What are the 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

Priors Farm Equine Veterinary Surgery

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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.

17/12/2024

Have you popped into the office lately? We wanted to take an opportunity to give a shout out to our fantastic team in the office. Sacha, Fi and Sam do a brilliant job at the end of the phone assisting clients and coordinating vets.

Without their amazing support, the practice simply would not run and we are very lucky to have such a friendly, capable team on hand. Often ably assisted by Sophie the Greyhound and fuelled on tea, food hampers and Costa Coffee, they do a brilliant job managing our front of house and keeping Priors Farm ticking over!

12/12/2024

With recent frosts and even snow in some parts of the country, there’s no doubt Winter is really here. Our top tips for surviving the season are below.

1. Protect your water supply. Insulate taps and fill extra buckets if you’re expecting an overnight freeze!

2. Warm up and cool down slowly. Like us, horses take longer to warm up in colder weather, this is especially important for older horses and ponies, or those suffering from musculoskeletal conditions.

3. If being in with dry dusty hay is causing a cough, it helps to soak or rinse the hay before feeding. Any persistent or new cough should always be checked out by your vet.

4. Be choosy about your surfaces, if its frozen or muddy take care when riding and don’t rush on bad ground!

5. Remember to change your rugs regularly, even if your horse is in the same turnout rug every day it’s important to keep an eye on their coat and body to spot issues early.

10/12/2024

Christmas Opening Hours

With Christmas soon upon us we wanted to update you on our office opening hours over the festive period. As always, our lines are open 24/7 for emergencies. Please remember to order any medications well in advance of the festive period to ensure they arrive in time.

Monday 23rd 8:30-17:30
Tuesday 24th 8:30-12:30
Wednesday 25th CLOSED
Thursday 26th CLOSED
Friday 27th 8:30-17:30

Monday 30th 8:30-17:30
Tuesday 31st 8:30-12:30
Wednesday 1st CLOSED
Thursday 2nd 8:30-17:30
Friday 3rd 8:30-17:30

28/11/2024

Did you come to our Junior Vets Open Day?

Last month we hosted a Junior Vets Open Day here at the practice to give young people an idea of what it’s like to do what we do. Despite the chilly weather outside it was a busy and productive day, and Guinness the horse loved the attention!

We received some great feedback on the day and hope you enjoyed it as much as we did!

26/11/2024

Competition Time!

Less than 1 month to go until the big day! If you’d like to be in with a chance to win a £50 Priors Farm Voucher redeemable against all of our veterinary services, then enter our Christmas 2024 Photo Competition!

To enter, please send in your horsey photo of the year with a caption (max 50 words) to [email protected] or comment one below. Photos must be in .jpeg format and entries must be submitted by 5:30pm on Friday 20th December.

Entries should be your own work and subjects must have given permission for you to submit the image. The winner will be announced on Christmas Eve with the winning image posted on our social media! Good Luck everyone!

21/11/2024

Have you spotted our new supplements?

We’ve already talked about the OmegaPro from Hestevard which delivers a balanced ratio of Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids for supporting a healthy inflammatory response.

The BozMerix crunchtabs deliver the boswelia-rich anti-inflammatory supplement beloved by arthritic and athletic horses alike in a tasty treat form, useful for carrot stretches and rewards.

Vitatude is a multivitamin and protein balancer ideal for offering essential dietary components in a low-sugar formula, ideal for getting the goodness in without the calorie bulk!

If you’d like to enquire about supplements from Priors Farm please give the office a ring on 01342 823011.

19/11/2024

Don’t forget our weekly in-house Dental Clinics are still open every Wednesday Morning! For a reduced dental fee and 10% off sedation it’s a huge saving! To book in, call the office on 01342 823011.

14/11/2024

We are delighted to announce we will be offering fortnightly INDIBA clinics here at Priors Farm from mid-November onwards hosted by our in-house Veterinary Physiotherapist Katie. Sessions will be offered on a first come-first served basis and are at a discounted rate of £80 per session.

INDIBA is a therapeutic device which uses a 448Hz radiofrequency to stimulate tissue healing and repair, improving blood flow and reducing pain and discomfort. It is backed by peer-reviewed evidence, making it an increasingly popular treatment option for soft tissue injuries and osteoarthritis, as well as a supportive therapy for horses in work. The treatment method is FEI approved so easy to fit around a busy competition schedule as well!

