Veterinary surgeons

Tim graduated from the University of Bristol in 1980. He then worked for two years in a mixed practice in Kent before returning to the University of Bristol as a Horserace Betting Levy Board scholar to undertake research in equine immunology and respiratory disease. He obtained a PhD in 1986, and then stayed at Bristol as a Wellcome Trust Lecturer in Equine Medicine. He returned to mixed practice in 1990, and joined Bell Equine in 1992, becoming a partner in 1995. He has obtained diplomas and is a recognised specialist of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) in both Equine Internal Medicine and Equine Soft Tissue Surgery, and is a founding diplomate of the European College of Equine Internal Medicine. He became an Associate of the European College of Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging in 2011.

He has been editor of Equine Veterinary Education, the official journal of the British Equine Veterinary Association and the American Association of Equine Practitioners, since 1996. He has an interest in clinical research (currently concentrating on MRI, colic, neoplasia and clinical audit), and has published widely in the professional veterinary literature (with over 150 peer reviewed veterinary articles). He has also written and edited several books on equine veterinary medicine and surgery. He has acted as external examiner for veterinary undergraduates at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) and University of Bristol, and in 2007 he became a Visiting Professor at the RVC. He is on the council of the British Equine Veterinary Association, and serves on several RCVS committees/sub-committees. Tim leads the hospital services at Bell Equine, and has special interests in equine medicine, colic, soft tissue surgery and MRI. He also supervises our residency, intern and extern programmes.

Tim is married with four children. In the little free time that he has, Tim enjoys time with his family, walking, gardening and getting away from the telephone.

Emma graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2006. After qualifying, she completed an internship here at Bell before spending time at a stud practice in Australia. After returning to the UK, Emma spent the next eight years at a busy equine hospital in Wiltshire where she obtained her certificate in Internal Medicine. She also had a high reproductive caseload, working with both thoroughbred studs and competition horses.

Emma enjoys all aspects of ambulatory work, especially internal medicine. She will also be organising our equine breeding program here at Bell having had a lot of experience over the last 10 years in this field. She is now studying for her certificate in Stud Medicine as well.

Emma grew up in the area in North Kent and was an active member of the West Kent Meopham Pony Club when she was younger. Out of work Emma enjoys competing in triathlons and the occasional marathon. Her beloved dog Flee is often seen accompanying her along country lanes as a support runner.

Fran qualified from the Royal Veterinary College in 2004 and completed a hospital internship with us in 2006. She then spent a further two years as part of our ambulatory team. Fran left Bell in 2008 to complete a stud season in Australia before spending two years in equine practice near her family home in Rutland. Fran moved back to Kent in 2011 and has been Clinical Director of the thriving Goudhurst Vets and Equine Clinic for the last seven years.

She is now very settled near Tonbridge with her husband Geoff and two children, Rosie and Henry.

Alex graduated from the Royal Veterinary College London in 2016 and worked as an ambulatory equine vet before joining us as a hospital intern in 2019. On completion of her internship Alex joined our ambulatory team with a focus on dentistry which makes up the bulk of her working day. She also has interests in lameness, surgery and anaesthesia is currently undertaking an Advanced Practitioner Certificate.

In her spare time Alex enjoys travelling, keeping active and exploring the UK. She also fundraises for Animal Care in Egypt where she has volunteered previously and hopes to return to in the future.

Evita graduated from Utrecht University in the Netherlands in 2002. After graduation she completed an internship in private practice and worked for a year as an equine ambulatory vet in the Netherlands. In 2004 she moved to the USA and completed an internship, residency and one year lecturer position at New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania, working with a wide variety of horses and training as a general equine surgeon.

She became a diplomat of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2009, after which she returned to Europe and worked as an equine surgeon in a referral practice in the Netherlands for a year and a half years. From 2011 she worked at the University of Bristol as a Senior Teaching Fellow in Equine Surgery, performing clinical work, research and teaching students and residents. She has been an invited speaker at national and international conferences and has several publications in peer-reviewed journals.

