Veterinary Associates Equine

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Veterinary Associates Equine

A premier equine hospital in the heart of Karaka, renowned for advanced veterinary care and state-of-the-art facilities.

Our experienced team of specialists and dedicated vets serve Auckland, Warkworth & Kumeu, delivering exceptional care to every horse.

10/10/2025

Happy Vet Nurse Week! - Equine Edition 👩‍⚕️🐴

Where would we be without our amazing team of extraordinary nurses, in Karaka - Chelsea, Caitlyn, Tory, Casey, Michelle, Alex, Cheryle, and Chanelle. Kumeu - Tea, Erika & Dene and Warkworth - Kat & Jess. 💙

Vet Associates can’t thank you ladies enough for your constant dedication and drive to keep everything running smoothly. We admire your willingness to help out in the long hours and those not-so-pretty days out in the pouring rain! ⛈

Not only are you brilliant nurses, but you also go above and beyond — taking initiative, lending a hand wherever needed, and even helping to keep the practice looking shipshape and tidy. 🌟

Thank you for everything you do — we’re so lucky to have such an incredible team! 🥰

08/10/2025

A few weeks ago, our vet Felicity set off in the early morning all the way down to Taupo to give a helping hand in gelding some of the Kaimanawas under the Kaimanawa Legacy Foundation

We were happy to donate our time for the cause and it proved to be very sucsessful. Credit is due to the amazing team of trainers and Kelly Wilson that we could do so much with them only a few weeks out from the wild! 🐴🌟

Felicity was more then eager to get involved as shes always had a special place in her heart for Kaimanawas. At a young age Felicity took on a Kaimanawa from a muster, broke it in and raised it to be a perfect kids pony. She can't express enough how much of a rewarding experience it was. She highly recommends them as great horses to add to the family.

There are some beautiful young horses who are currently looking for homes. If your thinking about maybe adding one to your team please get in touch with Kelly Wilson and check outthe Kaimanawa Legacy Foundation page for constant updates and amazing opportunities.

Have a Kaimanawa of your own? Show us a photo in the comments below ⬇️

07/10/2025

🌟 North Island Eventing Development Camp Results! 🌟

What an incredible two days! Riders and horses came together from all over for a jam-packed event filled with discipline-based coaching, horse anatomy and nutrition seminars, and even a hands-on limb dissection and study session! 🐎🧠

We are so thrilled to have been able to support rider education. The more knowledge we can gain the better our horses health and welfare can be. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive — a huge thank you to everyone who participated, coached, and supported the event. It’s inspiring to see so much enthusiasm and passion for learning and development across all levels of eventing and horse care! 💪👏

Below are some of the feed back we have received! - Be sure to keep an eye out for next years event.

"What a fantastic opportunity. The instructors were top notch, and EVERYONE was friendly and helpful. The vibe of the camp was lovely all weekend"

"All of the presentations were also incredibly informative — from turnout tips and veterinary advice to equine nutrition and mindset strategies. It was excellent value for everything that was packed in!"

"The feedback from Ginny after the dressage gave me some really helpful pointers and exercises to work on during schooling. The show jumping session with Toni and Colin was a real confidence boost, and I really enjoyed the cross-country lesson with you, working on stringing fences together."

"It was the right mix of practical and theoretical information, and I particularly found it helpful applying the mental skills from the evening session with Savannah Stirling at the XC session on Sunday.
I would LOVE to see it continue and would love to see it better attended.’"

“I just had a best couple of days at Taupo and loved the format. Having a test to learn, or a SJ round to walk, and having the before and after help with that is a game changer. I found that it was so much easier to really focus on the advice and teaching because I had to put it into practice during the equivalent of a competition type setting"

"I just wanted to pass on my thanks for the wonderful ESNZ development event. My two children learnt so much and really enjoyed the two days. Also, thank you for everything that you’ve done behind the scenes. It was clear that everything was very well organised. Thanks for your expertise in eventing, Sam and Annabella were both stoked to have you coaching them!"

"‘It was Taylor's first go at 95 and she got so much out of it. She came away with goals and so much more knowledge that she can't wait to use this season. We are definitely keen to do more of these camps and hopefully next time my horse will be ready to be part of it too! Our thanks to the coaches and speakers, they were fantastic."

"‘Such valuable teaching going into the season"

02/10/2025

Vet Associates Equine is excited to introduce our new field vet Izzy Lee!

Izzy is originally from Herefordshire in the UK, where she was lucky enough to grow up around horses. She enjoyed eventing competitively but especially loved team chasing. She found an interest in the racing world and spent her weekends and university holidays riding out for various yards across England. Following graduating from the University of Liverpool she flew out to explore NZ and take a position at Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre where she undertook her internship and developed a keen interest in reproduction and sports horse medicine.
Izzy has now moved up to VA from the Waikato and is passionate about developing her skills in these areas further while spending her spare time exploring, hiking and running.

What a pleasure it is to have her join our team.
We know you will enjoy working with her as much as we do 🌟

15/09/2025

🚨Don't miss out on this awesome opportunity!!

We are honoured to be proud supporters and participants of this event.

Entries can be made on Evo Events and close on the 17th of September📩

12/09/2025

Is your calendar starting to be filled with show dates and upcoming outings with your horse? Now is the PERFECT time to book your horse in for a pre season W.O.F check with us at Vet Associates Equine. 🐴

The first step to success is ensuing your horse is at its peak health and well-being to perform well. Things can change over time that aren't always as obvious to the eye as we think. That's why we are here to help check over your team! 🩺

Listed on the flyer are a few (but not limited to) of the recommended checks to ensure your horse is at their optimal self for the season, and to minimise the risk of lameness.

