03/12/2021
It is with great sadness that I announce to my clients and friends that Fleurieu Equine Clinic will close permanently on Friday 24th December 2021. I wish to thank all the lovely people that have been a part of the practice over the last 5 years.
The decision to close the practice was not made lightly, or in haste, and has been a result of multiple factors. I wish to advise you, my trusted and valued clients, many of whom I now count as friends, some of the major decision drivers that have led to this point:
- Work/life balance: a range of things have contributed to this not being optimal. I never planned to be ‘on’ 24/7 after 5 years. I had planned to bring on other vets & nursing staff to help me share the load. However, this has not become financially possible.
- Market forces: when I opened the practice, I was the only full-time dedicated equine service in the area, which also focused on dentistry. Since then, several other dedicated equine practices, including with dentistry focus, have opened to service the Fleurieu. Unfortunately, the equine population has not tripled to match this increase in services.
- Personal circumstances: these have drastically changed in the last 5 years, and I feel it is now time for me to move on to new things.
Unfortunately, my efforts to balance running the practice, working in the practice, and maintaining a personal life have proven impossible in this setting. I have met some truly wonderful people during my 5 years of business here and take many new friends into the future.
I understand this will impact many of you and wish to let you know that I will continue to assist with the transition to my absence. My practice management software will continue to run for 12 months to ensure everyone receives their dental & vaccination reminders, at which time you can choose your new provider. For those of you with horses on long term medications, I will prepare referral letters – along with copies of any test results, etc. – to be forwarded to your new clinic.
Should anyone wish to fit in a consult, I am still open and consulting on selected days until the 24th of December. Thank you all once again, and I wish everyone the best.