Evita has a specific interest in orthopaedics, minimally invasive surgery, sports medicine and rehabilitation. She enjoys the challenge of investigating and treating horses with poor performance as well as horses with back and riding problems. She also has a special interest in the field of preventing injuries. Evita became a Diplomat of the American College of Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation (Equine) in 2014 and a Diplomat of the European College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2015. She joined Bell Equine in 2018.

Outside work Evita enjoys spending time with her two young daughters and spending time outdoors walking her flat-coated Retriever Daico or going out for a run.

Karen Coumbe studied at Girton College, Cambridge and qualified as a vet in 1984. She worked in mixed practice for five years and then moved with Richard Jones who set up Bell Equine in 1989, the same year that she passed her Certificate in Equine Practice. She subsequently obtained her Certificate in Veterinary Anaesthesia and is now a Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) Advanced Practitioner in both equine practice and veterinary anaesthesia. She was one of the original partners at Bell from 1995 onwards. She is responsible for anaesthesia at Bell Equine, which has always been her special interest, alongside ophthalmology, dermatology, ultrasonography and the challenges of equine pre-purchase exams. She is also an official measurer for the JMB.

Karen has been the veterinary correspondent for Horse & Hound for more than 25 years and has also published and edited several books and articles both for the general public, vets and equine nurses. Karen has been involved with the equine veterinary nursing qualification since it started and edited two editions of the standard textbook on Equine Veterinary Nursing. Karen was appointed as an official FEI veterinarian in 2005 and has since worked at many equine competitions, including the last four Olympic Games.

Any spare time is easily filled with her two daughters, as well as trying to improve her photography or gardening skills and enjoying horses at leisure. Many of the images on this website are thanks to Karen’s camera being pointed in vaguely the right direction.

Helen graduated from the University of Liverpool in 2016 and joined our ambulatory team in January 2020, after spending three and a half years in mixed practice.

Her particular interests are medicine, reproduction and equine welfare, taking part in BEVA Trust Clinics when she has time. She is currently studying towards an Advanced Practitioner Certificate at the University of Liverpool.

In her spare time Helen enjoys exploring the Kent countryside and going to the gym.

Michael graduated from The Royal Veterinary College in 2011, and since then has taken sole charge of a equestrian centre; managing, teaching and providing veterinary care. Michael has a keen interest in equine welfare, having worked alongside World Horse Welfare on a project in Guatemala. He has also undertaken hospital externships in Kentucky and Texas. Michael enjoys all aspects of the equine veterinary profession and in 2019 completed a three year Residency in Equine Surgery.

Michael's outside interests include riding and schooling performance horses, swimming, urban dancing and scuba diving.

After graduating from Liverpool University in 2008, Alison completed an internship in equine diagnostic imaging and orthopaedics at the Animal Health Trust in Newmarket. She then moved to Lancashire and spent three years at a large equine practice where she continued to pursue her interest in lameness and imaging.

Alison then undertook a four year large animal diagnostic imaging residency at Bristol University, where she obtained her European Diploma in Diagnostic imaging (large animal) in 2017, before joining Bell Equine. She enjoys all aspects of equine diagnostic imaging and lameness diagnosis.

Outside work she enjoys being outdoors, riding her young horse Maybe, running with Labrador Custard, cycling and has recently started competing in triathlons.

Laura graduated from the University of Bristol in 2012 and undertook two equine internships; firstly at the University of Bristol and subsequently at Donnington Grove Equine Vets in Newbury. Laura subsequently returned to Bristol where she became the first person to undertake a residency in Equine Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation in the UK, funded by the Horserace Betting Levy Board.

Laura is an RCVS, American and European Specialist in Equine Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation. She also holds a certificate in Equine Sports Medicine and is a certified member of the International Society of Equine Locomotor Pathology (ISELP). She has also just finished a PhD investigating the response of the equine respiratory muscles to training, undertaken in Thoroughbred racehorses.

Laura has a strong interest in the management of equine athletes and the investigation of poor performance. Her broad knowledge and experience allows her to look at the horse as a whole, investigating respiratory, cardiac, gastric and orthopaedic disease. In addition, she enjoys the rehabilitation of injuries and the use of complementary therapies such as acupuncture and electrotherapy.