We are all about supporting you and your horse, to get the very best out of the season. Much like you, we love the sound of success! 🏆

Interested in booking your horse in?
Don't hesitate to contact us now!

📞09 294 7307
📧[email protected]

10/09/2025

Our Sponsee Meadow, has recently sent a lovely update with some beautiful photos for us to share with you.

Heading into the upcoming season Meadow is super excited to have 6yo Cody for the season again. Her goal is to do some 6yo class series.
She also gratefully welcomed a beautiful mare called Weiti Zest (Zest) to her team. Meadow hopes to get out and about with her and settle nicely into the season as she's very green.

Over winter Meadow has been attending a few small winter shows with Cody and Apples who she is currently in the process of selling.

Looks like it will be an exciting season ahead for Meadow and her team, VA look forward to hearing all of the updates. Good Luck! 🏆

09/09/2025

We have received another outstanding update from our sponsee Kaitlin Barendregt!

The following are Kaitlin's recent results from the North Island Secondary Schools Equestrian Champs.

We had a super fun week down in Taupo for Denny’s first competition back since Pegasus Cup, and placed in all of our classes!

Individually we were 4th and 6th in out dressage tests, 1st in the 2-phase and 2nd in the accumulator show jumping, 5th in the arena eventing, 3rd in the show hunter, 1st in the 3 day event, and overall jumping pony for our height division!

I was also part of the Strathallan Blue team who were runner up in the dressage, 3rd in the arena eventing, runner up in the Manaakitanga (horsemanship and sportsmanship) challenge, and the winners of the overall teams competition!

The week before I also had a go at a pony scurry with Jack at Ruakākā where we got 3rd and best presented.

As always these are some fantastic results from Kaitlin and we couldn't be prouder 🌟

08/09/2025

Warkworth Gastroscope Day

Ulcers can affect performance, behaviour, and overall wellbeing. The gold standard for diagnosis is gastroscopy.

📅 Thursday 25th September our Warkworth branch are running a Gastroscope Special:

• No mileage fee
• No ground fee

Now is the ideal time to assess your horse’s gastric health before the season begins.

📞 Please call the clinic to secure your appointment – spaces are limited.

05/09/2025

Ella's preparing for take off ✈️

Although Vet Associates Equine will miss her presence until she’s with us again in a years time, we are thrilled for Ella Chappaz to embark on her next travel journey in just a few days.

Ella Joined VA back in 2020 being the second veterinarian to join our Kumeu Branch!
Having grown up all over the world with horses by her side, She found herself in New Zealand in 2013 to complete a bachelor of veterinary science at Massey University. Following Graduation she then pursued a 12 month internship in equine medicine and surgery at Massey Equine Veterinary Clinic. Here is where she developed a special interest in equine dentistry. Which a lot of you will know her to be amazing for! 🦷

We know our Kumeu clients will agree when we say, thank you Ella for continuously putting your heart into every horse you see and being a great vet with attention to detail.

This is not a goodbye but a see you later 👋
Have the very best time exploring more corners of the world🌍

04/09/2025

Early next week, we will be saying a very sad goodbye to our highly loved surgeon, Alex Fowler, as he prepares to jump the ditch and start his new chapter in Australia.

Alex has been with Vet Associates Equine for a dedicated six years now! He gained his veterinary science degree at Massey University, graduating in 2015. He then pursued an internship at the Pioneer Equine Hospital in the Central Valley of Northern California followed by a residency in equine surgery at North Carolina State University. After he finished his residency, he moved back to NZ to join the VA team, and in 2020, Alex passed his American College of Veterinary Surgeons Board Exam qualifying him as a Diplomate of the ACVS and a Boarded Specialist.

Over the years, Alex has been an integral part of the VA family. Bringing extraordinary skill, dedication, commitment and compassion to every horse in his care. As if being an incredible surgeon wasn't enough, Alex provided valued leadership to our interns, taking them under his wing and guiding them through their time at Vet Associates, helping them to reach their best potential and grow into skilled veterinarians.

Not only will we miss his priceless knowledge and experience and the seriousness with which he approaches his cases but also the positive, fun atmosphere he brings to work every day. He is certainly one to never miss an opportunity for a joke and a laugh, and with that, we know the entire team is grateful for the memories and stories he is leaving behind.

Vet Associates can't thank you enough, Alex, for everything you have done and all the long hours you have put in to helping each and every horse under your care. Australia doesn't know how lucky they are to have you. We wish you and your family all the very best for your move and new journey.

03/09/2025

Vet Associates Equine is thrilled to announce our new member of the VA team to all of you 🌟

🩺Meet Shirley Wang:

Shirley graduated from Nanjing Agricultural University, China, in 2012. In 2017, she completed an 18-month clinical program at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC), London, under a scholarship sponsored by the Hong Kong Jockey Club, and subsequently passed both the NAVLE and ECFVG certification examinations in 2019.

In 2020, she began her professional career at the Hong Kong Jockey Club Conghua Racecourse, working as a junior veterinarian for 18 months. In 2021, she joined Scone Equine Hospital for the breeding season, gaining intensive experience in equine medicine and critical care. She then undertook a residency in Equine Internal Medicine at the University of Queensland, where she developed advanced expertise in the diagnosis and management of complex equine medical conditions. Alongside her residency, Shirley completed a professional doctorate on maternal antibody decline and orthoflavivirus infection in foals.

In August 2025, Shirley joined Veterinary Associates Equine, where she is a member of both the ambulatory and internal medicine teams.

It is an honor to have you and your expertise join our team, Shirley. We look forward to working alongside you.

Address

12 Sim Road, Karaka
Auckland
2580

Telephone

+6492947307

Website

https://www.vetassociates.co.nz/

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