REC Equine Specialists

04/03/2025

We have a new website - after much design and planning our new website is now live. Pop on over and have a look around!

www.recequine.com.au

11/11/2024

We are very excited to be hosting two upcoming workshops at our Horsley Park clinic at the end of the month! For more information or to register for the laminitis workshop please email [email protected].

11/11/2024

We are thrilled to be hosting Dr Craig Lesser, all the way from Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital for the SoundHorse Workshop at the end of the month. See the link below for registration:

https://soundhorse.com/blogs/events/clinic-dr-craig-lesser-at-rec-equine-specialists

03/11/2024

Update - we have a couple of potential mares for this foal now which we are following through. Thanks to everyone for sharing, calling and helping with this so far!

We have another gorgeous little 5 day old TB foal who sadly lost her mum overnight. If you know anyone who has a suitable mare please contact the practice on 0293997722 and select option 1 to speak to our emergency hospital veterinarian. Please share this post to anyone who may be able to help and hopefully we can find this little lady another mum!

08/10/2024

Thank you so much to everyone who called and messaged regarding our little orphan foal the other day. Because of your help, here she is very happily with her new mum. Mum is pretty chuffed with her new foal as well ❤️

05/10/2024

UPDATE - MARE FOUND! Thank you so much for all the calls!

We are urgently seeking a foster mare for this little cutie pie. If you or anyone you know has a mare that may be suitable please contact the clinic on 0293997722 and select option 1 to speak to the emergency hospital veterinarian. Please share with any other groups that may be able to help and hopefully we can find this foal a mum!

26/06/2024

The NSW Veterinary Practitioners Board recently celebrated its centenary and awarded Prof (Dave) Hutchins a posthumous Centenary award for Professional Practice Leadership in Equine Practice. Many of you will have known Prof as a familiar face at REC over the years or through his time teaching at Sydney University. We miss him greatly and were delighted to see his passion and dedication to the field formally recognised. A very proud day for all who knew him, but especially his family - thank you for sharing the photos with us.

19/06/2024

We've had the pleasure of this stunning boy in the hospital after he underwent colic surgery under the care of Dr Leanne Begg and Dr Tate Morris. He's been a fabulous patient! Wishing both him and Whitney a speedy recovery.

25/05/2024

We were thrilled to host the VetPD ultrasonography course a couple of weeks ago. With lectures and practical sessions by Dr Roger Smith, all the way from the UK, and REC Equine Specialists' Dr Tate Morris the course was very well received. Thanks to VetPD for putting together such a great course and thanks to all those who attended.

16/05/2024

Equine Veterinary Nurse - position available

Sydney’s largest Equine Veterinary Practice is currently accepting applications for experienced Equine Veterinary Nurses.

The practice has a large hospital case load. We service a large area of Sydney and outer districts and are also a specialised referral centre for both surgical and medical cases. The position encompasses the surgical aspects of our equine patient care including surgery preparation, theatre, equipment maintenance, nuclear medicine, video-endoscopy, digital radiology, practice pharmacy, lameness examinations and associated administration.

Our surgical caseload includes orthopaedics (arthroscopy and fracture repair), soft tissue (airway surgery, laser surgery and abdominal surgery) and a variety of general surgery common in our horse patients.

This position does not require a veterinary nurse qualification but possessing a qualification or in the process of obtaining a Certificate III in Animal Studies would be an advantage. Ideally you will have attained at least 6 months experience working as an equine veterinary nurse. You must have good horse handling skills including handling of thoroughbreds of all ages, be composed under pressure and possess excellent communication skills.

The position is located at Horsley Park. Nurses work a 38 hour week with varying 8 hour shifts Monday to Friday between 7.30am and 6.30pm. Some overtime may be required on occasion.
Remuneration will be commensurate with the applicant’s qualifications and experience.

To apply or for more information please email [email protected]

15/05/2024

Dr Jonathan Lumsden and the REC Equine Specialists team feature in the upcoming film about the life and career of superstar Winx! Watch the trailer here.

A Horse Named Winx tells the inspirational story of one of our greatest athletes. At the height of her fame, Winx became known as the “people’s horse”—an Aus...

07/05/2024

We're recruiting!

Sydney’s largest equine veterinary practice is currently accepting applications for an experienced Equine Anaesthesia Associate. REC Equine Specialists is a large 28 equine veterinarian practice based on the outskirts of Sydney. The team includes specialists in the fields of anaesthesia, surgery, internal medicine, emergency and critical care and sports medicine based at our new purpose-built equine hospital. The facility features dedicated intensive care and isolation areas, designated pre-
anaesthetic, general, orthopaedic, soft tissue and standing surgical suites, on site laboratory and advanced imaging incl. nuclear medicine and standing and general anaesthesia CT suites.

