Colin Roberts is a graduate of the University of Bristol Veterinary School. After graduation, he spent just over eight years in an equine practice at Ashford in Kent, during which time he obtained the Fellowship of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons by examination (subject: Equine Internal Medicine).
Leaving practice, he joined the Physiology Unit of the Animal Health Trust in 1987. In 1993, he became a RCVS Recognised Specialist in Equine Internal Medicine and in 1995 was awarded a PhD for a thesis entitled 'Aspects of respiratory function during exercise in the Thoroughbred horse in health and disease'. As a Senior Scientist in the Centre for Equine Studies of the Animal Health Trust he was responsible for the clinical treadmill exercise testing programme as well as being engaged in research in the field of equine respiratory function and disease.
From 2001 to 2006 he was a member of the equine clinical team in the Department of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Cambridge. Since 2007, he has been an independent consultant in equine veterinary matters and he is an Affiliated Lecturer in Veterinary Anatomy in the Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience.
Colin is the Director of Studies in Veterinary Medicine at Sidney Sussex College. He is a member of the Federation Equestre Internationale's (FEI) Veterinary Committee and an FEI Official Veterinarian. Colin is a member of the Scientific Advisory Group of the British Equestrian Federation. In 2012, he became a Fellow of the Society of Biology. He is an author of many scientific papers and has acted as a treating veterinarian at many top-level horseracing, show jumping and eventing competitions.
In 2012, Colin led the Equine Anti-Doping and Controlled Medication Sampling Team for the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games in Greenwich Park and he has also acted as an Official Veterinarian at the Asian Games as well as numerous World Championships, European Championships and Showjumping World Cups.
He has competed in point-to-pointing, show jumping, dressage and hunter trials. His professional areas of interest include equine internal medicine, disorders of the equine upper airway, equine welfare and performance-related disorders.
Colin's leisure interests include chess, cricket, rugby union, theatre, cinema and history.
Publications, Links, and Resources
Roberts, C.A, Loines, L. and Tillett, K. (2012) Medicines and their management. In: The Equine Veterinary Nursing Manual (2nd edition). Ed. K. Coumbe. Blackwell Science Ltd., Oxford. pp. 191-200. (in press).
Roberts, C.A. (2010) Equine exercise physiology: a challenge for the twenty first century. Keynote presentation. Advances in Animal Biosciences. Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science and the Agricultural Research Forum. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. (abstract) p353.
Franklin, S.H., Barakzai, S.Z., Courouce-Malblanc, A., Dixon, P., Nankervis, K., Perkins, J.D., Roberts, C.A., van Erck-Westergren, E. and Allen, K.J (2010) Assessment of the prevalence and types of injuries associated with high-speed treadmill exercise testing. Equine vet. J. Suppl. 38, 70-75.
Roberts, C.A. (2009) The impact of long-term clenbuterol on athletic performance in horses. Veterinary Journal 182, 377.
Deaton, C.M., Brown-Feltner, H., Henley, W.E., Roberts, C.A., Lekeux, P., Schroter, R.C. and Marlin, D.J. (2006) The effect of inspired gas density on pulmonary artery transmural pressure and exercise induced pulmonary haemorrhage. Equine vet. J. Suppl. 36:490-4.
Deaton, C.M., Marlin, D.J., Smith, N.C., Roberts, C.A., Harris, P.A., Schroter, R.C. and Kelly, F.J. (2005) Antioxidant and inflammatory responses of healthy horses and horses affected by recurrent airway obstruction to inhaled ozone. Equine vet. J. 37:243-9.
Marlin, D.J., Fenn, K., Smith, N., Deaton, C.D., Roberts, C.A., Harris, P.A., Dunster, C. and Kelly, F.J. (2002) Changes in circulatory antioxidant status in horses during prolonged exercise. J. Nutr. 132 (6 Suppl 2):1622S-7S.
Kirschvink, N., Art, T., de Moffarts, B., Smith, N., Marlin, D., Roberts, C. and Lekeux P. (2002) Relationship between markers of blood oxidant status and physiological variables in healthy and heaves-affected horses after exercise. Equine vet. J. Suppl. 34:159-64.
Roberts, C.A. and Erickson, H.H. (1999) Exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage workshop. Equine vet. J. Suppl. (30):642-4.
Roberts, C.A., Marlin, D..J. and Lekeux, P. (1999) The effects of training on ventilation and blood gases in exercising thoroughbreds. Equine vet. J. Suppl. (30): 57-61.
Mills, P.C., Roberts, C.A. and Smith, N.C. (1996) Effects of ozone and airway inflammation on glutathione status and iron homeostasis in the lungs of horses. Am. J. vet. Res. 57:1359-63.