Introducing Our Practice Team

Stuart graduated from the Royal Veterinary College (London). Following his first job in mixed practice in Nottingham, Stuart followed his love of equine medicine to the South West to perform first opinion and referral practice in an equine hospital.

He is particularly interested in Equine Dentistry, passing the BEVA/BVDA Equine Dental Technician examination in 2010. In 2015 he was awarded the RCVS Certificate of Advanced Veterinary Practice in Equine Dentistry, becoming one of the a very small number of RCVS Advanced Practitioners in Dentistry in the UK.

Stuart joined Coombefield in 2014, then with Jenny Clayton founded Summerleaze Vets in 2017.

Tessa qualified from Cambridge University in 1985 and joined Coombefield in 1988, making her officially the most senior vet in the practice.

Splitting her time now between Coombefield Veterinary Hospital and Summerleaze Vets, she is loving dedicated Equine practice time. She enjoys all aspects of Equine work but has a particular interest in surgery, lameness and dentistry.

Tessa also enjoys teaching, with a regular slot at ICAT helping to train the students. Tessa has her own horses which takes up much of her spare time.

Antonia graduated from the Royal Veterinary College (London). She has a particular interest in reproduction and competition/ sports horses. She is currently undertaking a post graduate certificate in Stud Medicine. Antonia is also the Welsh Endurance Team Veterinarian, an Endurance GB Veterinarian Representative on the EGB welfare committee, an FEI treatment vet and regularly vets at a variety of different competitions.

Enjoying all equine pursuits, she has the joy of breeding and producing her own competition horses aimed to compete at FEI endurance and dressage. Her main focus in her free time is spending time with her two children and her Collie cross Kelpie, Jeeves.

Katherine graduated from Cambridge University before undertaking an internship at the busy Goulburn Valley Equine Hospital in Australia. After returning to the UK, Katherine then spent 3 years at the Endell Equine Hospital near Salisbury, performing both ambulatory and hospital based duties. During this time she also underwent further study to complete the certificate in advanced veterinary practice (CertAVP).

Katherine moved to East Devon in 2020 initially working at a local ambulatory practice. Katherine enjoys the variety of equine practice, with a particular interest in medicine cases. In her spare time she enjoys exploring with her young family and Inca the cocker spaniel.

Eleanor has been working in first opinion equine practice in the South West for over 10 years. She really enjoys the challenge of emergency work and has particular interests in wound management and donkeys having spent many years providing veterinary care at The Donkey Sanctuary.

She enjoys trail running, Cross Fit and has two children and two ponies which keep her very busy in her free time!

Martin graduated from The University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Kosice, in Slovakia in 2007.

His truly professional equine career started with Coolmore. Martin has done several breeding seasons on thoroughbred stud farms, shuttling with stallions in the USA, Ireland, and New Zealand. Later, he joined Fethard Equine Hospital in Ireland, from where he moved to Saudi Arabia and Qatar working as a stud farm manager and veterinarian. Missing green grass and thoroughbred industry, Martin returned to Kentucky to complete a surgery internship at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute in US, and other internship at Rainbow Equine Hospital in the UK. Following his trainee studies Martin worked at Lower House Equine Clinic in Shropshire as an ambulatory and stud farm vet, before joining the Equicall team providing out of hour’s emergency services.

When not working Martin enjoys meeting his friends, happy hacking in beautiful British country sides or fly fishing on stunning lakes and rivers of Great Britain hoping to catch a big trout or salmon, admitting that his scaly friends swimming in the water win more often than he does.

Antonia joined us in October 2022 but was already a familiar face to Summerleaze having seen practice with us both before university and whilst at university. Following graduating from the Royal Veterinary College, Antonia undertook an internship at Western Counties working in all areas of the equine hospital. She enjoys all aspects of equine practice, and her particular interests include medicine and anaesthesia.

Antonia has a horse of her own who she has previously evented and participated in riding club activities. In her free time, she is also a dedicated runner and walker, particularly enjoying exploring the south west coast path with her Saluki, Miney.

After graduating from Cambridge, Laura’s first job was at a mixed practice in West Cornwall, before moving to North Devon. She then settled permanently in Somerset and spent 10 years working for an equine practice in Dorset.

Laura enjoys the broad spectrum of equine work and, over the years, has developed a keen interest in wound management and poor-performance cases.

Outside of work Laura has two young children, a scruffy terrier, Flint, and a superstar of a horse, Mikey. She runs a dairy, arable and beef farm with her husband and should she have any free time, Laura loves a game of tennis.

Jo has been working as an equine vet since graduating from Bristol University in 2011. In the 13 years prior to working at Summerleaze she completed an internship in a busy sports horse hospital, worked in two ambulatory equine practices, taught final year veterinary students and worked as the lead welfare vet for an equine charity. She holds a Postgraduate Certificate in equine medicine and surgery, and a Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice from the University of Liverpool. She enjoys all aspects of equine practice and especially likes working with nervous horses and ponies, using positive training techniques and has even trained a horse for a programme with David Attenborough! Jo has two horses of her own and a pony for her two sons.

Amy qualified from Hartpury College in 2015 with an FdSc in Equine Veterinary nursing science, as part of her course, she completed a 14 month placement at Cambridge Equine Hospital which then continued as a locum position before moving back home to the South West, working for 18 months at a first opinion and referral equine hospital. Amy joined the Summerleaze team in January 2017 and is now living in her home town. She enjoys socialising with YFC, walks with Labrador Dilly and spending time with her horse.

Emelie Real RVN Ctlls who is likely to be a familiar face to many as she has been part of Coombefield for the last 12 years. Emelie is a Registered Veterinary Nurse and will be assisting our vets with cases in the practice and on the road. Emelie has a certificate in teaching in the lifelong learning sector so is able to teach veterinary nursing. She has really missed both the farm and equine work so is very much looking forward to working at Summerleaze. Emelie has had horses since she was ten and is now enjoying having done a full circle and being a “pony club mum”.

Bryony joined our team in 2020 as a groom and completed a level 2 NVQ Equine Groom qualification. Since then, Bryony has now qualified as a Registered Veterinary Nurse SQP(J) with VetPartners Nursing School at Liphook Equine Hospital. Throughout her training she saw practice at Rossdales and Liphook Equine hospitals. Bryony can’t wait to continue her nursing career at Summerleaze. In her spare time Bryony enjoys riding her two ponies, walking her border collie Star, and looking after her small flock of sheep.

Alison began her veterinary career as a trainee veterinary nurse in 1987 and qualified in 1991. Alison has worked in a variety of roles and has gained additional qualifications over the years. Alison has a passion for evidence based leadership and management and is a director of the veterinary management group.

In her spare time Alison enjoys walking her dogs, gardening and musical theatre.

Fern is a farmers daughter and joined us in November 2016, she works part time within the support staff team. Fern also works at Ferne Animal Sanctuary where she has a more hands on approach with animals.

Blue is an 11 year old domestic short hair. He belongs to the Collier family but moved into Summerleaze when the barn where we think he slept was converted to offices. He waits for us to arrive in the morning and is always the last to leave. Unless he has gone hunting he spends the day asleep in his basket on reception and happily greats clients when they come in.