Meet the Team
With a wealth of experience between us, our team is committed to providing high quality equine healthcare.
Our Vets
Ben Mayes
MA VetMB MRCVS, Clinical Director and Veterinary Surgeon
A co-founder of our practice, Ben studied at Cambridge University. He is a true equine general practitioner with clients from all disciplines of equine sport, while carrying out routine and out of hours work. Away from work, he enjoys spending time with family. He joined the British Equine Veterinary Association Council in 2006, becoming the 51st president and attending a congress event with 12,000 delegates and HRH The Princess Royal in attendance. He headed up the welfare portfolio, Safer Horse Rescues, insurance matters and the New Grad programme, and chaired BEVA’s policy committee and Board of Trustees. He was also a Gamesmaker vet at the equestrian events at the 2012 Olympics, and is a trustee of the research charity the Animal Welfare Foundation, a member of the Advisory Board for the new University of Surrey Veterinary School and a vice-president of the Federation of European Equine Veterinary Associations.
Debbie Jackson
BVetMed CertAVP MRCVS, Veterinary Surgeon
Debbie joined us a few years after graduating from the Royal Veterinary College in 2017. Completing an internship at a busy mixed clinic in Yorkshire allowed her to gain experience in areas such as including anaesthesia and lameness work with competition horses. She holds a Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice in lameness diagnosis and therapeutics, and is a qualified FEI Permitted Treating Veterinarian. In 2022, she worked with the British Dressage U21 Pony Team, travelling to the European Championships in Poland as a team vet. She also provided veterinary support for ponies during an International Development Trip in conjunction with The Howden Way, designed to give promising young riders experience of an international team competition. Outside of work Debbie, she enjoys spending time with her fiancé, walking her dog, Winnie, and looking after the cat, Ernie. She also events her own mare, Salt, and enjoys running, judo and playing rugby.
Kate Sheridan
BVetMed PGDipVCP MRCVS, Veterinary Surgeon
Kate graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2021, after which she worked at their equine referral hospital, gaining experience in a large variety of cases and working with specialists. She joined our team in 2022, and has a particular interest in lameness, poor performance, scoping and wound management. In her spare time, she likes looking after her horses, Buster and Olive, walking her dog, Otto, and cooking good food to eat with friends.
Alex Harper
BVSc MRCVS, Veterinary Surgeon
Originally from Belfast, Alex graduated from the University of Bristol in 2022. She spent time with us as a final year veterinary student, and joined us after a summer spent travelling. She enjoys all aspects of her role, especially emergency work and minor surgery, and is an Official Veterinarian, allowing her to carry out work on behalf of the government, including equine exports both within and outside the EU. In her free time, she enjoys riding, catching up with friends and visiting her family and dog, Hugo, in Ireland.
Eden Unwin
BVMSci MRCVS, Veterinary Surgeon
Eden graduated from the University of Surrey in 2023, and worked at our practice during the final year of her course. Before joining us permanently in 2024, she undertook an internship at a referral hospital in Devon, where she developed a passion for anaesthesia and inpatient care. Since joining us, she has enjoyed getting to know our clients and their horses and developed an interest in medicine cases and surgical anaesthesia.
Olga Klecandová
MVDr CertESM MRCVS, Veterinary Surgeon – Out of Hours Team
Originally from the Czech Republic, Olga graduated in 2008 and later worked in the USA, Ireland and on an Australian stud farm, before returning home to work at an emergency veterinary hospital in Prague. She moved to the UK in 2011, working in practices in Lancashire and the Southeast before joining our team in 2022. In 2015, she completed her veterinary chiropractic degree in Germany (IAVC), before obtaining a certificate in sport horse medicine from University College Dublin. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family, keeping active and riding the two mares she bred herself.
Our Veterinary Nurses
Georgie Stevens
Groom and Nursing Assistant
Georgie assists our veterinary team in the ever-evolving role of groom and nursing assistant, and has a particular interest in diagnostic work and assisting with procedures. She is a keen drawer and enjoys spending her free time with her own horses and dogs.
Jasmine Barnett
Groom and Nursing Assistant
Jasmine has owned horses since she was young, and previously worked at a local livery yard, where she worked with a variety of horses and helped with bringing on youngsters for sale. Outside of work, she likes going to the gym and riding her own horses, Joe and Pickle, who she events at grass roots level.
Support Team
Chloe Renmant
Receptionist
Chloe joined the practice in 2024, bringing with her a knowledge of the local area and a great deal of experience in customer service. When she’s not working, she loves exploring the Surrey hills with her dog and taking care of her two pygmy goats.
Sally Closier
Administrator
Sally joined the practice in 2015, having worked at a neighbouring practice for over 10 years. She brings with her a wealth of experience in client services and accounts, and handles client insurance claims. In her spare time, she looks after her menagerie of chickens, cats, dogs and her two horses.
Helena Dunlavey
VPac, Practice Manager
Helena worked in customer service for several years before joining our reception team in 2018. She particularly enjoyed processing export certificates and our AI packages. She later completed her Veterinary Practice Administrative Certificate, before taking on the practice manager role. Outside of work, she events her own pony, Travis, at BE Grassroots level. One day they would love to make it to Badminton grassroots!
Kate Hawkins
Administrator
Kate joined us in 2007 as a nursing assistant, assuming the responsibility for all the inpatient care while actively assisting our vets. She transferred to our support team in 2015, and now helps to run our busy office. Much of her spare time is occupied by her daughter, Matilda, her horse, Piglet, her dog, Bear and husband, Edd (generally in that order).