
Jane is a past official FEI Treating Vet and FEI Veterinary Service Manager for International CDI Dressage run under FEI rules. The FEI is the International governing body for all equestrian sport.
British Breeding Futurity
Lead veterinarian and evaluating vet for British Breeding examining youngstock from foal to 3-YO re their suitability as future competition horses 2001 — 2022.
BEF Bridge + Pathway Vet
Evaluating vet for the BEF Bridge Scheme funding 4 year-old young horse development and 5 year-olds hoping to enter the BEF Equine Pathway and qualify for the World Class Programme.
RCVS & Riding School Inspections
RCVS Riding Establishments Act Sub Committee 1994-1999 + Inspector County Council riding schools since 1980 re the Riding Establishments Acts 1964 & 1970 examining local riding schools.
Sport Horse Breeding GB (SHBGB)
Veterinary Consultant to SHBGB since 2009 + Consultant Vet to SHBGB Breed Committee and now President Elect — taking up post in December 2023.
BEF Medal of Honour
In 2022 Jane was awarded the British Equestrian Medal of Honour for outstanding services to the Federation or its Member Bodies—in her role as BEF Director for Equine Development which involved:
- Representing the interests of British breeding + collaboration with British studbooks
- Supporting better breeding, production & management through knowledge sharing
- Making the best use of available data to promote appropriate breeding of horses and ponies
- Continuing to develop BEF Futurity + validate its predictions for high performance horses
- Reducing the gap between Futurity and the WCEP by establishing the Equine Bridge
- Establishing a development pathway for the recreational horse
- Promoting improved standards of biosecurity in the equine industry
- Supporting British Horse Industry Confederation and Equine Health and Welfare Strategy.