My fascination with horses stems from my dad’s long-term interest in National Hunt Racing, which figures prominently in even my earliest memories. Over the years, we have been lucky to have owned some great horses and to have had some brilliant wins, which contributed to the love of working with horses that I have today.

I left university in 2012 and worked first of all in Devon, where I developed my veterinary skills in both farm animal and equine work, necessarily concentrating mostly on the former during my first year before making the decision to move into solely equine work thereafter. I enjoy working up challenging medical cases, but also put a lot of pride and effort into my equine dentistry – something I know some vets shy away from but about which I am very passionate.

When, towards the end of 2015, I got the chance to join the great team at Evolution to help them to further develop their equine services, it seemed very made-to-measure. It also meant that I could stay in the West Country, which I have grown to love, making the future look very bright!

After graduating from UCD, Dublin in 2017 I did an internship in a at Bourton Vale Equine Clinic in the Cotswolds where I developed my interest in stud work and I truly fell in love with being a stud vet. I had concentrated on seeing practice focussing on stud work in both Ireland and in Kentucky, USA during my time at UCD. Having spent a stud season in Australia I joined the team at Evolution Vets in February 2019. I am studying for an Advanced Practitioners Certificate in stud medicine and I hope to grow and develop the stud case load in the practise further in the coming years.

My Mum always says that, if it hadn’t been for horses, I would never have become a vet. When I was 15, I had a bad riding accident which kept me off school for a term and put an end to riding for a whole 12 months  So, instead of schooling my horse for one-day events, I bred a foal from her . .  and did lots of studying, meaning that I got the grades to go to vet school! I still have the ‘foal’ (see above) - though through lack of time she is now out on loan, having a great time in a very good home.

I still dream that I will eventually own a hunter and do a bit of hunting, maybe when my son starts school. . .  In the meantime, I will content myself with treating other people’s horses!

My first experience of riding horses was being hoist aboard an Australian Stock Horse to muster cattle and sheep in the outback. I quickly appreciated the calmer response amongst the animals being gathered, compared to using motorbikes and helicopters. There were helmets, but no training, technique or style, so I got on with it. I graduated from mustering to drafting and tried some quarter horse work, although this was a bit terrifying for my liking! Since then Heidi, my wife, has kept me in touch with equines, including overseeing my return to the saddle for some much less frenzied riding around Somerset.

Miles is our practice manager. His is the thankless task of ensuring that the wheels of our busy practice run smoothly – despite our seemingly-best efforts at getting them to run so fast that they drop off! Well-liked by the clients, he gets satisfaction from ensuring that our service is top-notch and takes pride in getting our fortnightly deliveries out on time, with minimum mistakes.

When not working, he can be found on the Quantocks taking photographs or enjoying a ‘wee dram’ (or two) with his farmer-friends . . . unless it’s a skittles night. A skittles night is, of course, for skittles only.

Chosen from a huge number of applicants for her job as Miles' assistant, Jo joined us mid-2013 - and it wasn't long before we wondered how we had ever managed without her! She supports Miles with great efficiency in the day-to-day running of the office ordering meds, taking phone calls, putting up orders - and has also taken on responsibility for checking and paying all of our invoices. Amongst all this, she also manages to fit in almost anything else that is thrown at her during our necessarily-turbulent days.

A person of talents, Jo "treads the boards" at the Town Hall with Bridgwater Pantomime Society and J H Performers (who raise money for local charity Brainwave). She also gives a mean performance as a singer - watch out Whitney!

Although she has lived down here for almost 30 years, you will recognise her on the phone by her Brummie accent. Jo lives in Bridgwater with her partner (recently promoted to fiance!), Ziggy and her white German Shepherd, Miko.