MIDWINTER’S Day may, in theory, be the shortest of the year but there was something ironic about spending it with Philip McManus on his rounds. A day in the life of this gifted vet was a whirlwind of routine and emergency calls, in between thoughtful observations on topics from the future of large animal practices to changes in horse breeding.

“The best appointment with Philip is the first in the morning,” said Paul Duffy, holding a pony as his longtime vet checks to see how a cut on its hind leg is healing.