Dr. Rachel Murray – Leading Evidence-Based Orthopaedics in the Modern Sport Horse
MA, VetMB, MS, PhD, Dip ACVS, Assoc ECVDI, MRCVS
In the highly specialised world of sport horse medicine, few clinicians have shaped modern equine orthopaedics and imaging as profoundly as Dr. Rachel Murray.
With a career spanning more than three decades, Dr. Rachel Murray stands at the intersection of elite clinical practice, rigorous scientific research, and international high-performance sport. Her work has influenced how veterinarians understand musculoskeletal injury, diagnose complex lameness, and manage the careers of top-level competition horses.
Currently serving as Head of Equine Clinical Support at VET.CT and as a Consultant at Rossdales Diagnostic Centre, Dr. Rachel Murray is widely recognised as one of the leading authorities in equine orthopaedics and advanced diagnostic imaging.
She is an RCVS Recognised Specialist in Equine Orthopaedics, a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS), and an Associate of the European College of Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging (ECVDI), a rare combination of credentials that reflects both surgical depth and imaging expertise.
Foundations in Academic Excellence
Dr. Rachel Murray’s professional journey began at the University of Cambridge, where she graduated with her veterinary degree in 1990. Early in her career, she demonstrated a clear commitment to specialisation, moving to the United States to undertake advanced clinical training.
She completed an internship at the University of Missouri, followed by a surgical residency at Kansas State University, where she achieved Diplomate status with the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in 1995.
Her time in the United States laid a strong foundation in equine orthopaedic surgery, but Dr. Rachel Murray’s intellectual curiosity extended well beyond the operating theatre. After returning to the United Kingdom, she joined the University of Cambridge Veterinary School as an equine surgeon, combining clinical work with academic engagement.
This blend of practice and inquiry ultimately led her to pursue doctoral research, completing a PhD at the University of Liège focused on exercise-associated joint adaptation and injury in horses, a topic that remains central to her lifelong research interests.
Leadership in Imaging and Orthopaedic Research
A defining chapter of Dr. Rachel Murray’s career was her more than 20-year tenure at the Animal Health Trust (AHT), where she played a pivotal role in shaping equine diagnostic imaging in the UK and beyond.
At AHT, she was responsible for the Equine MRI diagnostic service, led the orthopaedic research group, and delivered a referral-level clinical service centred on complex lameness, poor performance, and rehabilitation in sport horses.
Her work during this period helped establish MRI as an indispensable tool in equine orthopaedics, particularly for detecting subtle injuries that traditional imaging techniques often miss.
Dr. Rachel Murray’s expertise in this area is internationally recognised; she has edited the standard reference text on Equine MRI, contributed chapters to multiple veterinary textbooks, and authored numerous peer-reviewed publications addressing orthopaedic disease, imaging interpretation, and performance-related injury.
Advancing Sport Horse Performance and Welfare
Beyond academia and referral practice, Dr. Rachel Murray has had a substantial impact on elite equestrian sport.
She has led and contributed to major research initiatives investigating training, injury risk, and performance in sport horses, working with organisations such as British Dressage, British Eventing, the British Equestrian Federation (BEF), and the Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI).
Her relationship with the British Equestrian Federation spans more than a decade. Since 2009, she has provided scientific and clinical input to the BEF World Class Programme, playing a key role in the preparation and long-term management of horses competing at the highest international levels.
Dr. Rachel Murray has worked directly with GB Dressage and Show Jumping teams, including serving as a team veterinarian, and was an official treating veterinarian at the London 2012 Olympic Games.
As an FEI treating veterinarian, her influence extends into the global arena, where her balanced approach to performance optimisation and horse welfare is widely respected.
Clinician, Researcher, and Horsewoman
What truly distinguishes Dr. Rachel Murray is her ability to integrate science, clinical judgment, and lived equestrian experience. In addition to her veterinary credentials, she has trained and competed horses to Grand Prix and international dressage level, participated in multiple equestrian disciplines, and is a British Horse Society (BHS) accredited professional coach.
This firsthand understanding of training demands and competitive pressures informs every aspect of her clinical and advisory work.
Dr. Rachel Murray: A Trusted Voice in Equine Medicine
Today, Dr. Rachel Murray continues to shape the future of equine orthopaedics and imaging through her roles at VET.CT and Rossdales Equine Hospital & Diagnostic Centre, a leading referral institution based in Newmarket, England. Whether advising elite teams, supporting referring veterinarians, or contributing to the scientific literature, her work consistently reflects depth, precision, and integrity.
For veterinarians, researchers, and equestrian professionals alike, Dr. Rachel Murray represents the gold standard in sport horse medicine, an authority whose career has elevated both the science and the practice of caring for the world’s most exceptional horses.
Dr. Rachel Murray is a faculty speaker in the Equine Lameness Program.
If you wish to elevate your lameness diagnostic skills and learn directly from her, Casper Lindegaard and Emmanuelle Van Erck, make sure to explore the Equine Lameness Program.
This the most comprehensive, case-based training pathway designed to help veterinarians make a measurable difference to the horses in their care.
