Priors Farm Equine Veterinary Surgery

Priors Farm Equine Veterinary Surgery Proudly independent equine vet practice in Sussex owned and run by the vets who work there. Donkeys are more than welcome!

Priors Farm Equine Surgery is situated in the village of Forest Row, south of East Grinstead in East Sussex. Established in 1978 the practice was taken over in 2008 by Ben Chilvers and Duncan Harrison, and now comprises a team of four dedicated equine veterinary surgeons. We are an exclusively equine practice carrying out first and second opinion work, as well as taking referrals from other local

veterinary surgeons and we take great pride in providing a high quality service to all of our patients whether they are top level competition horses or family pets. Over the years we have built a reputation for being caring and compassionate, and we aim to spend as much time as possible getting to know our patients as individuals in order to tailor our services to their particular needs. We are a purpose built equine hospital with full range of up-to-date diagnostic and surgical facilities. Stabling and 24-hour nursing care is available to enable us to cater for you and your horse’s needs. On Wednesday’s we offer a zoning scheme whereby you can reduce your visit fee to £15.00+VAT. Please telephone the practice for ways in which you can reduce your visit fee for routine work. We are proud that Priors Farm Equine Surgery has attained the RCVS’s Equine General practice standard. This has placed Priors Farm as one of the few equine practices in the area to have been inspected and approved by the RCVS. We are also delighted to have attained approval as a Veterinary Nurse Training Practice.

It's a wrap on 2025! Happy New Year! What a year 2025 has been for Priors Farm Equine Vets! As the year draws to a clos...
31/12/2025

It's a wrap on 2025! Happy New Year!

What a year 2025 has been for Priors Farm Equine Vets! As the year draws to a close, we wanted to share just a few highlights from a very busy and exciting 12 months.

Welcome back, Sarah!
Sarah returned from maternity leave after welcoming her very handsome son, Jesse, into the world. We’re delighted to have her back with the team.

Huge congratulations to Rosina
After several years of hard work and training, Rosina has officially qualified as a Registered Veterinary Nurse (RVN), bringing new skills to the practice including radiography and advanced clinical support.

Two new faces in the office
We welcomed Jess and Jess to our reception and insurance team, who have quickly become an integral part of keeping Priors Farm running smoothly.

Open Evening success
Our November Open Evening was a huge success, with a fantastic turnout and great conversations with clients and new faces at the practice.

Supporting future vets
We hosted 17 vet students this year. Emily and the team have also been busy delivering careers talks, mock interviews and mentoring aspiring vets.

New gastroscope
We invested in a new gastroscope, improving image quality and diagnostic accuracy for gastric ulcers and other conditions.

Going greener
We introduced a QR code check-in system at the clinic, reducing paperwork and helping us be more environmentally friendly.

Nurse Training
Alongside her role as a Nursing Assistant here at Priors Farm, Katie has also recently started her training to become a fully qualified Registered Veterinary Nurse alongside being a RAMP registered Veterinary Physiotherapist.

INDIBA therapy
This year we also introduced INDIBA radiofrequency treatments to support healing and recovery as part of our rehabilitation services.

Thank you to our amazing team and wonderful clients for being part of 2025 — we can’t wait to see what 2026 brings!

FESTIVE ANNOUNCEMENTOur office is now closed for Christmas, giving our team some well-earned time with their families. A...
24/12/2025

FESTIVE ANNOUNCEMENT

Our office is now closed for Christmas, giving our team some well-earned time with their families. As always, our phone are open 24/7 for any emergencies, the number is the same, 01342 823011.

We'll be open again on 29th December until 12:30 on New Years Eve. Happy Christmas!

Two weeks until the big day! As always our lines are open 24/7 for emergencies throughout the festive period but our off...
11/12/2025

Two weeks until the big day! As always our lines are open 24/7 for emergencies throughout the festive period but our office opening hours are as follows:

Monday 22nd December 8:30-17:30
Tuesday 23rd December 8:30-17:30
Wednesday 24th December 8:30-12:30
Thursday 25th December CLOSED
Friday 26th December CLOSED

Monday 29th December 8:30-17:30
Tuesday 30th December 8:30-17:30
Wednesday 31st December 8:30-12:30
Thursday 1st December CLOSED
Friday 2nd December 8:30-17:30

Open Evening 2025!A big thank you to everyone who came to our open evening last month — including many non-clients who w...
04/12/2025

Open Evening 2025!

A big thank you to everyone who came to our open evening last month — including many non-clients who wanted to learn more about what we do at Priors Farm.

We ran a live dissection, demonstrated our equipment, and gave visitors the chance to meet and chat with all our vets, nursing team and Reception staff. It was a fantastic turnout and a great opportunity to share the work we’re passionate about.

Thanks again to everyone who joined us, do let us know what events you'd be keen to attend in the future!

Open Evening at Priors Farm Vets – Thursday 13th November, 6–8pm Come and join us for an evening behind the scenes at ou...
06/11/2025

Open Evening at Priors Farm Vets – Thursday 13th November, 6–8pm

Come and join us for an evening behind the scenes at our independent equine practice! Meet our vets, explore our theatre, and see how we care for your horses — from dentistry and lameness work to gastroscopy and surgery.

We’ll have dissection pieces on display to help illustrate what we do day to day and give you a real insight into equine health.

It’s an indoor event with refreshments, but the hospital can get chilly — bring a coat!

-Thursday 13th November, 6–8pm
-Priors Farm Equine Vets
-All welcome! (Under-18's must be accompanied by an adult)

01/11/2025

Join Us for Our Open Evening!

We’re excited to invite you to our Open Evening on Thursday 13th November 6-8pm, open to clients and non-clients alike!

