Standing in a packed hospitality suite at Naas Racecourse, with vets from all over Ireland and the UK sipping coffee and comparing notes, Tony Moroney is calm and clear. The Chief Operating Officer of Forte Healthcare Group doesn’t raise his voice to be heard — he doesn’t need to. The energy in the room says everything.

“My job, in a nutshell, is to create an environment where the team can perform to the best of their ability,” Tony said. “That’s really what today is about.”

The day in question? Forte Healthcare’s flagship CPD event — a professional education day for vets, set against the backdrop of a full evening racecard and some of the industry’s most forward-thinking product discussions. It was a hybrid of serious science and real-world hospitality, and it reflected the layered nature of Forte’s work across the animal health sector.

“Forte Healthcare Group was established in 2002,” Tony explained. “The pharmaceutical wing — Forte Healthcare — works in the vet channel throughout Ireland, the UK, and Europe. We’ve got teams in all three, and strategic partners too. We’ve got our own products, a strong development pipeline, and some exclusive distribution rights.”

But that’s just one piece of the structure.

“Ark Animal Care is our direct-to-farmer channel,” Tony continued. “We deal directly with farmers and through merchants across Ireland and the UK. And within that, Ark Equine is the unit that focuses on the equine channel.”

That multi-tiered approach is what allows the company to move quickly. And for Tony, speed is not just a logistical advantage — it’s a values thing.

“We’re very agile as a company. We can act fast. We see problems in the marketplace, and we provide solutions,” he said. “That’s what makes the difference.”

The CPD event at Naas was a case in point. Centred on the topic of oxidative stress — a physiological challenge often misunderstood or under-addressed — the day was built around both education and action.

“One of the things that sets us apart is our investment in education for vets,” Tony said. “We support them with services, technical knowledge, and marketing. This event is just one example of that.”

With talks from leading veterinary experts including Dr. Sarah Wood and Dr. Celia Marr, the agenda was designed to stretch thinking and offer practical, applicable insight.

“Our founder Richard said it earlier — we try to stay ahead of the field,” Tony said. “One of the products we mentioned today, Viusid is ahead of the curve. So today’s CPD is highlighting both the problem — oxidative stress — and a solution.”

It’s a topic that resonated deeply with attendees. As Sarah Wood opened her session, she asked the crowd how many vets felt they knew enough about oxidative stress. Few hands went up. Then she asked how many were testing for it. Fewer still. That gap — between clinical reality and current practice — is what Forte aims to close.

“The hope is that vets will take this back to practice,” Tony said. “Because when they see a problem, Viacis can be a solution. We’ve seen the efficacy. We’ve seen the results.”

A major draw of the day was keynote speaker Dr. Celia Marr, one of the world’s most respected equine cardiologists. “She’s an expert in her field,” Tony said. “And the fact that she came over to speak for us says a lot about the company.”

With a full room, a stacked programme, and a palpable sense of momentum, Tony was also keen to acknowledge the human side of days like this.

“The teas and coffees — and the pints later on — they’re just as important as the sessions,” he said with a smile. “We have to collaborate more. It’s lovely.”

The day wasn’t just about continuing education or product strategy. It was about giving professionals the space to work on the business, not just in it. “It’s a great day out for all of us,” Tony said. “And it’s all about providing solutions for our customer.”

As the CPD portion of the day wrapped up and attention turned to the racecourse below, there was one more detail. The second race of the evening was proudly sponsored by Ark Equine — just another sign of Forte’s ongoing presence and deep connection to the equine world.

This article has been brought to you by The Grassroots Journo.