Veterinary Associates Equine

30/05/2026

26/05/2026

Another great update from one of out sponsored riders Racheal Sutton -

March and April have been a busy couple of months with plenty of progress. In March, I headed to Taupō with a couple of the horses for Nationals 2026, feeling a little test rusty after our February trip south for Waikato Champs ended with our classes being rained out!

Jadoo SS was incredibly consistent throughout the Medium Gold classes, sitting comfortably in the mid-60s and mid-field all week - exactly where we expected him to be following a month off through January with a splint. Even with less-than-ideal preparation, his focus and willingness in the arena was commendable - He gives absolutely everything every time we head down the centreline.

Qualiano stepped out at Advanced Medium for only his second show of the season. While he had a few nerves to work through early on, by the final day he really started to settle and show some of his best work yet, finishing the show feeling far more confident and established at the level.

In April, we took our lovely little Aristide (pictured) along to Auckland Manukau Dressage Group Amateur Champs where he stepped out at Medium Tour - placing 2nd in both his classes. At 17, to see him continue to improve in terms of work, scores and feedback at this baby GP level, is so incredibly rewarding.
We have one more show with the 2 big boys in May before throwing ourselves into Winter training!

25/05/2026

Vet Associates Equine had the pleasure of opening our facilities for the NZFA NZ Farriers Association "Shoeing The Modern Sport Horse" seminar and practical sessions held by the one and only Spud Allison. With the company of many fellow farriers from all across New Zealand and Australia, the turnout of attendees totaled around 50 people.

Spud has shod for the show jumping British team for the Olympics/World Championships and many other world famous horses for many years. Including Big Star - a Gold Medal winning showjumper. He did a fantastic talk focusing on careful assessment of the horses and surfaces they are working. His eye for detail was impressive, and he explained complicated imbalances in a simple way! It was a privilege to have him teaching and to be able to listen to his words of wisdom.

Special mention to Ryan Lim for his input in organising this. He had the incredible vision, and it came together beautifully. Thank you also to Fiber Fresh Equine - New Zealand for the great lunch!

It's truly something special to have so many equine professionals come together to further grow and share the knowledge and education that drives the equine industry in such a positive way. We are honored to be part of a group in which the horses' wellbeing always comes first. We look forward to working with you all again.

19/05/2026

Introducing the wonderful Esther Van Herwaarden 🌟

Esther has recently joined the Vet Associates Equine Kumeu team.
Originally from the Netherlands, she grew up surrounded by animals and was competing in showjumping almost every weekend. Esther brings a mountain of knowledge with her. Following her veterinary degree at Ghent University in Belgium, she completed an equine internship in Matamata and worked at several equine clinics in Australia and New Zealand. The last 4 years she has been working at one of the larger equine hospitals in the Netherlands where she developed a special interest in equine medicine and dentistry. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time outdoors, preferably surrounded by furry friends.

We are thrilled to have Esther join our VA family and help us continue to provide exceptional care to your horses. Please be sure to say hello if you see her out and about 👋

07/05/2026

We are incredibly honored to donate to such an important cause and support an amazing community 💙🐎
Be sure to check out the main post on the Pakuranga Hunt Inc page to follow along and get amongst all the action!

28/04/2026

It is always such a treat for us to attend NZ Equine Academy. Vet Associates Equine is all about sharing knowledge and tips on how to best care for your equine friend. It's fantastic to see so many individuals keen to grow in the equine industry. 🐎📖

23/04/2026

Another great update from Kaitlin!

"Recently I competed at the North Island Interschool Dressage Championships representing ACG Strathallan with Jack in the Strath White team, and Jimmy in the Strath Blue team. Both of the teams had a great show with the White team winning overall, and the Blue team coming 4th. A couple of personal highlights were Jimmy winning one of his tests by 4.3% in a class of over 20 people, and Jack getting a new personal best at 3A.

The following week I then headed over to Tamworth in New South Wales to compete in the New South Wales Mini Trotting State Championships. I got to drive lots of amazing ponies thanks to some very generous owners. It was such an amazing experience getting to race overseas making so many amazing memories and new friendships. A few of the racing highlights were:
- 2nd in the Saturday consolation with Zorro
- 1st in the last Sunday Heat with Zorro
- Qualified for the Sunday Final with Zorro
- 6th in the Club Challenge with Storm (off a handicap of 350m!)"