Outside of work Laura is an athlete herself! – playing international water polo and is an ironman triathlete.

Pippa graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in London in 2009 and after starting her career in mixed practice in West Kent, she moved to an equine clinic in mid Kent, where she became head of ambulatory and anaesthesia. Pippa has a keen interest in ophthalmology, dermatology, and poor performance investigations. During her previous role Pippa was a clinical instructor mentor for final year vet students and was actively involved in mentoring graduate vets. Pippa is also studying for her certificate in Equine Practice.

Being Kent born and bred, with roots from her East Kent Pony Club days, Pippa is heading the recent expansion of Bell in the East Kent area and now manages our Canterbury area days.

Pippa keeps busy with her young family and border collie Snoopy, but in the little spare time left enjoys SUP and fresh water swimming on the Kent coast.

Antonio graduated from Córdoba University (Spain) in 1994. After graduating, he headed to the USA where he undertook an externship program at Louisiana State University. He obtained further clinical training at Edinburgh University, from where he completed a specialised Master degree in Equine Reproduction. He then returned to the USA to undertake a clinical residency at Oklahoma State University. After completion of his residency he returned to work in Equine Practice in Ireland, the UK and Spain, before settling in the UK in 2009.

Antonio’s main focus nowadays is Equine Dentistry, setting up and developing an Advanced Dentistry Service in his last post in an equine hospital in Wiltshire. He has obtained his Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Medicine (Equine Dentistry) and Advanced Practitioner Status in Equine Dentistry from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS).

Antonio joined Bell Equine in 2018 and is interested on all aspects of Equine Dentistry, from routine to advance level. He aims to work towards the European Board of Veterinary Specialisation in Equine Dentistry.

Outside of work he enjoys family time with his wife and three children, and any spare time is dedicated to coaching basketball and outside activities like cycling, canoeing, sailing, and photography.

Rachel graduated from the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, Edinburgh, in 2006. She worked in a busy equine and large animal ambulatory practice for four years, prior to a two year internship at Newmarket Equine Hospital. She then completed a four-year residency in equine medicine and a MSc by research in equine grass sickness at the University of Edinburgh.

She returned to Newmarket Equine Hospital to work as a locum equine medicine consultant and then back to Edinburgh again for a Horserace Betting Levy Board PhD in the equine athletic heart. She is a diplomate of the European College of Equine Internal Medicine.

Rachel joined the team at Bell Equine in November 2021. Whilst enjoying all aspects of equine internal medicine, she particularly enjoys cardiology, ophthalmology and abdominal disease cases, together with the work up of emergencies and management of critical care patients.

Edd graduated from Cambridge University in 2005. He worked in small animal practice at the PDSA for 18 months before joining BEVC as an intern in January 2007. After completing his internship he stayed at Bell Equine as an ambulatory vet for a further two to three years. In 2010 Edd undertook a three year specialist training program in Equine Internal Medicine in collaboration with the Royal Veterinary College and became a European Specialist in Equine Internal Medicine.

Edd has broad interests in all aspects of equine medicine with a particular interest in laminitis and hormonal disease. Edd also has a strong interest in clinical research. In 2021 he also graduated from the RVC with a PhD in equine laminitis.

Outside work, Edd enjoys many outdoor pursuits including sailing, skiing, walking and climbing.

Jane graduated from the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies in 2001 and then spent a year at the Marion DuPont Scott Equine Medical Center in Virginia, USA completing an internship in equine medicine and surgery.

She returned to the UK to work in a large animal practice in the North Yorkshire Moors before coming to Bell Equine in 2003. Jane has been one of the ambulatory vet team since then, with particular interest in medicine, especially colics, ophthalmology and geriatrics. Jane is currently working part-time based in the clinic working with Axiom Veterinary Laboratories.

Outside of work, Jane is often spotted walking her 2 cocker spaniels, running or cycling.

