Alumni Profile: Professor Leo Jeffcott
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Above - Professor Jeffcott checking horses at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.
Degree: Doctor of Veterinary Studies (1989) Current Position: Dean of Veterinary Studies at University of Sydney Veterinary Technical Delegate and Foreign Veterinary Delegate at the 2008 Olympic Games and Paralympics
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WITH the countdown on for the 2008 Olympic Games, the most senior veterinary official has conditions for the Equestrian events under control.
Well, almost.
No matter how carefully Professor Leo Jeffcott prepares,there is one thing he won't be able to control the weather during the Games - the weather.
But the former University of Melbourne professor and alumnus has spent the past two and a half years consulting with Olympic organisers and the Hong Kong Observatory, learning how to forecast the weather and react accordingly should trouble strike.
The Equestrian events will be based in Hong Kong, due to quarantine issues in mainland China. The facilities provided for the horses and the competition venues will be outstanding.
Professor Jeffcott, who has worked as a veterinary official at the past five Olympic Games, said this year his role would present some new challenges.
“One thing that is very special about these Olympics is the weather situation,” he said.
Hong Kong is prone to typhoons and thunderstorms at this time of year. They can occur suddenly and create dangerous conditions for horses to compete in.
The heat and humidity in Hong Kong could also cause the horses to become stressed, but all necessary precautions to keep the horses cool have implemented.
In his role as Veterinary Technical Delegate, Professor Jeffcott will be responsible for closely monitoring weather stations and reporting on conditions at the Equestrian events.
“We will be able to report on the weather conditions almost minute by minute, but I don’t want to be too confident,” he said.
“You never can be completely confident about the weather. It will be on my advice if the event needs to stop.”
When he’s not eyeing the weather, Professor Jeffcott will be helping a team of 40 to 45 vets and assistants care for around 230 horses.
The team will man a clinic where the horses will be cared for, but will also need to be on the sidelines of events in case injuries should occur.
Professor Jeffcott said injuries were most likely to happen during the cross country event and triathlon.
“When horses gallop cross country at speed, any injury to them as a result of falling or hitting a fence could range from mild cuts and bruises to catastrophic injuries,” he said.
On rare occasions when horses are so badly injured that they do not survive, it is not only their riders, owners and teams who are upset.
“It’s also enormously disappointing for us as vets.” Professor Jeffcott said.
Professor Jeffcott will be responsible for informing the press and public should an unfortunate situation arise.
When he returns to work at the University of Sydney after the Games, Professor Jeffcott hopes to record his work with the Hong Kong Observatory in a scientific journal.
“I’ve been able to apply a new bit of science to my veterinary experience, which has been interesting,” he said.
“I’ve been able to use them for their meteorology expertise, and have provided my expertise on what we needed for the horses - we’ve tackled it like a research project.”
