Our Practices

Meet the Specialists

We are very proud to have over 40 veterinary professionals, all of whom are experts in their fields. The services they provide are enhanced by nurses, grooms, technicians and support staff. Please click here to learn more about our Wider Team.

Matt Smith

Director
Specialist
Hospital Director & Specialist in Surgery

BVetMed Dipl. ECVS DEO MRCVS European and RCVS Specialist in Equine Surgery

Mark Hillyer

Director

Specialist
Specialist in Surgery and Medicine

BVSc PhD DipECVS DipECEIM FRCVS

William Barker

Director Specialist Specialist in Surgery

BVSc MVetMed Dipl.ECVS MRCVS

Gaynor Minshall

Director

Specialist
Specialist in Diagnostic Imaging

BVSc Cert ES(Orth) Dipl.ECVDI MRCVS

Matt Chesworth

Specialist
Specialist in Surgery

BVM BVS MVetMed Dipl. ECVS MRCVS

Hayley Chidlow

Specialist
Specialist in Medicine

BVSc DipACVIM MRCVS

Fran James

Specialist
Specialist in Surgery and Sports Horse Medicine and Rehabilitation

MA VetMB DipACVS DipECVS DipACVSMR MRCVS

Matt Smith

Director
Specialist
Hospital Director & Specialist in Surgery

Matt is a 2001 graduate of the Royal Veterinary College. After graduation he completed an internship at Greenwood Ellis and Partners, before returning to the RVC where he undertook his residency in Equine Surgery. He became a Diplomat of the European College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2007, and has been recognised by the RCVS as a specialist in Equine Surgery since 2008. Matt undertook additional studies resulting in passing the RCVS Diploma in Equine Orthopaedics in 2011. His thesis was on clinical applications of endoscopic techniques in orthopaedic surgery.

Since 2006 Matt has worked as a surgeon at Newmarket Equine Hospital, and in 2021 took on the role of hospital director. He is interested in all areas of equine surgery, but with particular emphasis on orthopaedic surgery, and more specifically arthroscopy and fracture repair.

BVetMed Dipl. ECVS DEO MRCVS European and RCVS Specialist in Equine Surgery

Mark Hillyer

Director
Specialist
Specialist in Surgery and Medicine

BVSc PhD DipECVS DipECEIM FRCVS
  • Head of Internal Medicine and Intensive Care
  • European Specialist in Equine Internal Medicine

Mark graduated from the University of Bristol in 1987. After graduation he worked at the Veterinary School at the University of Bristol as an equine and farm animal clinician. Here he developed his interests in equine internal medicine and soft tissue surgery. Following completion of a residency training, he became a Lecturer in 1995 and completed a PhD on equine colic in 2002. The same year he moved to Newmarket providing a hospital based referral service in equine internal medicine and soft tissue surgery. Mark has RCVS certificates in equine practice, equine soft tissue surgery and equine internal medicine and is also a Diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Surgeons and a Diplomate of the European College of Equine Internal Medicine. Mark has published over 45 scientific papers, written 5 book chapters and is co-author and editor of Diagnostic Techniques in Equine Medicine, which is now in its second edition. In addition Mark has given presentations at over 30 national and international meetings. He is an Editorial Consultant of Equine Veterinary Journal as well as co-chairman of the Clinical Evidence Board. In 1997 he was awarded the Equine Veterinary Journal Richard Hartley Clinical Prize. Mark is a member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Equine Board and has been both a regular examiner and advisor for the RCVS equine certificates.

William Barker

Director
Specialist
Specialist in Surgery

BVSc MVetMed Dipl.ECVS MRCVS
  • Degree – Liverpool University 2008
  • Internship – Newmarket Equine Hospital, Newmarket. 2008-2010
  • Surgical Residency – Royal Veterinary College, University of London 2010-2013

Will returned to the Newmarket Equine Hospital on completion of his surgical residency to join the referrals team and specialise in equine surgery. In February 2014 Will successfully passed the qualifying examinations of the European College of Veterinary Surgeons, becoming a Diplomate of the college and gaining recognition as a European Specialist in Equine Surgery.

Will has published several papers in peer reviewed scientific journals and presented both nationally and internationally, on subjects including soft tissue injuries to the tarsocrural joint and sinus surgery.

