equine Facilities

The equine clinic has full hospitalisation facilities with stabling for ten horses, plus there is an outdoor ‘playpen’ and field. The stables are large and we can provide CCTV viewing for the monitoring of mares pre foaling or horses with colic.

The clinic has a large 45-metre square examination area with non-slip floor for routine examinations. The room has a set of custom made stocks for endoscopy, reproductive examination, dental work and standing surgery etc. Above the stocks is a support to assist with dental work.

The design of the clinic is such that we can conduct lameness examinations both undercover or on a flood lit outdoor secure trot up and there are three lunge areas with three different surfaces: monoblock, concrete and a soft surface.

A loading bay is present to assist loading or unloading of difficult or severely injured patients.

We have a resident equine nurse who lives on-site.

A gantry mounted X-ray machine is suspended above the examination area allowing horses to be x-rayed in virtually all areas of the room including when they are in the stocks. The X-ray unit has a 1000mA, 150kV output. The suspension system has a commando arm at the bottom that enables a horizontal beam to be taken at floor level.

There is a nuclear scintigraphy (bone scanning) suite where we can do bone scans on any weekday, Monday to Friday.  We have two stables licenced for bone scanning. This facility is also available for dogs.

The clinic has facilities to undertake general anaesthesia using a knockdown room and a custom built operating theatre.  The two are linked by an overhead hoist system. Induction can be undertaken using a crush door if required. A vet always monitors anaesthesia.  Horses will be maintained on isoflurane.  During anaesthesia the horse’s blood pressure (taken directly), blood gases, expirated CO2 and ECG will be monitored.  A ventilator is present to assist during anaesthesia. Myelograms can be performed when required. Facilities are present to perform assisted recovery, which is useful when a more controlled recovery is required. Radiography of anaesthetised horses can be undertaken.  Piped gas is used throughout.

We have an in-house laboratory which is of great benefit when dealing with intensive care patients.

We are currently applying for Tier 3 (equine hospital) status