Courses of six sessions booked and paid for in advance are also subject to a 10% discount at the time of booking.

If you’d like to book your horse in for treatment on a clinic day or out at your yard, then please phone the office on 01342 823011.

17/10/2024

Have you heard the hype about Omega 3? Not just relevant to humans, the science behind dietary fatty acids is coming on leaps and bounds in the equine world with the predictable accompanying myriad of supplements.

Omega 3 fatty acids are commonly found in quality forage and have an essential role to play in the anti-inflammatory process. Inflammation is a natural response to injury or infection but too much inflammation, or inflammation that lasts too long can cause further discomfort, dysfunction or damage. A diet high in Omega 3 reduces inflammation, helping to improve comfort and reduce inflammation in the respiratory, gastric and musculoskeletal system.

In contrast, Omega 6 fatty acids are all about the pro-inflammatory response, and if the balance between the two types is wrong you can actually hinder rather than help! Ideally they are fed in a 1:1 ratio so picking your supplement well is important.
OmegaPro is a great supplement to support your horse’s wellbeing, especially if they are prone to chronic inflammatory conditions such as dermatitis or asthma.

10/10/2024

Less than three weeks to go until our Junior Vets Open Day on 28th October! We have divided attendees into two groups, 9am-12pm and 1pm-4pm. Please contact the office on 01342823011 to confirm which group your child has been placed into and provide your email address so we can send you the full details of the schedule and a list of what they will need to wear and bring. We look forward to seeing you all on the day!

03/10/2024

Less than one month to go until our Junior Vets Open Day!

This is your last call to book a free space for your 7-18 year olds to join us for a three hour demo and discussion activity session where we show them what it’s like to do what we do! Please phone the office on 01342 823011 before 5:30pm Friday (tomorrow) to book a place. Please remember younger children will need to be accompanied by an adult.

Once we have a full list of names we will notify you of groups and timings to ensure everyone has a chance to get involved.

10/09/2024

We are very fortunate to be able to provide excellent surgical facilities here at our practice which enable us to perform more complex procedures under general anaesthetic. We work with several of the UK’s top orthopaedic, ENT, dental, ophthalmic and soft tissue specialist surgeons and hospitals to be able to offer you and your horse the very best elective surgery here at the practice, keeping travel local for clients and thus enabling you to visit regularly during the post-op period as well as being able to offer more consistent post-op care with our small team who our clients already know well.

If your horse is booked in for surgery under general anaesthetic there are several ways you can help to prepare for their say. The first is by to bring a clean cotton sheet and some feed from home as, while we can offer a variety of feeds here, most horses generally prefer what they’re used to.
Please remember to bring any of your horse’s regular medications and supplements, and their passport is required for admission. All horses must be up to date with their tetanus vaccinations prior to surgery.

All horses going into theatre need to be clean and well-groomed as any loose dirt or hair poses a contamination risk in theatre. We always take every possible measure to keep our surgical field sterile to reduce infection and this all starts with a clean horse. Even if they’re in for back surgery, muddy legs can carry dirt in so thoroughly grooming them prior to arrival at the practice is a huge help. If the weather permits, we’d recommend a bath for most horses to remove dirt from their skin before we clip and prepare the surgical site ourselves before surgery. We also regularly clip a patch of hair on the neck for intravenous medications as well as on the face to be able to apply our monitoring equipment.

No horses going into theatre are allowed to wear shoes. While we can remove shoes prior to their procedure it can be easier if you have these removed in the days before by your own farrier, you will be advised on discharge when it will be safe and appropriate for shoes to go back on.

After surgery the surgeon or anaesthetist will be in touch with an update on your horse and advice on when you can visit them yourselves. Please note inpatients can only be visited during office opening hours as a member of staff will need to be here to meet you.

05/09/2024

Have you ever thought about becoming a vet? With Back to School in full swing, we are already looking ahead to the next Half Term on Monday 28th October when we are hosting a Junior Vets Open Day all about what we do. The day will be led by two of our vets, Sarah and Emily, who will talk attendees through what our day to day life is like, demonstrate and allow them to get hands on with a clinical exam and some games to test their skills as a vet.

