Westgate Labs is a small family run business, with a purpose built lab and an award winning team of expert SQP/RAMA on hand to answer customer queries and guide them through the worming maze!
Following the most up to date veterinary guidelines and keeping abreast of the latest developments, the experienced team at Westgate are on hand to answer customer queries and guide them through the worming maze.
DAVID & GILLIAN Booth
Founders of Westgate Labs
Westgate Labs was started in 1999 by husband-and-wife duo David and Gillian Booth. They set out with a huge mission to improve the knowledge and practice of horse worming in the UK. This was recognised in 2024 when David was awarded the highest industry accolade in the BETA Awards, a Lifetime Achievement Award, recognising his ‘invaluable contributions to the equestrian industry and his unwavering dedication to equine welfare’. They're both still very much involved, in between tree planting, dog walking and creating cakes and bakes for the team!
CLAIRE shand
Director of Marketing & Communications - EQUINE & AVIAN SQP/RAMA
Claire Shand, daughter of David and Gillian, is passionate about driving behaviour change and is highly regarded throughout the industry. She has a key role on the Core Steering Group for CANTER, heading up the Communications Subgroup. Claire was awarded Equine SQP of the Year in 2023.
KRISTY Hodgson
Director of BUSINESS - EQUINE SQP/RAMA
Kristy has been part of the team since 2009! She won Outstanding Customer Service Award in 2020 and Equine SQP of the Year in 2019. Kristy crunches the numbers and loves a parasite puzzle, particularly in youngsters and helping customers with their horses worming issues.
Sarah Mitchinson
Director of OPERATIONS - EQUINE SQP/RAMA
Sarah is outstanding at managing and organising the team, making sure the lab and office runs smoothly. Always up for having fun and looking glam, her sparkly personality is infectious and it's Sarah enthusiasm that ensures the success of our team events, such as fund raising charity walks.
Sarah Ince
Finance & Data Officer - EQUINE SQP/RAMA
Sarah is the woman with the numbers and deals with our research data and monitoring stats in charts and tables, with a great eye for detail and a tenacity for parasite puzzles.
katrina pedlar
project Manager
Katrina manages and delivers marketing and communication projects. Passionate about horse health, she also collaborates closely with Ambassadors to share best practices and promote our services. A western rider she has three sorrel American Quarter Horses and loves dung beetle spotting!
Laura Logan
customer service & Marketing coordinator
Laura has came to us from a background in pharmaceutical lab work and hospitality. She has a real drive for engaging with people, delivering great customer service and organising anything she can get her hands on! In her free time, she events her horse Hawk at BE90 and has taken up cycling too!
EMily DAGG
Team Leader - EQUINE, FARM & AVIAN SQP/RAMA
Emily’s responsibility is to keep the lab team on track! She oversees the laboratory protocol and ensure that quality and accuracy are achieved throughout the testing process. Her other loves are her dogs and challenging herself with a new passion for weight lifting and fitness.
EMMA VOSE
Lab Technician
Emma is a registrar along side her role here at Westgate and waited a long time for an equine opportunity to arise and after a stint at agricultural college and some industry work found herself here with a change in career!
Isla DAGG
Lab Technician - EQUINE, FARM & AVIAN SQP/RAMA
Isla (sister to Emily!) has a love of all things farming and especially cows! This makes her invaluable at advising farmers and small holders on best practice parasite control. Isla is also the infamous person who volunteers to be in our giant inflatable poo-emoji-suit at events.
Nathan Evans
Lab Technician
Coming from a university background of animal and plant biology, Nathan brings a knack for lab work to the highest skill. His fascination with all things biology, especially parasites means your samples are in safe hands!
Nathan Kindred
Lab Technician & RESEARCH LEAD - EQUINE, FARM & AVIAN SQP/RAMA
Nathan came to us with a wealth of knowledge from a science background, having previously studied bio medical science and neuro science. He has developed his knowledge in animal welfare and is our go to for the latest in research.
Nikki GarFoot
Lab Technician
Nikki joined the Westgate team to enable her to follow her passion for horses and their welfare. She has been a horse owner for over 30 years and enjoys long walks with her husband and dog at the weekends.