Racetrack Veterinary Services

Racetrack Veterinary Services Racetrack Veterinary Services is an Equine Veterinary Practice based in Mornington covering the Mornington Peninsula, Pakenham and Greater Melbourne area.

Racetrack Veterinary Services is an Equine Veterinary Practice founded by Dr Eoin Kelly, MVB MRCVS in 2014. Based in Mornington, the practice also covers the greater Melbourne area. Dr Eoin Kelly MVB MRCVS grew up on the family farm at St John's Point, Co Down in Northern Ireland. Eoin developed an interest in horses and racing from a young age and worked in the racing industry in Ireland before a

nd during his time at university. Having graduated from the Veterinary College of Ireland at University College Dublin in 2004, Eoin was selected onto the Darley Flying Start Bloodstock Management training program and spent the subsequent two years working with and learning from some of the greatest thoroughbred industry leaders around the world. Time spent with trainers such as Bobby Frankel and John Shirreffs in the USA, Mike de K**k in Dubai and David Hayes at Lindsay Park in Angaston, South Australia gave him an invaluable wealth of knowledge. During the programme Eoin also spent a period of time working at Santa Anita and Hollywood Park racetracks in Los Angeles with popular American racetrack veterinarian Dr. Jeff Blea DVM (current president of the American Association of Equine Practitioners). In 2006 Eoin returned to Ireland to work for renowned racehorse trainer Jim Bolger in Co.Carlow as Veterinarian/Assistant. During his time there Eoin worked directly with the champions Teofilo, New Approach and Finsceal Beo along with a host of other Group 1 winners and other top class horses. With over 200 horses in the stable and an in-house blood-testing laboratory the vet’s role was a busy one! During this time Eoin was also actively involved with yearling selection at the sales (where purchases included New Approach). A stint in the UK as assistant trainer to Kevin Ryan, a renowned trainer of 2yos and sprinters (120 horse stable) followed before Eoin made the move to Australia in early 2009 to take up a racetrack Veterinarian role at Flemington with The Racetrack Practice. Clients at Flemington included Brian Mayfield-Smith and David Hayes, two of the most successful trainers in Australian Racing history. The following year Eoin relocated to the Mornington Peninsula and has built up an extensive client base in the area including racehorse trainers and pre-trainers, event and dressage riders and agistment farms. After five successful years with The Racetrack Practice Eoin founded Racetrack Veterinary Services in 2014 with the help of his partner Caitrin.

Case of the week 📝🩺Our pony patient is feeling much brighter after a trim, shoeing, and a full radiographic check-in. 📸🐴...
29/11/2025

Case of the week 📝🩺

Our pony patient is feeling much brighter after a trim, shoeing, and a full radiographic check-in. 📸🐴

Seen in the below images are before and after radiographs on a pony with recurrent laminitis.

1️⃣ Post-shoeing
2️⃣ Post-trim
3️⃣ Starting point
4️⃣ One happy pony!

This horse shows many of the findings seen on radiographs of chronic laminitic feet: dorsal capsular rotation, modelling of the distal phalanx, a ‘lamella wedge’ with widening of the dorsal hoof wall, sinking of the distal phalanx, decreased sole depth and excessive toe length!!

Working closely with our skilled farrier to improve comfort by adding a leather pad for extra support as well as a reversed shoe to reduce pressure on the sensitive laminae 💪🏼

28/11/2025

We’re Hiring! – Practice Manager (Part Time)
Racetrack Veterinary Services – Mornington Peninsula

Our Equine Veterinary Practice is looking for an experienced and organised Practice Manager to join our growing team!
Approx. 15 hrs/week with flexible start/finish times.
Option for hours to increase.

