Royal backing sets seal on £10m Philip Leverhulme Equine Hospital in Wirral

May 19 2009 by Jade Wright, Liverpool Daily Post

Royal backing sets seal on £10m horse hospital

Prof Proundman works at Aintree with Dr Ellen Singer, senior lecturer at the hospital. She hit the headlines in 2003 when she saved the life of National favourite Youlneverwalkalone, who fell and badly broke his leg during the race.

The Irish contender had 10 screws placed in his cannon bone. The surgery was a success and he was able to travel back to Ireland two months later to complete his recuperation.

“He is enjoying his retirement now, I believe,” says Dr Singer.

“It was a great thing to be able to do. We go to the National because we love horses and we want to see them have the best care, so to be able to help him was a great feeling.

“I grew up in the States, dreaming of finding a way to spend my life as a professional horse person.”

Dr Singer described her favourite part of the job as “being able to save the life of an animal which is important to people”.

She added: “Success is hard to measure. Whether we are working on getting a racehorse back on its feet after a broken leg or caring for a child’s pony, they are both just as satisfying.

“I cannot imagine doing anything else. It does take over your life. But then it is the best job in the world.”