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REC-Canberra Equine Centre

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Springrange, NSW
REC-Canberra Equine Centre

REC-Canberra Equine Centre offers a specialist level consultancy service at Capricorn Park located on the outskirts of Canberra.

This new and exciting veterinary equine service is headed by Dr Raf Labens and supported by Dr Gideon Stemmet. The practice’s core service is to provide first and second opinion evaluations for any issues your horse may develop relating to equine surgery, lameness, performance and rehabilitation. Offering specific expertise in lameness diagnosis, diagnostic imaging, outpatient surgery & oncology services, rehabilitation, wound management and on-farm/ambulatory consultations.

31/07/2026

🎂 𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 ‘𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹’ 𝗛𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝗕𝗶𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲𝘀 (𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗲𝘀)! Wishing them a day filled with extra treats and plenty of pats. From the team at REC Equine Specialists Canberra. 🎂

29/07/2026

We have had a handful of 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗰𝗸𝘄𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗽𝘆 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 become available at REC Equine Specialists Canberra (Capricorn Park) this Friday, 31 July. Contact our reception on 02 9399 7722 or Dr Raf directly 0483 291 860 to secure a booking.

𝐄𝐱𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐰𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐲 (𝐄𝐒𝐖𝐓) is a non-invasive treatment procedure that uses focused high energy waves (pulses) to assist in stimulating tissue turnover, new blood vessel formation and enhance healing. It also has short term analgesic (pain relieving) properties.

Common uses:
🔸Ligament & tendon injuries
🔸Back pain
🔸Osteoarthritis

How it works: High-frequency sound waves pe*****te the skin and are absorbed by the tissues, creating ‘micro-trauma’ that stimulates the body’s natural healing response by;
🔸Increasing blood flow
🔸Triggering tissue repair
🔸Reducing pain sensitivity

𝘚𝘩𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘸𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘺 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘦 𝘢𝘥𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘷𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘯.

27/06/2026

Dr Raf in action doing what he does best! Electroacupuncture combines traditional acupuncture with gentle electrical pulses to promote recovery, assist in pain management, and support overall musculoskeletal health.

15/06/2026

🐴Another busy day last Friday for REC Equine Specialists Canberra - Great clients, lovely horses, and perfect winter weather ☀️

14/05/2026

🍾 𝗖𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝟭 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗥𝗘𝗖 𝗘𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗮. This month marks an exciting milestone for REC Equine Specialists Canberra - our first year in operation. We would like to extend our sincere thanks to our Canberra clients & the wider equine community for your trust and support over the past 12 months.

Over the past year, we have had the privilege of working with a diverse range of horses and cases, and we are proud to have delivered specialist care across diagnostics, treatment, and ongoing management.

07/04/2026

🐴 𝗣𝗿𝗲-𝗽𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 (𝗣𝗣𝗘) 🐴 Buying a horse is not only an exciting milestone, but also a significant financial commitment. A Pre-Purchase Exam (PPE) is a vital step to ensure transparency, soundness, and suitability for the horse’s intended purpose offering you peace of mind. To schedule a pre-purchase examination in line with the equine veterinary industry (EVA) guidelines with our Canberra veterinary team call 0483 291 860

🔍 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗣𝗣𝗘?
A PPE is a comprehensive veterinary assessment that gives a snapshot of a horse’s current health and soundness. It’s not a pass/fail test, more so it’s about informed decision-making based on horses condition at the time of examination.

👨‍⚕️ 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲𝗱?
🔹 Detailed history taking
🔹 Full physical exam – an extensive clinical examination, with focus on the musculoskeletal system
🔹 Gait assessment – examined at walk, trot, turning, backing including flexion tests+/- under saddle
🔹 Optional diagnostic imaging (radiographs, ultrasound, endoscopy)
🔹 Optional Blood tests (drug screening)

🤝 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗕𝘂𝘆𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗮 𝗣𝗣𝗘:
🔸 Understand the horse’s health and any red flags
🔸 Align expectations with the horse’s capabilities
🔸 Possibly avoid costly surprises post-purchase
🔸 All information gathered during the PPE is confidential and remains the property of the prospective purchaser.

📋 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗣𝗣𝗘𝘀:
🔸 Builds trust and transparency
🔸 Shows good faith in disclosing health history
🔸 Helps match the horse with the right buyer
🔸 May speed up the sale process

19/03/2026

💥 𝗟𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗽𝘆 (also called laser ablation) is a veterinary technique used to treat various types of skin tumours in horses, such as sarcoids, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanomas. It is often chosen for areas where traditional surgery is difficult or where precision is important.

Laser surgery is typically undertaken in the sedated standing horse, aided by the use of local anaesthesia. A specialised surgical laser is used to cut and vaporize tumour tissue. The laser energy seals blood vessels and nerve endings as it works, reducing bleeding and pain. The laser precisely removes the tumour while minimising damage to surrounding healthy tissue.

𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀
🔹Precise: Targets only the tumor, sparing healthy tissue.
🔹Reduced Bleeding: Laser seals blood vessels during treatment.
🔹Lower Infection Risk: Heat sterilises the area as it works.
🔹Less Pain & Swelling: Nerve endings are sealed, improving comfort.
🔹Quick Recovery: Often faster than conventional surgery.

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀
🔹Requires specialised equipment and training

Call REC Equine Specialists Canberra 0483 291 860 to discuss whether laser treatment is the best treatment option for your horses tumour.

05/03/2026

💡𝗣𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗼𝗱𝘆𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗽𝘆 (𝗣𝗗𝗧) is a minimally invasive, adjunctive treatment for tumors in horses. A two-step process that leverages a photosensitising agent plus laser light to selectively destroy residual tumour cells beyond surgical margins.

1️⃣ A photosensitising drug is applied to affected areas (in horse applications it is typically applied to tumour resection beds or the cornea); the drug then accumulates inside cells.

2️⃣ Targeted light exposure – usually from a laser, at a very specific wavelength. This activates the drug thereby producing a highly reactive form of oxygen that:
🔹Destroys cancer cells directly
🔹Damages tumour blood vessels (cutting off supply)
🔹May stimulate the immune system to attack cancer cells

𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀
🔹Precise treatment modality for tumours affecting delicate/critical tissues often around the eye where excisional therapies alone are of limited utility.
🔹Treatment of resistant tumours

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀
🔹Intended to be single therapy but can be repeated
🔹Requires specialised equipment and training

Call REC Equine Specialists Canberra 0483 291 860 to discuss whether PDT is the best treatment option for your horse.

Check back with us soon for the final installment covering laser treatment.

19/02/2026

⚡ 𝗘𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗽𝘆 (𝗘𝗖𝗧) is an emerging veterinary cancer treatment offered at REC Equine Specialists Canberra. We recently discussed three common forms of equine skin tumours (sarcoids, melanomas and squamous cell carcinoma), ECT is particularly valuable for these skin and subcutaneous tumours that are difficult to remove surgically or are in sensitive locations.

ECT combines a chemotherapy drug (often a platinum based drug) with short, high‑intensity electrical pulses to make tumour cell membranes temporarily more permeable. This boosts the drug’s uptake into cancer cells, allowing it to work far more effectively at lower doses.

𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀
🔹Higher local drug effectiveness with lower systemic toxicity
🔹Minimally invasive/Shorter recovery time post intervention
🔹Useful for tumours resistant to other treatments

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀
🔹Multiple sessions typically needed for best results
🔹Works best on small to medium‑sized tumours
🔹Requires specialised equipment and training
🔹Horses typically require a short anaesthetic to allow procedure to be performed

Call REC Equine Specialists Canberra 0483 291 860 to discuss whether electrochemotherapy is the best treatment option for your horse.

Follow us for more insight into additional treatment options.

05/02/2026

🟣 SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA (SCC)
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗦𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗺𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗮 (𝗦𝗖𝗖)? A common and potentially aggressive cancer in horses, primarily affecting eyelids, ge***al areas, or mucocutaneous junctions. Particularly prevalent in non or lightly pigmented areas. Carcinoma is caused by exposure to carcinogens (cancer inducing agents) such as sunburn. Horses here in Australia are at greater risk due to our stronger sun. This risk factor is similar to that form human skin cancers.

🧬 Diagnosis: Clinical examination by an experienced veterinarian, a biopsy or fine needle aspiration (using a fine needle to collect cells) may also be taken for histopathological analysis.

⚕️SCC treatment can include:
🔸 Surgical removal
🔸 Electrochemotherapy
🔸 Photodynamic therapy
🔸 Cryosurgery
🔸 Radiation
🔸 Topical & intralesional treatments

Check back soon where will discuss the various skin tumor treatment options offered by REC Equine Specialists Canberra.

🐴 𝑅𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟, 𝑠𝑘𝑖𝑛 𝑡𝑢𝑚𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑠 𝑖𝑛 ℎ𝑜𝑟𝑠𝑒𝑠 𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 𝑎𝑙𝑤𝑎𝑦𝑠 𝑏𝑒 𝑑𝑖𝑎𝑔𝑛𝑜𝑠𝑒𝑑 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑦 𝑎 𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑓𝑖𝑒𝑑 𝑣𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑛. 𝐼𝑛𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑠ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑑 ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝑠 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑔𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑙 𝑎𝑤𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑛𝑙𝑦 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑖𝑠 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑎 𝑠𝑢𝑏𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑡𝑢𝑡𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑓𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑣𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑟𝑦 𝑎𝑑𝑣𝑖𝑐𝑒.

Address

Capricorn Park, 81 Capricorn Place
Springrange, NSW
2618

Telephone

+61483291860

Website

facebook.com

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