Your key responsibilities will include:
✨ Rostering & payroll (proficiency with Xero essential)
✨ Staff management & HR support
✨ Setting budgets & overseeing financials
✨ Developing & monitoring staff KPIs
✨ Keeping the practice running smoothly day-to-day

About You:
✔ Previous management/leadership experience
✔ Strong organisational & communication skills
✔ Confident with budgeting, systems & process improvement
✔ Hands-on horse experience not essential, industry knowledge favourable.

Salary: Based on experience.

📩 Apply now: Send your CV + Cover Letter to Caitrin Kelly
👉 [email protected]

What every Saturday should include… horses, more horses, coffee, brunch, and yep—still more horses! ☕🐴What’s your Saturd...
21/11/2025

What every Saturday should include… horses, more horses, coffee, brunch, and yep—still more horses! ☕🐴

What’s your Saturday looking like?

Every horse has a story written in its movement. Sleip helps us read it.Sleip's AI-powered motion analysis detects even ...
20/11/2025

Every horse has a story written in its movement. Sleip helps us read it.

Sleip's AI-powered motion analysis detects even the smallest asymmetries, giving us the data we need to diagnose accurately and catch issues early.

What used to require expensive equipment can now be done anywhere with just an iPhone.

Smart, simple, science-backed care 🐴💙✨

A well-stocked barn emergency first aid kit can save time during critical moments. Here's what essentials your kit shoul...
20/11/2025

A well-stocked barn emergency first aid kit can save time during critical moments. Here's what essentials your kit should include!

2x Cohesive Vetwrap Bandage
2x Tensoplast Roll
1x Veterinary Gamgee Roll
1x 100 pack Gauze Swabs
1x Animalintex Poultice
1x Thermometer
2x 50ml Syringes
1x Melolin Dressing
1x 500ml Betadine Solution
1x 100g Solosite Gel
1x Easy to store container

Time poor? Follow the link below to purchase a horse first aid kit and have it delivered to your location or pick up at your office!

https://racetrackvetservices.com/collections/horse-health/products/emergency-first-aid-kit

Strong performance starts with early detection 💪Our cutting-edge diagnostics quickly identify lameness issues so your eq...
19/11/2025

Strong performance starts with early detection 💪

Our cutting-edge diagnostics quickly identify lameness issues so your equine athlete can get back in winning shape 🏆

Contact us today to discuss how we can benefit your horse!

☎️ 03 5975 6586

We’re Hiring!Practice Manager – Part Time (Approx. 15 hrs/week)Racetrack Veterinary Services is an Equine Veterinary Pra...
18/11/2025

We’re Hiring!
Practice Manager – Part Time (Approx. 15 hrs/week)

Racetrack Veterinary Services is an Equine Veterinary Practice based on the Mornington Peninsula. We are seeking an experienced and motivated Practice Manager to oversee the operational, financial, and staff management aspects of our growing practice.

This is a part-time role (approx. 15 hours per week) with flexible start and finish times, ideal for an organised, confident leader who enjoys creating structure and supporting a high-performing team.
Hands-on horse experience is not essential.

Key Responsibilities:
💫 Lead day-to-day practice operations

💫 Manage rostering, payroll, and HR administration

💫 Set and monitor budgets, financial targets, and expenditure

💫 Develop and oversee staff KPIs

💫 Support business growth, workflow optimisation, and practice efficiency

💫 Coordinate communication, systems, and administrative processes

💫 Ensure compliance, documentation, and smooth practice function


About You:
✅ Experience in management or leadership roles (veterinary or medical practice experience beneficial but not required)

✅ Strong organisational and communication skills
Confident with budgeting, reporting, and performance management

✅ Skilled with office and practice software systems (Xero proficiency essential)

✅ Ability to work independently and drive continuous improvement

✅ Professional, proactive, and supportive team mindset


Salary:
Salary will be commensurate with previous experience.

How to Apply:
Please send your CV and Cover Letter to:
Caitrin Kelly - [email protected]

It is mandatory for many equestrian organisations to have your horse/s microchipped to the Australian Standard. Our vete...
18/11/2025

It is mandatory for many equestrian organisations to have your horse/s microchipped to the Australian Standard. Our veterinarians at Racetrack Veterinary Services are qualified microchip implanters and implant microchips for a wide variety of horses and their appropriate organisations.

