Equine Vets in Surrey

K

kate2

Member
Joined
17 February 2011
Messages
10
Visit site
I have just moved to Surrey and Im looking for a recommendation for a really good vets. Any ideas?

Thanks very much in advance

Kate
 
Scott Dunns are currently helping me with an injured horse and they are fantastic and thorough.

However, you aren't so close so I'd also recommend Mayes and Scrine. Ben Mayes is a really nice man and I've had him a number of times. They are based not too far from you so call outs etc may be cheaper than from Scott Dunns in Wokingham.
 
Hello there
we've just moved to Surrey from Hampshire with our horses. I know of Shotter & Byers; some of the competitors we've met gave us a bad word of mouth review of them: the main objection is people saying that they are very good but are not very approachable. But I am seeing some great reviews on this forum and I know they are considered one of the best practice in Surrey. I would welcome feedback from someone that uses them regularly. Thank you for your time. Fran
 
twinpeaks said:
Hello there
we've just moved to Surrey from Hampshire with our horses. I know of Shotter & Byers; some of the competitors we've met gave us a bad word of mouth review of them: the main objection is people saying that they are very good but are not very approachable. But I am seeing some great reviews on this forum and I know they are considered one of the best practice in Surrey. I would welcome feedback from someone that uses them regularly. Thank you for your time. Fran
Click to expand...

I have used Shotter and Byers for 10 years now and found them excellent.I am surprised anyone considers them unapproachable -they are really easy to talk to ! i can't recommend them highly enough!
 
I would recommend Anvil Equine Vets, they are close to you and my friends in Guildford use them. The thing I really like is that Alastair MacVicar is very experienced and does the visits himself which for me is preferable to using a larger practice who only have the least experienced Vets available in an emergency as all the more experienced vets are booked up doing routine calls etc (I speak from experience and I personally don't want newly qualified vets who through lack of experience mis diagnose or are unable to handle my horse)
 
Shotter and Byers have been amazing for us. Sarah in particular is very approachable and Mike Byers is fabulous (though he will tell you how it is not how you want to hear it). I would recommend them over any of the other practices. Scot Dunns used to be good (they are not near us now) but I have been unimpressed with the other big practice mentioned on here - happy to PM details.
 
We used Shotter & Byers - Sarah was completely brilliant when our Welshie had to be PTS following an emergency call. But there are others. Our other 2 competition ponies have always been registered with Southern Hills Equine. 2 of the partners were recently nominated for the AHT Vet awards - but it did take the on call vet over an hour to reach us from home in an emergency recently and that has given me cause for concern. A lot of people on the yard use Priory becuase they offer call out fee free days in specific areas which is understandably attractive.

I suspect the thing is in this area there are so many good vets you're not likely to find a bad one. Find one whose prices you like and who seem nice on the phone and give it a go. Even a vet isn't forever - although the horses are!
 
I like Shotter and Byers. From a professional point of view Mike is an excellent vet and tells you how it is, however, all of the vets in the practice are very good and know their stuff. Afraid I wouldn't give a certain female vet from Scott dunns the time of day, I don't think she could diagnose a murder. So would want the risk of her coming. Also Mayes and Scrine very good but would rather it was Ben coming himself as again very practical. Priory are also very good (based in Reigate) , John Baart is a brilliant vet, and Amber great on behaviour issues. Anvil also fab, alistair mc vicar is a very good vet and won't miss anything. Our yard uses a combination of priory and Shotter and Byers, just depends on the type of call out and vet expertise! ( as you may gather we are a large livery/ dealing yard so know all the vets in the area well.)
 
Ive just changed over to Shotter and Byers a couple of weeks ago (as I was not happy with my previous vet, and their approach to treatment of my horse).
I can't recommend Mike Byers highly enough. Lovely guy and he is one of the more knowledgeable and proactive vets I've come across. I found him very approachable and true he does tell you exactly how it is and gets on with treatment straight away. He has come out three times at no notice and arrived at the yard within 15 mins each time.
He was very quick to recommend and refer my horse for surgery when my previous vet spent too much time (four months) and £2500 of my money on treating the symptoms and playing guessing games rather than finding the cause.
BTW, my boy is having the surgery today and I'm a complete nervous wreck waiting for the post Op. phone call.
Wish my boy luck.
 
Another vote for Shotter and Byers. I've used Mike Byers for 12 yrs and he and all the other vets are very approachable and always go above and beyond. I like that they respect owners knowledge and Mike will always give me different treatment options and takes my situation into account.
 
Hi There
I was thinking of approaching Shotter and Byers: we were advised that they are not very approachable when we were last in Surrey for Training - we were also told that they are very expensive compared to other vets in the area. Unfortunately we are really not that impressed with our current yard vet - I would welcome your feedback. Are they very thorough? is that perhaps why people think of them as 'expensive'? thank you!
 
I'm yet to get a bill from them so can't comment re how expensive they might be compared to others, however I can't fault Mike and the other vets from his surgery that have attended to my boy so far.
From what I gathered from the few times I've met and also spoken to Mike over the phone, he simply likes to get on with the job in hand to get a correct diagnosis and getting on with the treatment pronto rather than going with a "let's see if this might work" attitude. Perhaps his focussed attitude towards the horse's welfare might perhaps therefore come across to some as being difficult? I just think too that he is a busy man and hence doesn't have the time for lots of small talk and chit chat. In any case I found him to be very friendly and knowledgeable. He is very thorough and has been amazing with handling my now vet shy and needle phobic horse. He is very gentle and patient and was fantastic in the way he calmed my nervous neddy who was an angel for him for injections and scoping, unlike the wild scenes and tantrums we had when he was being treated by the vets from my previous practice.
I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them. For me they have been brilliant.
 
twinpeaks said:
Hi There
I was thinking of approaching Shotter and Byers: we were advised that they are not very approachable when we were last in Surrey for Training - we were also told that they are very expensive compared to other vets in the area. Unfortunately we are really not that impressed with our current yard vet - I would welcome your feedback. Are they very thorough? is that perhaps why people think of them as 'expensive'? thank you!
Click to expand...

They are excellent vets and I have used them since 2002 during which time they have dealt with everything for me-from laminitis in a native pony which turned out to be cushings through navicular in one eventer ,suspensory desmitis in another ,to delivering one healthy foal and one who unfortunately died through no fault of theirs.In addition to all the normal routine vaccinations and teeth rasping.I have always foundthem first rate and their bills are no more expensive than friends who use Liphook .
 
Another vote for Mike Byers - no more expensive than my old vets on Oxon (Hampdens). Mike is great with the horses, tells you how it is as an owner but will discuss all options. The staff in the office are also lovely and helpful.
 
Another Shotter and Byers client here. Use Nicky mostly as she's the preferred vet of my yard owner. I do find them quite expensive tbh but they're probably standard for the area. Was a bit miffed to be 'prescribed' Nizorol shampoo at £30 when I could have bought it in Boots for £9 if I'd have been told that's what he needed
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top