15/04/2026

Some great photos of Meadow at the Pegasus Cup 2026. 📸🏆
Meadow and her fellow school team (Kaipara College) came first out of 51 schools. This also means they have successfully secured a trip to Melbourne to train and compete later this year. Cody was also very well behaved to place 2nd in the Young Horse Award for the second year in a row!

13/04/2026

Vet Associates Equine are thrilled to announce our new General Manager.

Introducing Corey Regnerus-Kell

Corey has recently been appointed General Manager of Vet Associates Equine, bringing extensive experience across veterinary medicine, executive leadership, and operational transformation. In addition to his veterinary qualification, he has led large, multidisciplinary teams and complex service environments, with a strong focus on building trusted relationships, strengthening organizational systems, and delivering high‑quality outcomes for clients and communities. Corey is looking forward to connecting with suppliers and business partners, understanding how they contribute to the practice’s success, and working together to support exceptional care for clients and their horses throughout the wider Auckland Region.

Outside of supporting the team at VAE, he lives on a lifestyle block with his husband, 1.5 year old daughter and 4 year old son. He has pretty much every animal you would find at the zoo; from Ostriches and Llama, Quail and Dwarf Goats, to the essential farm dogs and cats. But no horses... yet! We will change that! Fun fact however, he did ride Western Saddle for the University of Florida Equestrian team before coming to NZ. Feel free to have a chat with him the next time you are in the Karaka clinic, or when he is visiting the Kumeu and Warkworth sites.

24/03/2026

The Dreaded Laminitis...

If you haven't experienced it for yourself, you probably know someone who has.
Lets talk about it!

🤔What is Laminitis?
Laminitis is a serious and extremely painful condition that affects the sensitive laminae inside your horse’s hoof, the structures that support the pedal bone. When these tissues become inflamed and damaged, it can lead to instability within the hoof, and, in severe cases, rotation or sinking of the pedal bone.

So what causes laminitis to occur?
Numerous triggers can lead to laminitis, including (but not limited to):
- Rich pasture or grain overload
- Sudden dietary changes
- Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS)
- PPID (Cushing’s disease)
- Retained placenta
- Severe illness or infection
- Excess weight-bearing on one limb

👀 How do I know if my horse has laminitis? What do I look out for?
Early detection is critical! Watch for:
- Reluctance to move or turning stiffly
- A “rocked back” stance (weight shifted onto the hind end)
- Heat in the hooves
- A strong or bounding digital pulse
- Lameness, especially on hard ground
- Lying down more than usual

🩹What can I do to help my horse?
If you suspect laminitis:
- Remove from pasture immediately
- Stable on deep, supportive bedding
- Restrict feed to low-sugar hay (no grain)
- Minimise movement
- Call your vet promptly

If you notice any of the above signs, call your vet immediately. Laminitis is an emergency. With early veterinary intervention, we can often significantly improve outcomes and reduce long term damage. Radiographs, pain relief, foot support, dietary management and a report for your farrier are often key parts of treatment and management. Laminitis can escalate rapidly, so don't wait it out. If you are ever unsure, it's safer to give your vet a call and make a plan of action. Vet Associates Equine are always here to help.

Below are some examples attached.

1) In the first x-ray it shows a chronic case of a pony with cushings and laminitis.
The hoof wall and pedal bone are no longer in alignment, meaning there has been rotation of the pedal bone within the hoof capsule. The angle of the pedal bone is now well over 10 degrees when in a normal horse it might be optimally 3 - 5 degrees. The tip of the pedal bone is remodeled due to this being of a chronic (long term) nature, and the pedal bone has had to remodel due to the pressure placed on the tip.

2) The second image shows where the pedal bone angle, and that of the hoof wall, are very different as the pedal bone has rotated - green lines.
The pink line under the pedal bone also shows the pedal bone angle to be above the optimal 3 - 5 degrees. Additionally there is a gas pocket in the laminae at the toe, as chronic abscessation is not uncommon when horses with laminitis rotate their pedal bones.

3) Image 3 shows an ideal hoof alignment. The pedal bone and dorsal wall of the hoof are parallel. There is good sole depth under the tip of the pedal bone and the pedal bone angle is within the optimal 3-5 degrees.