Come along for a relaxed evening where you can:

-Take a behind-the-scenes tour of our facilities, including inpatient and surgical areas
-Meet all of our vets and get to know the team
-Learn more about what we do — from lameness workups and gastroscopy to routine care and more

It’s a great opportunity to ask questions, chat with our vets, and see how we work to keep your horses healthy and performing at their best.

-Date: Thursday 13th November
-Time: 6-8pm
-Location: Priors Farm Equine Veterinary Surgery, Priory Road, Forest Row, RH18 5JD

Spaces are limited, so please call us on 01342 823011 for a free virtual ticket!

We can’t wait to welcome you!

For so many of us, the riding school is where it all began. -That first lesson.-That first pony you fell in love with.-T...
23/10/2025

For so many of us, the riding school is where it all began.

-That first lesson.
-That first pony you fell in love with.
-The friends who stuck with you through wet hacks and long show days.

Riding schools aren’t just about learning to ride — they’re about community, friendship and the lifelong bond between people and horses.

That’s why we’re proud to carry out riding school inspections. It’s our way of helping protect the welfare of school horses and ponies, while supporting the incredible centres that keep this tradition alive.

By doing so, we help ensure safe, happy environments where the next generation can discover the same joy and connection we did.

Because every rider deserves a strong start, and every community deserves a riding school at its heart.

It’s been a good year for acorns — many oak trees are producing a bumper crop thanks to the warm, wet weather.Acorns (an...
16/10/2025

It’s been a good year for acorns — many oak trees are producing a bumper crop thanks to the warm, wet weather.

Acorns (and oak leaves) contain tannins, which can cause digestive upset and, in very rare cases, more serious illness if eaten in large quantities. Some horses seem more tempted than others, especially if grazing is sparse.

You don’t need to panic, but a few simple steps can help:

-Try to fence off oak trees where possible, or rake up patches of fallen acorns.

-Make sure forage is always available, so horses aren’t tempted to snack elsewhere.

-Avoid strip-grazing directly under oak trees when acorns are falling heavily.

-Keep an eye out for any changes in appetite, behaviour or droppings, and contact your vet if you’re concerned.

Do your best to minimise acorn access and keep horses well-fed, but don’t worry excessively. Some horses coexist safely with oak trees every year, but do get in touch with your vet if you have any concerns.

Did you know some of our vets can even help your horse travel abroad? At Priors Farm, many members of our team are quali...
09/10/2025

Did you know some of our vets can even help your horse travel abroad?

At Priors Farm, many members of our team are qualified Official Veterinarians (OVs).

That means they’re the ones who can complete the health checks and paperwork needed for your horse to head overseas, whether it’s for:

-International competition
-Breeding
-Relocation to a new home

Our team is here to make sure journeys abroad are safe, smooth and fully compliant.

At Priors Farm, we believe the very best care is care that works for you and your horse. That means we’re proud to offer...
30/09/2025

At Priors Farm, we believe the very best care is care that works for you and your horse.

That means we’re proud to offer gold-standard diagnostics and treatments when they’re needed — but we also understand that every horse, and every client, has different circumstances.

Our approach is always:

-Welfare first, your horse’s comfort and wellbeing are at the heart of every decision.
-Open conversations, we’ll explain all the options, big and small.
-No judgement, we’ll work with you to find the right plan for your horse and your budget.

This is what we call contextualised care: combining clinical excellence with empathy, practicality and a deep understanding of the realities of horse ownership.

Because horses don’t live in textbooks — they live in the real world, with real owners who care. And so do we.

How well do you know your vets?At Priors Farm, we’re proud to be a stable, independent team — which means when you call ...
25/09/2025

How well do you know your vets?

At Priors Farm, we’re proud to be a stable, independent team — which means when you call us, you’ll be speaking to vets who already know you and your horse.

Why does that matter?

-Continuity — the same vet follows your horse’s journey, from first ni**le to full recovery.
-Communication — our vets talk to each other every day, sharing updates so your horse’s care is always joined-up.
-Relationships — we get to know our clients and horses personally, and that familiarity makes a real difference.

In a world where many practices are changing hands, we’re proud to stay independent, consistent, and connected — putting your horse (and you) at the centre of everything we do.

Equine Dentistry & Tooth Extractions – Setting the Record StraightAt Priors Farm Equine Vets, we’re proud to work alongs...
02/09/2025

Equine Dentistry & Tooth Extractions – Setting the Record Straight

At Priors Farm Equine Vets, we’re proud to work alongside highly skilled Equine Dental Technicians (EDTs) to provide the very best care for your horse’s mouth and teeth.

But here’s an important clarification:

While EDTs can carry out a wide range of dental procedures, tooth extractions are classed as a surgical procedure. Under the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 and the RCVS Exemptions Order 2015, only a qualified veterinary surgeon may:

-Perform any procedure that involves the surgical removal of a tooth (including wolf teeth and cheek teeth).
-Administer sedation or prescription-only medicines that are sometimes necessary for these procedures.

What EDTs can do:

-Routine rasping and balancing of teeth.
-Examination of the mouth, reporting findings to vets.
-Work under veterinary supervision for certain advanced procedures.

How we work together:

Our vets and EDTs collaborate closely – combining our veterinary expertise with the practical skills of dedicated dental technicians. This ensures your horse gets the safest, most appropriate treatment, whether it’s routine dental care or advanced surgical intervention.

The goal is always the same: happy, healthy horses with comfortable mouths and long-term wellbeing.

Address

Priors Farm, Priory Road
Forest Row
RH185JD

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 5:30pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 5:30pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5:30pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5:30pm
Friday 8:30am - 5:30pm

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