Elise graduated from the University of Nottingham in 2017 and started her career at an equine hospital in Auckland, New Zealand, where she developed her interests in equine orthopaedics, intensive care and reproductive medicine. Elise has worked as an ambulatory clinician in private practice in Lincolnshire for 3 years, enjoying a high lameness and reproduction caseload. She worked a stud season in Australia where she furthered her skills in both thoroughbred and sporthorse breeding, foal medicine and lameness.

Elise joins us for the season with a focus on breeding work but we are excited for her to also be an active member of the ambulatory team. Elise is also studying towards her Advanced Practitioner Certificate in Equine Internal Medicine with the University of Liverpool and achieved her qualifications as an official FEI permitted treating vet in 2021.

Outside of work, she loves all things outdoorsy and when she's not scanning mares on the weekends she can be found riding, climbing or enjoying watching the rugby!

Chloe graduated from the University of Liverpool in 2018 and has been working as an equine ambulatory vet in Kent, before joining us in January 2020. Chloe enjoys all aspects of general practice but has a particular interest in lameness, poor performance and surgery.

Outside of work she enjoys being outdoors, riding and rowing.

Ceri graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2004 before joining Bell Equine as an intern. She spent 2 years with us predominantly in the hospital prior to embarking on a specialised surgical residency and Masters program in Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences at the University of Georgia in America. She became a Diplomat of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2010. After completion of the residency and Masters programs, Ceri remained at the University of Georgia as a Clinical Instructor in Large Animal Surgery until 2011. She then returned to the U.K and took up an equine surgical position at The University of Nottingham.

In 2012, Ceri returned to Bell and has since completed a residency in Diagnostic Imaging in conjunction with the Royal Veterinary College. Ceri became a Diplomat of the European College of Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging in 2015 and is currently the only RCVS recognised specialist in both equine surgery and large animal imaging. Ceri enjoys using her imaging expertise to decipher the problem and treat her surgical cases. She enjoys all types of surgery and plays an active role in the emergency service.

When not looking at horses, Ceri is normally found looking at MRI or CT images in a dark room but occasionally enjoys walking her dog, running, scuba diving cooking and skiing.

Sarah graduated from the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, Edinburgh in 2016 and promptly moved to Sydney, Australia to complete a 12-month internship at Randwick Equine Centre. She stayed in Australia for another 12 months as an associate and gained experience in anaesthesia, racetrack work and over-ground endoscopy.

Sarah moved back to the UK in September 2018 and spent the best part of two years working as an ambulatory vet at Rossdales Hertfordshire, before joining the ambulatory team at Bell in August 2020. Sarah has a particular interest in internal medicine and anaesthesia, and is currently working towards the CertAVP in Equine Medicine. Sarah also has a role recording podcasts for the Equine Veterinary Journal.

Outside of work, she enjoys keeping fit and catching up with family and friends.

George qualified from the University of Nottingham in 2017 and subsequently completed an internship in equine medicine and surgery with the University of Nottingham. He has also spent time working as an ambulatory vet in the New Forest, where he grew up, and in the Home Counties.

George enjoys all aspects of ambulatory work but has a special interest in equine internal medicine and colic.

In his spare time, he enjoys walking his dog, Walter, with his wife, Esme. He also enjoys mountain biking, climbing, and blacksmithing.

Ami graduated from the University of Bristol in 2014 and has been working in equine practice ever since. After starting out working in the South West she moved eastwards, working in equine practices in both the New Forest and West Sussex, before joining us in Kent in August 2020.

Ami has a particular interest in equine internal medicine and is studying towards a certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice with the University of Liverpool. Her other interests include animal welfare and donkey medicine. In 2019 Ami spent two weeks volunteering for a charity in Morocco helping working animals and is hoping to continue doing charitable work when she can.

Outside of work she enjoys taking time to travel, read and spending time with friends and family when she isn’t at home having a cup of tea and playing with her little tabby cat!

Maciej graduated from Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences in Poland in 2006. After graduating he spent some time at the university as a doctoral student. He went on to complete an internship at an equine clinic and further practical studies at equine clinics linked to the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna.

After completing his doctoral thesis in 2011, Maciej and his wife moved to Wales. He worked at a couple of mix practice veterinary clinics before joining the ambulatory team at BELL EQUINE in 2018. In January 2020 he moved to our out of hours team.

