Passionate Gemma gallops into veterinary field

FOLLOWING her burning passion for animals and horses in specific, Amanzimtoti-grown Gemma Borchard (20) is in her third year of Veterinary Sciences at Onderstepoort, which is a campus of the University of Pretoria. She shared more on her journey to obtaining a qualification in professional animal care.

Gemma explained her horse’s experience of falling ill with African Horse Sickness, when it broke out in South Africa this year, and steps taken which saw Jet make a miraculous recovery.

Gemma has been involved with horses for about 15 years. She took up riding lessons and fell inlove immediately.

“My dad bought my horse, Jet, when I was 12-years-old. I still own him and he now moved to university with me,” she said.

The idea of being a vet always intrigued Gemma, but for a long time it seemed like an unrealistic goal.

“In my matric year I was offered a full scholarship with SAPREF to do chemical engineering,” she began.

“At the last minute, following the advice of a psychologist, I applied to Veterinary Science with no experience and to everyone’s surprise I was accepted, based on my grade 11 marks. I made the decision to follow my heart and change paths, which was made possible by my wonderful parents who supported me unconditionally. I’m in third year now and the degree is six years long.”

While the journey to qualifying is proving incredibly difficult, Gemma is convinced that she’s in the right place and remains optimistic about the future.

“I think success in this field requires a lot more than just a love for animals,” she began. “A veterinarian’s job is not to save animals, but to prevent suffering and unfortunately this often means euthanasia. It can be emotionally draining so students need to understand why it’s necessary. Veterinarians deal with difficult and distressed owners on a daily basis which can result in compassion fatigue. Not many people end up studying Veterinary Science, as only about 200 people are accepted every year across the country and the workload is unbelievably tough.”

Gemma looks forward into both the near and far future with an open mind.

“Plans for the future can always change, but for now I hope to focus on horses and practise in KZN when I’m qualified. First I’ll need to complete my compulsory community service year,” she said.
Gemma’s horse, Jet, fell ill with African Horse Sickness during a severe nation-wide outbreak this year, and was within the very small percentage that survived.

“African Horse Sickness is a deadly virus which is transmitted by midges (a group of insects that include many kinds of small flies), usually in summer. This year there was a particularly devastating outbreak resulting in hundreds of deaths across South Africa.

The ‘Dunkop’ form affects the lungs and has a mortality rate higher than 95%, with death usually occurring within 24 hours. The ‘Dikkop’ form affects the heart and is characterised by oedema (swelling from excess fluid) above the eyes; the mortality rate is about 70%. Annual vaccines only slightly reduce mortality,” she said.

Jet presented with a fever and swollen eyes in February and his blood tested positive for AHS. Gemma said that he fought the virus for two weeks and survived.

“It was a very stressful time for me, facing the possibility of him dying. I attribute his survival to early diagnosis, an excellent vet, lots of TLC, his unfaltering appetite and the fact that I didn’t take him to hospital as the stress of travelling probably would’ve killed him,” she said.

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