The Galley Hill Equine Surgery, sited at the edge of the Epping Forest near junction 26 of the M25, has established a reputation for providing a high standard of modern equine veterinary service at their custom-built premises and health care and advice during ambulatory visits.

We are a fully equipped surgery and our services to equine care includes ambulatory visits, consultations, physical examinations, diagnostics, medical and surgical procedures.

Our reputation stems from our unwavering commitment to quality, both in the care of your horse and in our relationship with our clients.

Staff

Our knowledge, expertise and experience are the skills that will help your horse to keep fit and healthy.

The practice vets are Head Veterinary Surgeon Ralph Hege DVM MRCVS and full-time Associate Andrea Smith BSc (Hons) BVetMed (Hons) MRCVS.
Registered veterinary nurse Carolina Faulkner RVN and Equine Nursing Assistant Stephen Pearson are responsible for the in-patient care and assist with all anaesthetic, medical and surgical procedures.

Our highly motivated and professional support staff includes Head Receptionist Nicky Ward (BHS Stage 3) who also provides further nursing support and Practice Manager Elsa Posnett PhD. Together they are responsible for reception, client accounts, insurance claims and all non-veterinary enquiries.

Our facilities

The custom-built premises provide a full range of services including advanced diagnostic imaging (Digital Radiography, Ultrasonography, Video-Endoscopy), Internal Medicine and Surgery.

We perform a wide range of soft tissue and orthopaedic procedures in our dedicated equine operating theatre with hydraulic operating table, overhead electrical hoist and inhalation anaesthesia. The range includes dental and sinus operations, soft tissue and colic operations, arthroscopies (joint key-hole surgery), fracture repair and hoof operations.

Our in-house laboratory facilities for haematology, biochemistry and microscopy, external laboratories for more specific tests, mobile digital radiography, two mobile ultrasound machines and flexible fibre-optic and video endoscopy help in accurately diagnosing a horse’s condition which is an important factor in planning an appropriate course of treatment. The indoor steel stocks allows for the safe examination of patients. Many minor surgeries, lameness examinations and laboratory tests can be conducted on the same day.

Critically ill horses receive constant nursing care and attention from skilled nursing staff in our Intensive Care Unit using the most progressive technology available.

The practice also provides ambulatory services. Each veterinarian’s vehicle is comprehensively stocked for emergency cases and for all routine work including modern dentistry for your horse at its stable.

For more detailed and technical investigations, clients have the opportunity to bring their horses to the surgery where we have a more suitable environment for investigations and diagnostics and where more complex medical and surgical procedures can be performed. This also means we can closely monitor such cases as in-patients.

Emergency cover

We provide a year round, 24 hour Emergency Cover for all our clients. Emergencies will be seen at your yard or at Galley Hill Equine Surgery at any time.

24-Emergency Phone Number: 01992 762 185

A veterinary surgery you can trust

The Galley Hill Equine Surgery is proud to be an approved member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) Practice Standards Scheme and accredited as an Equine General Practice. In order to achieve this standard, the surgery has met requirements encompassing premises, diagnostic equipment, laboratory facilities, qualifications and continuing education of staff, dispensing of medicines and Health and Safety regulations. Using an RCVS Accredited Practice means high standards of care for your horse, which means peace of mind for you and for your family.

Providing year round care for your horse

The Galley Hill Equine Surgery continues to grow as clients show their satisfaction with our service by referring friends and other horse owners to us. We value this faith in our practice. We offer prompt and cost-effective treatment for equine medical, surgical and reproductive problems. We are able to arrange an appointment with specialists who come to our practice should your horse require this.

Ralph Hege DVM MRCVS

Ralph Hege, a doctor in veterinary medicine from the University of Zurich, is the full-time Head Veterinary Surgeon at the Galley Hill Equine Surgery. Ralph has 12 years of experience working as a dedicated and committed equine veterinary surgeon in Switzerland, France and England. Before joining Galley Hill Equine Surgery Ralph has been a senior equine associate at an equine clinic in Essex. His main interests are lameness diagnostics with a particular focus on neck and back problems, orthopaedic and soft tissue surgeries.

Andrea Smith BSc (Hons) BVetMed (Hons) MRCVS

Andrea Smith graduated with honours from the Royal Veterinary College in 2011, having previously studied for a BSc in Equine Science at Imperial College, London. She owns 4 horses, including a foal born this year. She has enjoyed showing all sorts of horses since she was very young and currently competes with her horses in both showing and eventing. She has worked with horses for many years and before becoming a vet worked as a groom for eventers and showjumpers. Her main professional interests are reproduction and fertility and internal medicine but she is also keen in orthopaedics and investigation of poor performance.

Surgery Information

Galley Hill Equine Surgery, Breach Barns Lane, Waltham Abbey, Essex, EN9 2AD

Tel  01992 762 185
Fax 01992 766 769

Opening Hours
Weekdays 9am - 5pm
Weekends Emergencies only

We are closed on Weekends and Bank Holidays but emergencies will be seen at any time.

Our opening hours allow for general enquiries, booking appointments, receiving advice, deliveries and collections and dispensing medications.