The day is open to ages 7-18 and we will be running 1-2 three hour sessions depending on interest level. As usual, the event is free to attend, small children will require a parent or guardian to remain with them and goodie bags will be given out! We hope this will be an opportunity for young people to ask their burning vet questions and learn a bit about what we do.

To sign up please call the office on 01342 823011.

29/08/2024

Just like a confectionary aisle in the supermarket, tack room and feed shop shelves are often lined with bright, colourful packets of pony treats. With everything from flavoured licks to low-calorie cookies there is a whole range of options for treating your equine and knowing when, how and how much is very important.

The first thing to remember is that horse treats are not a complete food, although they do contain sugar and nutrients which will contribute to your horse’s complete caloric intake for the day. If they’re a good-doer or have a known laminitis risk such as suffering from PPID it is especially wise to be cautious in the quantities and types of treats you feed. Checking packaging for ingredients and sugar content can help you choose your treats more wisely, but remember natural treats like carrots and apples contain sugar too and should be fed in moderation.

Carrots and apples are a staple for lots of us to have in our pockets, but remember older horses and those with dental issues may struggle to chew them effectively so cutting them into slim lengths or very small pieces can make them easier to swallow safely, reducing the risk of choke.
Well-timed delivery of treats can be a game-changer as a reward for good behaviours and distractions during difficult moments (such as vaccinations which can be intimidating for some horses). They can be used as part of clicker training and other positive reinforcement training methods as well as for making friends and building trust with more nervous horses.

Stable licks (with or without molasses) can often be very high in sugar and are not suitable to be left in stables of horses who are overweight or at risk of laminitis. These are not the same as salt licks, which can encourage horses to drink and are helpful for horses to regulate their electrolyte balance.

You’ll often notice our vets carrying molasses licks in the car which help to distract and calm horses enabling us to safely carry out minor procedures, or can be used for luring their head movements to assess their flexibility as part of an examination. Using these appropriately as a positive tool can not only improve animal behaviour and welfare but also keep handlers and vets safer during the course of our work.

Do you have a favourite treat to feed your horse?

27/08/2024

With back-to-school on the horizon, many of the ponies who’ve worked hard at camp and show all Summer are probably looking forward to a slightly quieter routine in the coming months. While a bit of R&R can do us all some good, keeping those good-doers from getting too rotund can become a daunting task when daylight hours begin to dwindle and are filled with school, sports and a social life.

Lunging is a great skill for all young riders to develop, while more intensive than hacking and schoolwork it can be easy to set up and a great time-saver for getting ponies working. Remember that due to the circular movement there is increased pressure on joints on the inside of the circle, so make sure ponies are worked evenly on both sides, warmed up and cooled down appropriately and only use this form of exercise if they are comfortable. Once comfortable with the basic principle it is useful to include low poles or jumps to encourage good movement and provide some variety to the exercise.
Older ponies who suffer from arthritis, or those with other forms of joint disease may struggle with lunging so if you’re going to include this in your exercise plan make sure to use bigger circles with longer warm ups, and reduce the frequency of the exercise to allow adequate recovery.

Ride and lead is another time-efficient practice to work on when the dusk is fast-approaching. Always ensure your horses are appropriately equipped with hi-vis and bridles and choose quieter times if riding on the roads. Exercising two horses at once means you save time and they can offer companionship and emotional support to each other if one is prone to being nappy.

Adapting turnout to a track-system style can encourage movement and keep ponies fitter whilst also reducing the grazing area overall. Herd turnout will naturally encourage ponies to move and interact more, helping to keep those pesky pounds at bay!

Developing routines (such as filling all the hay nets, adding extra bedding and completing the bulk of poo-picking at weekends) can help to make your hours at the yard after school more efficient, meaning you can spend more time giving ponies the TLC they deserve. Regardless of whether they’re being ridden or not they will still require regular grooming, feeding and checking for injuries or illness all year round.

However you choose to keep your ponies trim, our vets are always on hand to offer advice and guidance if needed. To get in touch with a vet please call the office on 01342 823011.

22/08/2024

Are you interested in becoming a vet? Every year, prospective vets-to-be contact the practice to request placement with us to see what being an equine vet is all about. Whilst we try to prioritise current vet students who need to fulfil their University requirements for Extra Mural Studies (EMS) we often have spaces for students who have completed their A-levels and are hoping to start a course in Veterinary Medicine or Veterinary Nursing in the future. For insurance purposes at the practice we are unable to accept students under the age of 18.