The position involves co-ordinating and overseeing anaesthesia requirements for the hospital and is supported by a team of associates trained and experienced in anaesthesia, designated anaesthesia interns and a consultant specialist anaesthetist, Dr Colin Dunlop. The caseload (~800 general anaesthetic procedures p.a.) includes a wide variety of both elective and emergency cases, with a large Thoroughbred racehorse and yearling population, as well as sport and riding horses and an
increasing number of mare and foal procedures.

The position requires a team player with excellent communication/organisational skills and the flexibility to adapt schedules to incorporate emergencies. The role will include training and mentoring interns and new graduates to the highest level of anaesthesia care. A veterinarian with a minimum of 5 years experience in equine anaesthesia or completion of an anaesthesia residency is required. Remuneration package commensurate with the applicant’s qualifications and experience including a fully maintained motor vehicle, mobile phone, option for 4 day working week, 4 weeks annual leave and 1 week’s study leave. Afterhours anaesthesia roster typically functions on ~1 in 4 basis.

To apply, please email [email protected] or phone + 612 9399 7722

15/03/2024

**Sports Medicine Clinical Scholarship - applications open!**

Applications are now open for a clinical scholarship in Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation based between the University of Queensland and REC Equine Specialists. Please see the link attached for more information and application details.

https://scholarships.uq.edu.au/scholarship/dvclinsc-scholarship-equine-sports-medicine-and-rehabilitation

01/03/2024

Heel bulb injuries are relatively common in horses and can be tricky to manage due to the relatively complex anatomy and high degree of movement in the area. Here are some images from a case that Dr Matthew Heaton was called to last month.

Under standing sedation and a nerve block, the area was clipped, cleaned and explored to rule out involvement with any of the synovial structures in the area. The wound was sutured and a foot cast applied. After nearly 3 weeks the cast and sutures were removed leaving a clean and beautifully healed wound!

Foot casts are often chosen to manage heel bulb injures in horses to speed up and improve the quality of healing by limiting movement at the injury site. Proud flesh is a common and tricky to manage problem with wounds on the lower limbs - casts help to reduce the formation of this as well. They do require a little bit of management and monitoring to ensure the cast doesn't wear through, crack or cause friction rubs on the skin but if well applied, they can often last a few weeks. In some cases they are more affordable than regular bandage changes especially if these are not well tolerated by the patient.

09/02/2024

MEET THE TEAM

Dr Evelyn Hodgson - Internal Medicine and Intensive Care

Evie grew up in the UK where she spent her childhood riding Welsh ponies. After graduating from the University of Bristol, she moved to Australia to commence an internship at Newcastle Equine Centre followed by 2 years as an associate veterinarian.

In July 2023 she started an Equine Internal Medicine residency split between the University of Queensland and REC Equine Specialists. Her special interests include cardiology and all things foal related. Evie is based at our clinic at Horsley Park, working closely with Dr Darien Feary and Dr Leanne Begg. Outside work, Evie loves to swim, spend time with her dog Baxter and explore sunny Australia.

05/01/2024

This little cutie was admitted to the hospital at 2 days old due to diarrhoea and inadequate nursing. She was normal at birth and passive transfer was confirmed to be sufficient but she became lethargic and developed watery diarrhoea. Her vital signs were normal on admission but bloodwork identified dehydration, increased markers of inflammation and metabolic acidosis (a change in the acidity of the blood due to bicarbonate loss from the diarrhoea).

An intravenous catheter was placed and the filly was given intravenous fluids and antibiotics. Faecal samples were submitted for screening for infectious agents. The filly began to nurse more frequently, her faeces firmed up and her fluids were gradually reduced as she became able to maintain her own hydration.

Foals can go downhill fast when they start to become dehydrated but luckily this little lady's issues were identified quickly and she just needed a little bit of fluid therapy and extra support to get her back up and nursing again. Oh, and obviously lots of cuddles - what a gorgeous little foal!

22/12/2023

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We have vets on call for emergencies through the holiday period - hopefully you don't need us but we are available if you do!

Our office is open today until 5.30 and then closed until Wednesday 27th December.
Normal office hours, 8am-5.30pm apply from Wednesday 27th to Friday 29th and then the office is closed until Tuesday 2nd January.

Wishing you all a happy and relaxing break and we hope the horses behave themselves!

21/12/2023

And the correct answer was a venogram! A tourniquet is placed above the area of interest and contrast injected into the vein with x-rays or in this case CT images taken quickly afterwards. Venograms provide a wealth of information about the vasculature of the area and highlight any areas where blood flow may be compromised.

Here are a few CT images (some plain and one with contrast) from the same patient. The horse had a subsolar abscess which was draining from both the lateral sole and the coronary band. The images show:
- White line separation with gas lucencies between the hoof wall and lamellae
- No rotation or sinking of the pedal bone
- Mild lysis of the pedal bone - likely infection of the bone due to the abscess
- And a cystic lesion in the other side of the pedal bone - an interesting finding but nothing to do with the abscess!