For your horse to be registered/ obtain horse ID passports with the following organisations, it is essential your horse is microchipped:

FEI (Ferderation Equestre Internationale)
EA, EV (Equestrian Australia, Equestrian Victoria)
ASB (Australian Thoroughbred Studbook)
The Australian Studbook requires all thoroughbred foals born from 2003 onwards to be Microchipped.

If you are not planning on competing your horse, it is still very important to microchip your horse and register their details with Central Animal Records. If for any reason your horse breaks out or gets loose, it can quickly be identified.

In recent years, with Bush Fires and Flooding, microchipping has been an effective way of identifying horses who have been separated from their owners.

🐴 Did you know? Thoroughbred racehorses in Australia cannot race with only one eye! 👁️This Thoroughbred yearling came to...
12/11/2025

🐴 Did you know? Thoroughbred racehorses in Australia cannot race with only one eye! 👁️

This Thoroughbred yearling came to us after a grass seed penetrated its eye, causing a stromal abscess — a pocket of infection within the cornea.

The case was promptly treated with antibiotics, antifungals, and anti-inflammatory therapy.
When the initial response to treatment at home was poor, the horse was admitted to Racetrack Veterinary Services for placement of a subpalpebral lavage (SPL) catheter — allowing medication to be administered every 2 hours!

📸 Progress timeline:

1️⃣ 7 days post-injury: Stromal abscess with fluorescein stain uptake (damaged epithelial cells), neovascularization (new blood vessel growth), and corneal oedema (blue tint/clouding).

2️⃣ 10 days post-injury: Increased abscess size and greater fluorescein uptake.

3️⃣ SPL catheter in place: The pupil is dilated with atropine — this relieves pain (cycloplegia) and dilates the pupil (mydriasis).

4️⃣ 26 days post-injury: SPL removed; corneal scarring remains.

5️⃣ 55 days post-injury: Significant reduction in corneal scarring.

6️⃣ 13 months later: Fully recovered — no corneal scar remains, and the horse is now back in training! 🏇✨

A great outcome thanks to early intervention, diligent care, and a dedicated team! 💪

🐴💉 What’s a Nerve Block — and Why Do We Do It?Ever wondered how our Vets find out where a horse’s pain is coming from wh...
06/11/2025

🐴💉 What’s a Nerve Block — and Why Do We Do It?

Ever wondered how our Vets find out where a horse’s pain is coming from when they’re lame? 🤔

We use a tool called 'A nerve block' — a simple and effective diagnostic tool!

👉 Here’s how it works:

A small amount of local anesthetic is injected around specific nerves in the leg. This temporarily “turns off” feeling in that part of the limb.
We then trot the horse up again, if the lameness improves, we know the pain is coming from that area.

By working from the bottom of the leg upward, our vets can pinpoint exactly where the problem lies — whether it’s in the hoof, fetlock, or higher up.

✅ Why we do it:

▪️To accurately identify the specific area causing pain or lameness

▪️To ensure the right diagnostic tests and treatments are performed

▪️To monitor progress and recovery more effectively

History is made! 🙌 Huge congratulations to Jamie Melham, the first-ever female jockey to win both the Caulfield Cup and ...
05/11/2025

History is made! 🙌

Huge congratulations to Jamie Melham, the first-ever female jockey to win both the Caulfield Cup and the Melbourne Cup! 🏆🐎

Champion Half Yours—trained by Tony & Calvin McEvoy and bred by the late Colin McKenna—has done Australia proud on the world stage.

Owned, trained, and bred right here at home. What a moment for Aussie racing! 💚💛

Address

25 Leilani Court
Mornington, VIC
3931

Telephone

+61359756586

Website

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