Ian qualified from Edinburgh in June 2006 and has been working with horses ever since – first in the New Forest, then at a Hospital in Sussex and latterly in East Sussex.

He passed his orthopaedic surgery certificate in 2015 and worked at the London Olympics in 2012 as part of the Vet Team.

In 2018 he shifted exclusively to work out of hours to help develop the area of equine emergencies.

Kristina (known to most as “Chappy”) qualified from the University of Florida in 2016. She subsequently undertook an internship in equine diagnostic imaging at a private practice in Florida before moving to the UK in 2017 to join the team at Bell Equine, where she completed our hospital internship before joining our ambulatory team. In January 2020, she moved to our out of hours team.

She is currently studying toward a Certificate in Advanced Equine Practice at the University of Liverpool. Her main interests include imaging, clinical research, and emergency work. Chappy joined the out of hours team in January 2020.

James qualified in Sydney, Australia in January 2007 and subsequently worked in ambulatory practice in Australia.

On returning to the UK he completed an internship at House and Jackson in Essex and worked as an ambulatory vet in East Sussex since then. He passed his orthopaedic surgery certificate in 2015.

He enjoys all aspects of Equine work and has a keen interest in providing a high quality out of hours service, since shifting to help run the dedicated out of hours team in 2018.

Lizzie graduated from Bristol University in 2018 and spent three years working in first opinion equine practice in the Cotswolds. Lizzie joined us in July 2021 as part of the hospital intern team. She has particular interests in internal medicine, ophthalmology and sarcoids.

Outside of work Lizzie enjoys running, cycling and riding her two lovely chestnut mares, Clemmie and Cora.

Therese graduated from the University of Cambridge in 2017 and worked as an ambulatory vet in Gloucestershire prior to completing an 18-month hospital internship at B&W Equine Hospital, Gloucestershire.

Therese is now doing a 3-year surgical training residency split between Bell Equine and B&W Equine Hospital. She has a keen interest in all things orthopaedics and alongside her surgical training, she is doing a Masters in Veterinary Surgery with the University of Nottingham investigating long term outcomes after synovial sepsis.

Outside of work Therese can be found training for her next marathon or cycling (slowly!) around the countryside.

Camille graduated in 2021 from Royal Veterinary College, London, before joining us at Bell as one of our hospital interns. She has a particular interest in equine surgery and diagnostic imaging.

Outside of work she enjoys playing hockey, eventing and playing the piano.

Richard founded the practice in 1989 after spending twenty years in mixed practice based in Maidstone. At that time it was clear to him that there was a need for a practice specialising in equine work to develop in west Kent. The practice grew rapidly thanks to the dedication of the team that he built up, and he continued to steer and develop it in order to maintain our position as a 'centre of excellence' dedicated to serve the horses and their owners in the community.

Richard retired from the Partnership at the end of 2005, but continues to be involved in the practice.

Olga graduated in 2008 and after gaining further experience in the USA, Belgium, Ireland, Australia and Prague. Olga came to England in 2011 to join an equine ambulatory and referral practice in Lancashire.

In 2015, Olga completed a chiropractic degree in Germany and obtained a Sports Medicine Certificate with the University of Dublin in 2018, along with a qualification in acupuncture - all of which she has combined with her extensive veterinary experience. Her main interests are poor performance, lameness / orthopaedics and reproductive medicine.

She is a registered racecourse veterinary surgeon and has worked at several racetracks in the South of England, as well as being OV qualified and an official FEI treating vet.

Olga is currently on maternity leave.

Graduating from Cambridge in 2011, Emily spent two years in equine practice in Lincolnshire, before moving to Surrey to continue working with sports horses, pleasure horses, racehorses and of course ponies and donkeys.

Having grown up in Kent Emily was pleased to have returned to her home county and joined us at Bell Equine in 2014.

She enjoys every aspect of being an equine GP and has a particular interest in lameness and ophthalmology. She also carries out a large number of pre-purchase examinations for potential owners.

Emily is currently on maternity leave.