On a typical week of placement with us, students arrive on the Monday morning and are given a tour of the facilities and a health and safety induction. We use this opportunity to chat and work out what their learning objectives are of the week and what their experience level is when it comes to equine practice. This helps us to place them with vets and cases which will help to support their progress to becoming fully fledged vets like us!

If you see a student out in one of our cars please do say hello! It can be intimidating spending week after week at new practices, learning new skills, routines and faces and for the most part the students do a fantastic job of adapting to this. Any students performing any skills are always supervised and guided by the vets and we always ask your permission before involving them with clinical work. While it is an important opportunity for them to practice (as we did when we were students) we will always put horse welfare first and make sure they are supported with our vets ready to help and guide as needed.

If you’re interested in booking placement with us then please email the practice at [email protected]

01/08/2024

With the odd day of “real Summer” sneaking in more and more regularly, many of us are becoming more cautious about travelling our horses. Most boxes and trailers in the UK don’t have air-con so how do we make sure our horses are comfortable and safe?

The important thing to remember is journey time, especially in a trailer it is vital to keep this shorter (ideally no more than four hours), or to stop and have regular water breaks. Soaking hay prior to travel can reduce the dust produced which helps asthmatic horses and can also keep them better hydrated if they aren’t keen on drinking.

Not over-rugging and keeping jerry cans of water to splash over hot horses is a must (as well as some to drink), as if you become stuck in traffic they can overheat easily. As with all road travel, it is useful to carry hi-viz vests for all passengers and a warning triangle to alert motorists to give you space if you break down. Having specific trailer insurance or a horsebox policy which covers alternative transport in the event of your vehicle breaking down will ensure that your horses can continue their journey even if there’s a problem.

Remember if you do break down on a motorway or in a dangerous location you MUST call 101 to alert the police so they can assist you. Don’t lower the ramp, even to increase airflow, as if horses panic they can escape and end up in the path of oncoming traffic. Having the What3Words app downloaded to help give your specific location saves valuable time in bringing help.

If you have any questions about travelling your horse safely in the heat please do get in touch on 01342823011.

25/07/2024

School is out, the sun is… sort of… out and that can mean only one thing: Pony Club Camp!

Whether this is your first rodeo or you’ve packed a pony and child off every year it’s important to make sure they’re set up for a safe and successful week of fun. Good preparation is the key to an easy week, regardless of whether it is a day or residential camp you’ve booked.

To avoid falling at the first hurdle, make sure your pony’s vaccinations are up-to-date according to the Pony Club guidelines (available here https://branches.pcuk.org/zetland/useful-information/ )_
Please remember ponies must have received their most recent vaccination no less than 7 days prior to arriving at camp, and pack that passport in a waterproof case for the journey to keep it protected and legible if it gets dropped!

At the start of camp the ponies are usually trotted up to assess comfort and lameness, your tack should be clean and well-fitted to your pony and in good condition (that means no baler-twine holding the buckles together- I’m serious!). Pack more than one saddle pad so they have an opportunity to air out between uses, this helps to keep skin healthy under the saddle all week. Practice your trotting up skills (remember your hat and gloves) and make sure your pony knows it isn’t a flat race straight into the next county, there are no prizes for loose horses on day one!

When packing your kit, remember a first aid box. This should include basic wound cream, bandaging materials and any regular medications your horse takes. Scissors are vital for cutting bandage materials and a few human plasters and antihistamines come in handy for the riders too! Include inside the lid of your first aid box a list of emergency contacts. This should have parents’ numbers, farrier and vet details should they be needed in an emergency.
Remember camp week is probably the busiest week of the year for most ponies, making sure they’re fit enough before they go and taking plenty of water buckets and sponges/scrapers to cool them down is vital. Ensuring you’ve packed enough hay and feed (it helps to portion it out before you go) and that supplements are well labelled before they get mixed up on arrival makes a huge difference to the ease of feeding time.

Wherever your ponies and their young jockeys are off to this Summer, we are always here to help with any questions you may have. Have fun and stay safe at camp this year!

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

Website

http://www.priorsfarm.co.uk/

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