VET SERVICES LTD (VSL)

Dr. Richard Knight

Dr Knight has over ten years experience as a veterinarian and has retrained as a farrier to enable him to offer you a complete hoof care package. Dr Knight has recently returned from Australia where he was contracting to an equine hospital with a specialist surgery.

Dr Knights passion in working with horses with lameness problems and his frustration achieving good communication between veterinarians and farriers prompted him to become a veterinary farrier (Equine Podiatrist).  In this way the two professions can be joined to bring a more streamlined approach to your equine's soundness. Dr Knight has just recently returned from the United States where he attended lectures by specialist Equine podiatrists such as Dr Ric Reddin,(click for website) and Dr Stephen O'Grady (click for website) along with other top veterinarians and farriers. "It was a great opportunity for me to learn the latest in modern veterinary farrier techniques and treatment, including being able to see just what these guys are diagnosing with MRI's and other diagnostic modalities."

 

Josh

Josh is a trained mechanic and is currently training to be a farrier. He  has grown up around horses all his life and is a very accomplished rider having entered a number of show jumping competitions. He has a natural ability with horses and is proving to be a valuable member of the team with his farrier skills. The Mares just seem to fall in love with him.

Josh  is very good at reading and working with horses and has trained in natural horsemanship (link to laying a horse down). He also has a natural abilty to stay on a bulls back (link to rodeo).

Josh is co-founder of the Waihi Riding school along with Hannah and Abbey Fleetwood. (see our gallery for pictures)

Michelle

Michelle is our office manager PA and vet nurse so you will often meet her out in the field. She keeps our office running smoothly and will endeavour to book your horse in as soon as is convenient for you. She has a very efficient recall services so the owners need not worry about being late for a shoeing. We have a policy at VSL & Farrier’s to always get back to our customers within 24 hours of your contact with us to set up an appointment or try to resolve any other issues you may have.

Our Business

Is to keep your horse's feet sound and therefore performing to its best.

Who We Are

Veterinarians and Farriers have traditionally worked closely together on hoof care. Overseas  we now have Veterinary Farriers or Equine podiatrists to incorporate the skills of diagnosis and surgery with fitting medical devises and shoes on your horses hooves.

VSL Farriers want to bring you an Equine veterinary and podiatry service where you get professional total  package that you the horse owner / trainer can rely on with confidence.

Many people have asked me why as a veterinarian I wanted to lower myself to becoming a farrier as well.

I love the variability within my job. I have some days where all I do is veterinary work and I often look forward to just shoeing a horse!

I must say that I have met and admire some very capable and skilled men within the farrier profession. Without them passing on their knowledge to me I would not be able to attach some of the medical devises that we do. As veterinarians we often fail to see the changes to a horses hoof as it responds to particular shoes. Without that I wouldn't have the understanding I do have about fitting devices to horses feet.

Due to leaving school when I was 14 yrs old I learned the meaning of hard physical work for ten years before I had the good fortune to train as a veterinarian. So Ive never felt ashamed of being able to "roll up my sleeves" and get the job done whether the task seems menial or not.

Besides I love being able to influence the way a horse moves just by the way a shoe is placed. I also love the physical aspect of the work. I have a great big cooked breakfast every day and never have to go to the gym!!

So really I see my job as varied and enjoyable...I do everyday, something I love doing!

Dr Richard Knight

"There are many beautiful animals in the world, but there is something about the equine form and spirit that depicts freedom and majestic beauty. Just being around them brings a peace to my soul, as if by communing with them I too get to partake of that freedom of spirit. That they are such a creature designed to be free yet as humans that we can have friendship with them and have them trust mankind as a friend is something that oftentimes takes my breath away. A wonderful creature made by God for mans enjoyment humbles me daily."