Welcome to New Forest Equine Vets
Verena founded New Forest Equine Vets in 2017 to create a practice devoted to expertly delivering all aspects of veterinary care in the most gentle, quiet and compassionate way possible. Our strong ethical values will forever shine through in the way we handle and care for each patient.
Approachable & personal
I really care about being present for you when you need support with your animals, and all clients are welcome to have contact via whatsapp when you need it: 07703 320362
Listen, discuss and give choice
During consultations, you will be given choice. I will listen to you, examine your animal, discuss my findings with you and give you options. I will share my opinions honestly, and unless there is an overriding welfare concern I will always help you to find a plan that will work best for your personal situation with your animal. I became a vet because I have deep empathy both for animals and for owners with unwell animals, and the greatest rewards in my day are the impact I can have on easing these times for animal and owner as well as enhancing the horse-human bond.
Advanced Practitioner in Equine Practice and a member of the RCVS Panel of Assessors of Advanced Practitioners in Equine Practice
In 2014 Verena was one of the first vets ever to be awarded Advanced Practitioner status. She had worked for the Australian Olympic Dressage and Paralympic team vet, in referral racehorse practice in Queensland Australia, at the University of Cambridge, as well as having worked in poorer socio-economic areas giving her a very rounded experience in equine practice.
In 2024 Verena was honoured to be invited by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons to join the panel of assessors for the scrutiny of Advanced Practitioner applications and renewals from other equine vets. It is a privilege to be entrusted with the responsibility of assessing other equine veterinary surgeons by our governing body.
Areas of special interest
Verena enjoys all areas of equine practice and her areas of special interest are lameness including laminitis, and the recognition, diagnosis and management of subtle pain/illness that affects behaviour or performance, including orthopaedic, gastric and dental pain, sleep disorders/deprivation, asthma and itchiness.
Lameness
Lameness is the most common condition presenting to vets and as such I feel it is the most important area in which to offer expertise, to ensure the welfare of the equines under our care.
I have developed the lameness services that we offer for the investigation and treatment of lameness, back and pelvic pain, incorporating my training in and use of the Sue Dyson Ridden Pain Ethogram, and the Equinosis Q gait analysis system that we have invested in, for horses with subtle asymmetry or multiple-limb lameness.
Laminitis
Verena was personally taught 1:1 by Ric Redden and Chris Pollitt, two of the most respected and highly published vets on laminitis worldwide. She has also practically studied the foot biomechanics with specialist vets and farriers from the USA and is competent in the use/application of the wooden shoe to manage acute and chronic laminitis, as well as managing the endocrine components (Cushing’s disease and Equine Metabolic Syndrome).
Behaviour
Verena and her sister Nicola (equine behaviourist and lecturer in animal behaviour) provide a unique skill set combining veterinary and behaviour services to resolve a wide range of ridden and non-ridden behaviour problems by addressing both the pain, the management and the learning aspects that typically combine to result in behavioural abnormalities.
We are very happy working quietly and patiently with horses that come with a history of fear or aggression. We adapt our approach to be effective and safe, without judgement of horse or owner, to find a way to treat these animals calmly and within their coping threshold.
A Modern, Mobile, Veterinary Practice
We bring our expertise and modern, portable equipment to you, delivering the high quality service you would expect of a clinic-based practice, without the associated costs. This also allows you the opportunity to be fully involved with the diagnosis, treatment and ongoing care of your horse, pony or donkey in the comfort of his/her own home.
24/7 Emergency
Service
New Forest Equine Vets provides a 24/7 emergency service, 365 days a year, giving you the peace of mind that no matter what time of day or night, your horse will be attended by a highly experienced equine vet. The out of hours service is shared with Equicall equine veterinary surgery. If you have an emergency please call the normal practice number and select option 2. Your call will be immediately directed to the on-duty veterinary surgeon.
