Chiltern Equine closed down

[SO1]

Chiltern Equine have just posted Facebook that they have closed. Most of our yard are with Chiltern Equine and this was the first they knew about it.

Luckily I moved vets when Homey passed away and I got Bert as both the vets I used for Homey moved practices.

Chiltern Equine are a big practice and there will be a lot of horses needing to move to vets and I wonder how much space they have to take on lots of new customers.

 

[Michen]

Interesting. My vet was very against me going there for a procedure once- I can’t remember what it was, MRI maybe… this would have been 7/8 years ago.

 

[Abacus]

They used to be well known for being expensive and favouring lots of diagnostics and heavy treatment plans in favour of more pragmatic approaches. They were also known for hiring rather handsome young male vets, who presumably the mainly female clientele would swoon over… I’m surprised they have closed though - I thought it was a strong business.

 

[SO1]

They were independent but then got sold to IVC a big company that owns lots of equine practices and there was an issue with monopoly and mergers commission so they had to get sold again and I thought they had been bought out again and were independent.

They employ a lot of people and have a hospital. Homey was in the hospital with his colic for a week. It would for people with horses in hospital to find out by Facebook that the practice had closed and they need to find a vet mid way through treatment.

 

[DZ2]

Hmm I've pre-paid their annual health package and dental treatment which should have covered few things in the next 8 months(at min vaccinations and routine dental rasp), where do I stand on that now?

And nice of them to contact existing clients...

 

[SEL]

I'm still in shock - my vet who works for them is fabulous and I'd love to know where she ends up so I could register my lot with them. I don't think the vets can have known because I only saw her last week and we were discussing re-running bloods on my pony at the end of Feb.

Getting this kind of announcement just before the weekend with no emergency cover is pretty unprofessional though. No idea if they ran out of cash and had to close it down quickly but the surrounding practices will be swamped.

 

[criso]

Had a look at their website and they list a couple of other vets for emergencies or urgent care, presumably these practices have agreed to provide cover.

 

[SEL]

Had a look at their website and they list a couple of other vets for emergencies or urgent care, presumably these practices have agreed to provide cover.

I've seen those - one isn't actually local to me and I've never heard of the other!!

 

[criso]

I've seen those - one isn't actually local to me and I've never heard of the other!!

No and may not be your choice long term but if someone has a colic over the weekend, it's a number to call who presumably will be expecting to pick up these emergencies.

 

[Sealine]

I've never been a fan of Chiltern Equine. Many years ago a friend's horse had a nail in it's foot. Chiltern came out and remove the nail, checked no damage done and gave the horse anti-biotics. That's all ok but they insisted the horse had to stay at their facilities in case it got an infection. They really pushed the use of their facilities, diagnostics etc.

I can recommend the RVC for any Chiltern customers. Farr & Pursey are the other preferred practice in my area although I haven't used them personally.

 

[SEL]

No and may not be your choice long term but if someone has a colic over the weekend, it's a number to call who presumably will be expecting to pick up these emergencies.

I appreciate that - but one is an hour away from me so any emergency visit isn't going to be prompt.

The other looks to be ambulatory only with an address in Ascot so I'm not sure where their vets are based but possibly they will be out this way.

I was kind of hoping other local practices might be flagged as emergency cover for the weekend but I know Wendover was struggling with weekend resourcing so they can probably only cover their existing clients.

Wondering how much stalking I can do to find out where my vet ends up. She's very good and very bright so fingers crossed she gets sorted quickly.

 

[Pinkvboots]

I've used them for years at Bury farm but it all went a bit rubbish when Gavin left.

I thought it was just the Bury farm practice that closed.

 

[Pinkvboots]

I had them out in January Hannah told me Bury farm was no more but she was still working doing call outs, I did notice that when you rang them it went through to the other practice though.

 

[criso]

Wondering how much stalking I can do to find out where my vet ends up. She's very good and very bright so fingers crossed she gets sorted quickly.

If you have a good relationship with her maybe message saying you're sorry to hear and wishing her luck and asking her to let you know. It's not like she'd be poaching clients as it's closed down.

I appreciate that - but one is an hour away from me so any emergency visit isn't going to be prompt.

I'm with the RVC and out of hours the vets come from home so actually where the hospital is isn't necessarily relevant. I e had to wait more than an hour because the vet was on another emergency an hour away.
But this will be a temporary solution and having practices expecting these calls rather than having to explain why as a non client you are calling them would be helpful.

 

[Pinkvboots]

I've never been a fan of Chiltern Equine. Many years ago a friend's horse had a nail in it's foot. Chiltern came out and remove the nail, checked no damage done and gave the horse anti-biotics. That's all ok but they insisted the horse had to stay at their facilities in case it got an infection. They really pushed the use of their facilities, diagnostics etc.

