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.

Is your horse on a regular medication?⁠⁠If so, this is a friendly reminder to ensure you have an adequate amount of his ...
07/12/2025

Is your horse on a regular medication?⁠

If so, this is a friendly reminder to ensure you have an adequate amount of his or her medication to last the duration of the busy Christmas and New Year period.⁠

Please get in contact with our office 03 5975 6586 if you wish to stock up over the Christmas & New Year period!

Hoof balance is a common source of equine lameness. Correct trimming and shoeing are therefore two of the most important...
05/12/2025

Hoof balance is a common source of equine lameness. Correct trimming and shoeing are therefore two of the most important influences on the soundness of a horse.

A correctly trimmed and shod hoof should be functionally and biomechanically efficient.

Just remember, prevention is better than cure.

Why conditioning your horse matters 🐴💪Competition day is full of new sounds, new sights and a totally different routine ...
05/12/2025

Why conditioning your horse matters 🐴💪

Competition day is full of new sounds, new sights and a totally different routine — imagine being pulled out of your comfort zone and expected to perform at 100%!
Your horse feels the same.

Conditioning isn’t just about fitness. It’s about preparing their muscles, tendons, ligaments, bones AND mind for different environments and surfaces.

So switch things up:
• ride in a paddock
• hit the trails
• let them experience new places, noises and routines
• yes… even those flapping flags on the neighbour’s fence 😉

Consistency, patience and exposure = a confident, strong, competition-ready horse.

🌞 Keeping Our Equine Friends Cool During Hot Weather! 🐴🌿With temperatures on the rise, it’s essential to keep our horses...
03/12/2025

🌞 Keeping Our Equine Friends Cool During Hot Weather! 🐴🌿

With temperatures on the rise, it’s essential to keep our horses comfortable and healthy.

Here are some crucial tips for caring for your horse during hot weather:

1️⃣ Hydration is Key
Ensure your horse has constant access to fresh, cool water. Encourage drinking by adding electrolyte solutions if needed, especially after exercise.

2️⃣ Shade and Shelter
Provide shaded areas, whether natural or created, where horses can escape the sun. Use run-in sheds or trees to help them stay cool.

3️⃣ Adjust Feeding Times
Feed hay during the cooler parts of the day (early morning or late evening) to prevent overheating from digestion during peak heat hours.

4️⃣ Monitor Body Temperature
Keep an eye on your horse’s temperature, respiration rate, and heart rate. A normal temp is around 37-38.5°C
Call our Vet on Call on 📞 5975 6586 if you notice any signs of heat stress or illness.

5️⃣ Limit Exercise
Avoid intense workouts during peak heat. Opt for early morning or late evening for riding and exercise.

6️⃣ Cooling Techniques
Use fans, misters, or even a cool sponge bath to help lower body temperature. Make sure to focus on areas with large blood vessels, like the neck and legs. Scrape off excess water and re-hose as required.

7️⃣ Signs of Heat Stress
Watch for excessive sweating, rapid breathing, distress, or lethargy. Immediate action is crucial if you see these symptoms. Do you know what your horses ‘normal’ vital signs are?

8️⃣ Fly Control
Keep your horse comfortable from pesky flies and insects, which can be more active in the heat.
Use fly sheets, fly masks, and repellents as necessary.
Check out our online store for some great option.

Remember, safety comes first for our four-legged companions. Please consult with our Vets if you have any concerns and to ensure your horse stays happy and healthy this summer!



Feel free to share your tips for keeping horses cool in the comments below! 🐎💕

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]

Address

25 Leilani Court
Mornington, VIC
3931

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