A WOMAN from Boston has become the youngest vet in the country to pass a world-recognised qualification in equine internal medicine.

Former Boston High School pupil Adele Williams, 29, has just completed a three year post-graduate clinical training programme funded by the Horse Trust.

During the course, which covered various fields, including cardiology, critical care, gastroenterology and oncology, she treated hundreds of horses at the Leahurst Equine Hospital in Liverpool.

Adele, who has been a vet since 2003 and is now set to become just one of 15 European College of Equine Internal Medicine diplomates in England, also spent part of the last three years working in the Ukraine and Gambia.

She told the Target: "After I qualified as a vet, I did a bit of work in mixed practice and an internship at the Royal Veterinary College.

"I really enjoyed working with horses and in particular internal medicine. With internal medicine, you are dealing with critically-ill patients, which is a challenge and can be very rewarding.

"I was delighted to be awarded the Horse Trust scholarship – without it I wouldn't have been able to specialise in internal medicine."

Adele described her time at Leahurst as fascinating and said she thoroughly enjoyed the unique and diverse case load.

However, she revealed there was a heartbreaking downside to the work when she lost patients.

Adele said: "Dealing with the sickest horses in the country, you will inevitably lose a few. I get attached to horses and their owners, so it's really hard when you lose them."

Having passed all her exams, Adele is now waiting to get her research project on antibiotic resistance published in order to gain full Diploma status and plans to do a PhD at the University of Manchester, starting later this month.

She said: "When my PhD is over I hope to do teaching work in a university hospital."