Leading practice addresses ‘critical shortage’ of equine veterinarians
Hunter Equine Centre recruits seven industry leaders from overseas to service prominent stud farms and trainers
A severe shortage of equine veterinarians within Australia has prompted the Hunter Equine Centre (HEC) to source staff from further afield for the busy upcoming breeding season and beyond.
Dr Bridget Bester, who owns and runs the progressive Scone-based practice, has proactively addressed what has been described as “a critical shortage” of Australian veterinarians by importing seven highly credentialed international practitioners to join her team.
“It is well recognised that there is a national shortage of veterinarians in Australia, and the rural and equine sectors have been hardest hit.”
“With horses it seems like they (vets) are a dying breed. When I talk to young vets there’s only one or two that are graduating each year that are interested in horses,” said Bester.
Seven highly experienced new recruits have been engaged by HEC to help service the needs of local thoroughbred trainers and leading Hunter Valley studs such as Edinglassie, Kia Ora, Lime Country, Newgate, Segenhoe and Yarraman.
Among them are surgeon Dr Rachel Agass and her husband, theriogenologist Dr Rory Gormley.
Dr Agass worked at Bendigo Equine Hospital in Victoria, a busy thoroughbred broodmare, foal and yearling practice after graduating from the Royal Veterinary College in London where she developed her initial interest in surgery, including lameness diagnosis and management.
Now a board-certified European specialist in equine surgery, she is returning to Australia with particular interest in the management of developmental orthopaedic diseases of the thoroughbred.
Irishman Gormley is a diplomate of the American College of Theriogenologists and a recognised specialist in equine reproduction. Early in his career he also practiced at Bendigo Equine Hospital where, on his first shuttle from a leading equine fertility practice in Yorkshire in the UK (Equine Reproductive Services), he dealt predominantly with chilled and frozen AI for standardbreds, before later returning for two southern hemisphere seasons for a thoroughbred stud-based role.
Since then, he has practiced at Fethard Equine Hospital in Ireland providing services to Coolmore, and numerous other thoroughbred farms and racing stables, before returning to Equine Reproductive Services four years ago. His main passion is treatment of the sub-fertile mare, foal and yearling medicine and thoroughbred sales work.
Attracting veterinary professionals the calibre of the husband and wife team is a real coup for the Hunter Valley region according to Bester.
“Fortunately, all the senior veterinarians in the practice have worked internationally at world-class practices in Kentucky, Ireland, Newmarket and Yorkshire and we’ve been able to attract first-class colleagues from across the globe.
“Over the years we’ve had fabulous veterinarians from these places and we’ve made a point of ensuring that it is well known that HEC is a great place to work, with excellent standards and a very healthy work culture. These new recruits are crucial to the expansion of our service.” she said.
She explained that it has been a mammoth exercise to bring the new staff to Australia due to Covid-19 related complications.
“It has been more stressful – not to mention expensive – than ever bringing veterinarians in this year, with tough visa and border restrictions, and the sudden cancellation of so many flights in the last few weeks. We’ve been working around the clock with immigration lawyers and specialist travel agents to get our team here.”
Also currently in quarantine, off a stallion flight, after spending the last eight consecutive seasons shuttling between HEC and Darley’s Kildangan Stud in Ireland, is Italian, Dr Livia De Biase.
She brings with her stud work and neonatology experience and is currently completing the certificate in advanced veterinary practice through the Royal Veterinary College.
And awaiting the final stamp on his Australian visa is the well-regarded stud veterinarian, Dr Chris Phillips in New Zealand. He is another graduate of the Royal Veterinary College.
Employed after graduating by Rossdales and Partners in Newmarket, he has names behind him such as Juddmonte, Newsells Park, The Royal Studs and Cheveley Park Stud.
Flying to Australia this week to work her first season is Irish stud veterinarian, Dr Jane Holohan. Since graduating from the University College of Dublin, she’s worked in Ireland at Fethard Equine Hospital, Tullyraine Equine Clinic and most recently at Mullingar Equine, a busy stud medicine ambulatory practice. She will be an important cog in the HEC wheel and will cover stud work, first opinion ambulatory work, in–house lameness work ups and anaesthesia.
Bester hopes her latest recruitment drive will not only help invigorate the senior veterinary ranks but also provide vital mentors for young and aspiring professionals of the future.
More broadly, Bester is concerned about the dearth of vets coming through the ranks and believes the general reputation of the industry needs to improve if it is to overcome the issue in the long term.
“It’s had a really bad rap from vets who are a bit cynical about how hard it can be and how much pressure the clients put on you and how long the hours are but I bounce out of bed every day, I love it.
“We have a great life. We breed a tonne of horses, work on great farms and with great horses.”
Bester is deeply passionate about finding a solution to the problem and said she also plans to introduce scholarships to help break down the barriers and encourage more young students into the profession.