I can recommend the RVC for any Chiltern customers. Farr & Pursey are the other preferred practice in my area although I haven't used them personally.

To be fair my friends horse had a nail in her foot and the RVC wouldn't remove it on site they insisted the horse went in and to be xrayed first to be sure it hadn't gone into anything important, so I don't think that is that unusual for that type of thing.

 

[criso]

To be fair my friends horse had a nail in her foot and the RVC wouldn't remove it on site they insisted the horse went in and to be xrayed first to be sure it hadn't gone into anything important, so I don't think that is that unusual for that type of thing.

I guess it depends on how long they keep the horse in. Go in for an X ray, nothing serious, remove and send home or keep there for several days racking up livery bills.

Though I've had RVC X ray feet on site, they seem to do a lot more X rays at your yard now. I've found them reasonably keen these days to keep you out of the hospital, presumably to free up space for complex cases and referrals.

 

[Pinkvboots]

I guess it depends on how long they keep the horse in. Go in for an X ray, nothing serious, remove and send home or keep there for several days racking up livery bills.

Though I've had RVC X ray feet on site, they seem to do a lot more X rays at your yard now. I've found them reasonably keen these days to keep you out of the hospital, presumably to free up space for complex cases and referrals.

My friends horse came home the same day I suppose a quick xray is fair enough but as you say wouldn't want them in for days.

Looks like I will be registering with the RVC now at least they are only 20 minutes drive away.

 

[SEL]

I had them out in January Hannah told me Bury farm was no more but she was still working doing call outs, I did notice that when you rang them it went through to the other practice though.

I knew they'd closed their Widmer site as well as Bury Farm but I didn't get any vibes it was closing full stop.

I've registered with Wendover who my physio uses and have covered Chiltern OOH before.

Although obviously hoping to have no need of them over the weekend.

 

[Bernster]

It seems very abrupt and on a friday which may give limited time for people to arrange an alternative. I hope no one gets caught out by this and can switch over soon. And that local practices can cope. My YM sent out a list of local practices if anyone wants the info.

 

[SO1]

Wendover have said they can take more clients. Iain Mckenzie Equine Practice which is who I am with have also posted on Facebook that they have capacity to take on more customers.

I wonder if some of the ex Chiltern vets will move to other practices which may need more vets to cover any extra customers they get from Chiltern closing.

 

[SEL]

I wonder if some of the ex Chiltern vets will move to other practices which may need more vets to cover any extra customers they get from Chiltern closing.

I hope so - they've got some very good vets there. I have my usual (& favourite!) but had need of an emergency call out last year and the guy who came out was great too.

 

[criso]

I would think it depends on the level of the vet. The normal practice vets will find it easier but the head vets/ clinical directors etc will not want to go into a junior role and so may take longer to find the right opening.

 

[ester]

They were independent but then got sold to IVC a big company that owns lots of equine practices and there was an issue with monopoly and mergers commission so they had to get sold again and I thought they had been bought out again and were independent.

They employ a lot of people and have a hospital. Homey was in the hospital with his colic for a week. It would for people with horses in hospital to find out by Facebook that the practice had closed and they need to find a vet mid way through treatment.

I was about to ask if that had happened as the same happened with my practice when the main partner retired, sold then closed a year or so down the line.

 

[eggs]

Although I left them many years ago I had heard on the grapevine that they were closing down but it does seem tough on their clients to not be told personally.

 

[OrangeAndLemon]

For anyone with them, you might want to get copies of any treatment records while there is still someone there to send them.

 

[criso]

And coincidentally RVC have just posted on Facebook that they are welcoming new clients. Will be a bit South East for some of their clients though.

 

[SEL]

For anyone with them, you might want to get copies of any treatment records while there is still someone there to send them.

That email went over as soon as I saw their message. Nothing major for my lot thankfully.

 

[Lady Jane]

I had heard they were privately owed again so this is a bit surprising. Vets are in high demand so I'm sure they will get jobs easily. Its an unpleasent surprise for existing customers though

 

[maya2008]

My husband reckons they over-reached and went bust financially. I wonder if they messed up somewhere and it’s a legal thing given how sudden it is.

I can recommend Scott Dunn for anyone who used to have Chiltern Equine and are close enough. When we were in Beaconsfield we used them and they were brilliant.

 

[olop]

I used to use Chiltern when I lived over that way, can’t say I’m surprised is all I will say.
Would also recommend Scott Dunn if anyone lives that way, my old vet works there now and she was brilliant with my old boy.