Dr. William Robert Cook

Dr. William Robert "Bob" Cook, FRCVS, PhD-scientist, artist, gentleman-died on August 25, 2025, surrounded by his family. He was 94.

Bob was a pioneer in equine veterinary medicine whose career challenged millennia of horse training tradition by proving that bits cause pain, suffocation, and the very behavioral problems they're meant to solve. A veterinary iconoclast who spent decades fighting to "unshackle the horse," his research revealed that bit-free riding eliminated conflict behaviors while improving performance and rider safety-findings that may ultimately transform equestrian sport. His final article is soon to be published.

Born in Wolverhampton, England, his career spanned continents, from his Cambridge University doctorate to veterinary work in Kenya and beyond. He counted Sheikh Mohammed and Queen Elizabeth II among his clients. Veterinary medicine proved doubly rewarding: through his work he met the love of his life, Margaret (née Bowen), and embraced her three young sons as his own.

He moved to the United States in 1978 to help set up the Tufts School of Veterinary Medicine, serving as Associate Dean, and was later named Professor of Surgery Emeritus. His development of the Bitless Bridle, still used worldwide, exemplifies his research: removing pain makes better horses and better riders.

Bob brought uncommon eloquence to scientific writing. His hundreds of publications stand apart for their clear, engaging style, drawing upon Shakespeare and others to illuminate technical complexity. An accomplished painter and calligrapher, he approached every field of knowledge with the rigor of a scientist and the wonder of a lifelong scholar. He loved music, poetry, art, architecture, and the gift of each day. Shortly before he died, he described himself as "jubilant."

A swimmer, runner, and yoga practitioner until his death, he still cut a dash on the dance floor. His life's work: the relentless advancement of kindness-a legacy felt in all those he met, as well as in every horse and rider freed from pain.

Predeceased by his wife, Margaret, son Nicholas Kirk, and twin sister Francie, Bob is survived by his older brother, Roger; sons Peter and Robin Kirk; and his grandchildren Alice Walker, William ("Wiggy"), Tim, and Madeleine Kirk. Bob also leaves three daughters-in-law (Eleanor, Mary, and Lisa), two granddaughters-in-law (Becca and Sam), and three step-granddaughters (Maggie, Caitlin, and Jenna).
A service of thanksgiving will be held at 11am on Saturday, September 27th at St John the Evangelist Church, 172 Main Street, Hingham, Massachusetts 02043. All are welcome to attend.