Shotter & Byers Equine Veterinary Services

12/05/2026

📢 Planned Maintenance Notice

Please be advised that from 5pm today, we will be carrying out a planned maintenance update to our practice management system.

During this time, access to our diary, customer records, and patient files will be temporarily unavailable. However, our phone lines and email services will remain fully operational.

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your patience while these essential updates are completed.

Please do continue to contact us by phone should you have any emergency requirements during this time.

Thank you,
Shotter & Byers

18/04/2026

April 2026 has seen a concerning rise of Equine Influenza (Flu) cases in the UK. Including an outbreak in Berkshire and an outbreak announced yesterday in Surrey.

Five of the horses have recently been imported and two of the horses are vaccinated. Resident horses have been affected. (Source: Equine Infectious Disease surveillance).

This is a stark reminder that horses with symptoms of fever and/or cough and/or nasal discharge should be taken seriously, and testing and isolation initiated early on. This includes in vaccinated horses.

When risk is considered increased, bringing forward a horses annual booster may be of protective benefit.

Reassuringly, Shotter and Byers Equine are using one of the most superior flu vaccinations available.

What can you do?

- Please monitor your horses carefully, including taking temperatures if they don’t appear their normal selves.
- Practice strict biosecurity measures when moving between yards or events.
- ⁠Consider boostering your horses immunity by bringing forward their vaccination.
- ⁠Please don’t hesitate to contact the practice if you would like some advice from a vet or a check-up.

30/03/2026

🐣 Easter Weekend Opening Hours 🐣

Please note our hours over the Easter period:

Thursday 2nd April – Emergency out of hours service from 6pm
Friday 3rd April – Emergency out of hours service
Saturday 4th April – Emergency out of hours service
Sunday 5th April – Emergency out of hours service
Monday 6th April – Emergency out of hours service
Tuesday 7th April – Normal opening hours

Wishing all our clients a safe, relaxing, and happy Easter! 🌷☀️🍫

27/03/2026

We’re delighted to welcome our newest vet, Georgia Hespe BVetMed MRCVS, to the team! 🐎

Georgia graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2022 and has since gained valuable experience working in an equine ambulatory practice in South Yorkshire before joining Shotter & Byers in February 2026.

With a background as a polo groom during her university years, Georgia has a particular passion for all aspects of polo work, alongside caring for a wide range of horses and clients. Her professional interests include lameness and poor performance investigations.

Outside of work, you’ll most likely find Georgia enjoying the outdoors whether that’s walking her rescue dog, Chips, or spending time with friends.

Please join us in giving Georgia a warm welcome! 👋

26/03/2026

We’d like to apologise to our clients for any issues experienced with our out-of-hours answering service in recent weeks. We understand how important it is to feel supported and confident when contacting us in an emergency, and we are deeply sorry that the service did not meet the high standards our clients expect and deserve.

As a result, we have taken immediate action and have changed our out-of-hours provider to Equicomms. Their team is made up of fully trained veterinary nurses and equine veterinary technicians. This means that when you call, your situation will be handled by someone who not only takes your call efficiently but also has a clear and professional understanding of the nature and urgency of equine emergencies.

We are confident this change will significantly improve your experience and ensure you receive the level of care and reassurance you expect from us at any time of day.

Please be assured that our out-of-hours veterinary services will still be provided by our usual team of vets.

Thank you for your continued trust and understanding – The Shotter & Byers Team

08/03/2026

Today we’re celebrating International Women’s Day and the incredible women who make Shotter & Byers what it is. 💙

While Murray and Mike might be the faces of the practice, the truth is they’re supported every single day by an amazing team of women who keep everything running smoothly. In fact, we’re almost an entirely female practice!

Today we celebrate them, and we’re so grateful to have such an inspiring group of women at the heart of our practice.

05/02/2026

29/01/2026

🐴✨ Equine America Vet Range ✨🐴

We’re pleased to let our clients know that if you’re interested in purchasing from the Equine America Vet Range, you can now do so with our exclusive referral code 💙

From joint support to digestive health and performance supplements, the Vet Range offers targeted nutritional solutions to keep your horse feeling and performing at their best 🏇🌟

📩 Email us at [email protected] to receive our unique referral code before placing your order.

Supporting your horse’s health every step of the way 🐎💚

29/01/2026

📢 Important Update: Changes to the Care About Cushing’s Scheme (from February 2026)

Shotter & Byers would like to make our clients aware of upcoming changes to the Care About Cushing’s PPID testing scheme, coming into effect from February 2026.

These updates affect the availability of FREE* diagnostic testing and introduce a new dose-checker test to support earlier monitoring of treatment.

🐴 What’s Changing?

🗓️ Focused Testing Periods
FREE* diagnostic PPID testing will now only be available during:

🌱 March & April (spring - when laminitis risk is highest)

🍂 September & October (autumn - when ACTH testing is most accurate)

Please note: vouchers generated in January 2026 will still be honoured for processing in February.

🧪 NEW FREE Dose-Checker Test*
A FREE* dose-checker test will be available 4-6 weeks after starting Prascend® treatment, allowing us to assess response to treatment much sooner rather than waiting six months for the first monitoring test.

🔄 Ongoing Monitoring
Horses receiving treatment will continue to be eligible for a FREE* annual monitoring test, available 12 months after the dose-checker test.

📣 Boehringer Ingelheim will also be running owner awareness campaigns in spring and autumn to encourage testing in older horses showing signs of PPID.

⚠️ If your older horse is showing signs such as laminitis, a long or curly coat, weight loss, or lethargy, please contact the Shotter & Byers team to discuss whether testing is appropriate.

06/01/2026

Sharing a few moments from the London New Year’s Day Parade, where Mike was on duty providing veterinary cover for the incredible horses and ponies taking part in the All The Queen’s Horses section. 🐴✨

We’re incredibly proud that Shotter & Byers Equine Veterinary Services can support this spectacular event year after year. It’s always a privilege and a fantastic way to ring in the New Year. 🎉🐎