Prior to embarking on his veterinary career Will was a keen event rider, unfortunately Will no longer competes but still finds time to ride.

Gaynor Minshall

Director
Specialist
Specialist in Diagnostic Imaging

BVSc Cert ES(Orth) Dipl.ECVDI MRCVS

Gaynor graduated from the University of Bristol in 1998 and following an internship and experience in first opinion practice joined the referrals team headed by Ian Wright in 2002. She gained the RCVS Certificate in Equine Surgery (Orthopaedics) in 2007 and became a partner at Newmarket Equine Hospital in 2011. Following the European College latterly developing a large animal track residency in Diagnostic Imaging, Gaynor achieved Diplomate status in Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging in 2019 and is a RCVS and EBVS recognised specialist in Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging.

Matt Chesworth

Specialist
Specialist in Surgery

BVM BVS MVetMed Dipl. ECVS MRCVS

Hayley Chidlow

Specialist
Specialist in Medicine

BVSc DipACVIM MRCVS

Fran James

Specialist
Specialist in Surgery and Sports Horse Medicine and Rehabilitation

MA VetMB DipACVS DipECVS DipACVSMR MRCVS

Our Practices

The Hospital

Services

Services

Orthopaedic Surgery

Orthopaedics is the largest surgical discipline at NEH and concerns principally joints and bones, with the most common procedures including arthroscopic surgery and fracture repair.

Internal Medicine

Conditions treated by our internal medicine team include diseases of the airways, heart, intestines, liver, kidneys and circulatory system.

Soft Tissue Surgery

The major disciplines in equine soft tissue surgery include abdominal (colic) surgery, airway, and urogenital surgery.

Colic

Colic is one of the most common surgical emergencies in the horse, and success revolves around a highly trained rapid response team.

Wind Surgery & Breathing Problems

Breathing problems are a surprisingly common cause of poor performance in the horse.

Diagnostic Imaging

Diagnostic imaging is a term used to describe methods which allow us to visualise structures and activities inside the body.

Lameness & Poor Performance

We understand the frustrations involved when a horse’s ability to perform at expected levels is impaired. Our experienced clinicians can systematically assess the potential causes and advise on treatment.

Rehabilitation

An athletic injury can result in a prolonged period out of training with consequential physical restrictions for the whole horse.

Dentistry

Equine dental disease manifests in numerous ways, from difficulty in eating and nasal discharge to more subtle bitting and performance-related issues.

Farriery

Consultant farrier Will O’Shaughnessy holds the Worshipful Company of Farriers (WCF) Diploma in Farriery

Our Practices

The Practice

Services

Services

Racehorses

Covering all aspects of racing work – we care for thoroughbreds in training in and around Newmarket from the day they enter pre-training to the day they leave the yard.

Breeding Services

Our team of stud vets provide comprehensive reproductive and stud medicine services for stud farms in Newmarket and further afield.

Sales

A team of experienced sales vets provide both vendor and purchaser services both privately and at all the major European Sales and many in the USA.

Sport & Leisure

Our Sport and Leisure vets provide a high quality and personalised service to the whole equine community from high end competition horses to your much-loved horses, ponies or donkeys.

Free Visit Rounds

Find out more about our free visit rounds.

Exports

Newmarket Equine Hospital has a dedicated shipping department which specialises in organising pre-export examinations and testing schedules to comply with the differing import requirements to enable horses to travel to countries all around the world.

Endurance

Our lead Endurance vet Tom is involved with the discipline at all levels.

Insurance & Expert Opinion

We have a number of vets who can offer expert opinions for insurance and legal cases.

Our Practices

Our Practices

Jess Harrop

Intern Veterinary Surgeon
Intern Veterinary Surgeon

BVSc MRCVS

Jeremy Allen

Associate Director

BSc VetMB MRCVS

Jeremy qualified as a vet in 1998 from Cambridge University having previously done a degree in Animal Science at Nottingham University.

He enjoys all aspects of equine practice, especially sport and leisure horse veterinary work and equine dentistry.  He is normally accompanied by his trusty canine companion, Ricky (from Romania) while out on his visit rounds.

He is a keen polo player in his spare time and loves breeding and training young ponies.