Contact
Dawes Farm, Bognor Road,
Warnham, Horsham,
Sussex RH12 3SH
Tel: 01306 628222
Fax: 01306 628379
office@equinevetpractice.co.uk
info@equinevetpractice.co.uk
Meet the team
Ben Mayes MA VetMB MRCVS, Director
Ben is the “old man” of the practice, having joined Colin Bond in 1994. He is a true equine general practitioner, with extensive local knowledge, having horses in his youth near Reigate and been an active Mid-Surrey pony club member.
Ben qualified from Cambridge University and came down to Warnham after two years in mixed practice in North Yorkshire, in the same practice as Judy. Ben took over the practice from Colin in 2001. Colin retired when Judy became a partner and the practice moved across the village to its current site.
Surrey and West Sussex practice, the patients and clients, is a specialty in itself and Ben, with his local background, is an expert. He enjoys working with international eventers, showjumpers, dressage horses and polo ponies, but he is equally happy in a muddy field with a child’s pony – where he started. He has attended several course and workshops on AI and breeding and relishes the challenge of impregnating an ageing mare.
A Sussex Veterinary Society and British Equine Veterinary Association Council member, Ben is active both locally and nationally in taking the profession forward, representing the equine general practitioner, safeguarding the welfare of the horses and ponies and the interests of their owners.
Ben is married to Catherine (see below) and they have three children, Jude, Archie and Darcey.
Judy Scrine MA VetMB MRCVS, Director
Judy is the matriarch of the practice, keeping the boys in order. Ben tempted her to join the practice in 2001 and she became a partner in 2003.
Judy has encyclopaedic equine veterinary knowledge and enjoys challenging medical cases and is the in-house guru in lameness, its investigation, causes and treatment.
This spicy young lady from Chipstead, Kent, qualified from Cambridge in 1991 and worked for several years in mixed, mainly equine, practice in North Yorkshire. As well as sports horses and hunters this included racing work including track cover at four courses. Strength, enthusiasm and loyalty meant that Judy remained “up north” far longer than Ben, but working for Howard Robinson and the lure of warmer climes tempted her back nearer home. Judy greatly enjoyed her time in Charlwood with Howard and still lives in the area.
In the limited time that Judy is off-duty, she keeps herself very fit with running and gym, enjoys “extreme” socialising, luxury dining and exotic holidays, the latter benefiting her interest in photography.
Frank Low BSc(Hons) BVSc MRCVS, Veterinary surgeon
Frank joined Mayes and Scrine in October 2006. He is a true Aussie, and his accent is quite catchy; Ben is having trouble retaining his home counties’ lilt.
Frank has excellent equine medical knowledge and has significant surgical experience. He has worked extensively in equine reproduction, including thoroughbred studs, AI and even Embryo Transfer.
Born in Hong Kong before spending his early years in the USA, Frank spent his formative years in Queensland. His parents had a small-holding in the bush, and they had ponies and horses – mainly used as working beasts, e.g. cutting and roping. Frank qualified from Queensland University vet school in 2000, and initially worked in Australian equine practice, gaining valuable experience, including stud work.
Frank has been working in equine practices in the UK since 2003 and comes highly recommended by English colleagues. We have tried to make Frank and his partner, Kelly (a small animal vet), as comfortable as possible, and he has committed (verbally at least) to staying with us beyond 2009. Frank replaced Laurence O’Hara, who has entered “Supervet” training having accepted a Clinical Scholarship (Residency) in Equine Surgery at the Royal Veterinary College.
John Little BA BSc BVM&S MRCVS, Veterinary Surgeon
John has been with us since April 2007 and increased the cosmopolitan side of the practice as he is 1/2 Irish , 1/2 American.
John brings his extensive knowledge of the Thoroughbred Industry to the practice, and has a keen interest in Stud work. He keeps and breeds his own Thoroughbreds in Ireland.
Mrs Anna Hammond BVM&S CertEM (IntMed) MRCVS, Veterinary Surgeon
Anna rejoined the practice in July 2008 after an absence of two years whilst her husband, Richard, helped establish the new veterinary school at Nottingham University. Anna’s first job was at the Liphook equine hospital where she stayed for several years, then spent 4 years working in equine hospitals in Australia and New Zealand where she furthered her interest in anaesthesia, medicine and stud medicine. She was tempted back to sunny England to undertake post-graduate training in equine medicine at the Royal Veterinary College for 3 years.
In between her working duties she looks after her two children Maggie and Fergus and manages to go running occasionally.
Jane Best, Practice Manager
Her practical knowledge and reasoned advice on the telephone is invaluable to the partners and clients alike. Jane tries to leave on time at 5pm each day to fulfil her extraordinary sporting, family and social commitments, including playing tennis for a Guildford club, and riding and competing her thoroughbred, Shadow. To keep up with the burgeoning staff dog menagerie, Jane now has a labrador which has allowed her to add gun dog training to her repertoire.
Claire Jeffs, Pharmacy and Lay Nurse
Claire has re-joined the practice after a sabbatical to try out this motherhood mularky. She returned to us part time in September 2008 and enjoys a “rest” at work while granny looks after her daughter Isabelle Grace. Having been with the practice for 12 years she is an invaluable asset and helps keep the vets in line.
Catherine Mayes, Administrator
Catherine Mayes (Ben’s wife) has joined us to take over bookkeeping duties from the long-suffering Linda Deslandes and will start to assist Jane with accounts. As Catherine familiarises herself with our bespoke veterinary software system, Teleos, we hope to use the system for more in-depth analysis, e.g. for clinical audit as well as for financial reviews and strategy. Hopefully Catherine will free up some of Jane’s time for telephone, reception, diary and call management duties.
Sam France, Administrator and Nursing Assistant
Sam France has joined the lay staff to assist us with in-patients at the clinic, manage the pharmacy and assist in the office. Sam has considerable equine and office experience. She is an ABRS qualified riding instructor and has extensive customer-based, office experience. Despite all of this, Sam has found working at an equine vets enjoyable but challenging: coping with sick and even dying animals; allocating tasks to busy vets, both routine and urgent, in distant areas of Surrey and Sussex; dealing with distressed or demanding clients on the phone as well as the day to day chores of keeping abreast of stock levels, sourcing scarce drugs and so on.
Kate Tyrell, Groom and Nursing Assistant
Kate joined us in November 2007 and has settled in very quickly. Previously Kate managed a large livery yard near Guildford and she has brought excellent horse-handling (and client handling) skills to the clinic. Kate keeps her own horse, Piglet, near Billingshurst and intends to squeeze a few events in each season.
Victoria Cunningham,
Vikki joined the practice in the summer of 2008 and comes from a horsy background and is highly skilled in office administration and management. As the practice gets busier, Vikki has fitted into the office environment very quickly, bringing enthusiasm and a fresh approach. In addition to her working duties, she has taken the bold step of becoming rescinding her single status and becoming Mrs Cunningham.