Emma Cooper BVetMed CertAVP(EM) MRCVS
Head of Ambulatory

Emma graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2006 and started her career with our internship here at Bell. Following this she worked at a predominantly thoroughbred stud practice in Salisbury for eight years where her interest in medicine, in particular reproductive medicine, grew. During this time Emma completed her certificate in Internal Medicine, in addition to two trips to Australia for the Southern Hemisphere's stud season. 

Emma returned to Bell Equine in 2016 as Head of Reproduction . Emma loves working with our busy reproductive caseload and is continuing to develope this area of practice. In 2019, Emma became Head of the Ambulatory team.

Emma grew up in North Kent and was an active member of West Kent Meopham Pony Club before moving into triathlons after university. She now has two young children and is often seen with her family out on bikes in Mereworth Woods!

Albert Mestres Aldavó DVM PGCertVPS CertAVP MRCVS

Albert graduated from the University of Santiago de Compostela in Spain, where he went on to undertake an internship in farm an equine medicine, before working in mixed practice and with the Spanish Army equine stud herd. Albert subsequently moved to Dubai to specialise solely in equine medicine and orthopaedics. During his time in the UAE, he worked with high performance and competition endurance racehorses.

Albert came to the UK in 2014 to work in a purely equine practice in Leicestershire, followed by a rotating internship at the University of Liverpool Equine Hospital, an equine assistant position at the Royal Veterinary College and a two-year period in Essex, before joining Bell Equine in September 2022. Albert has recently completed the Advanced Certificate in General Equine Practice and the more specific Certificate in Equine Lameness Diagnosis and Therapeutics, which is his main area of interest.

Outside of work, Albert enjoys running, walks in the countryside and road trips with his campervan.

Imogen Burrows BVetMed CertAVP(EM) PgCertVPS CertAVP MRCVS
 

Imogen graduated from the RVC, London in 2000 and was awarded RCVS Equine Medicine Advanced Practitioner status in 2014. She gained her Post Graduate Certificate in Veterinary Professional Studies and Stud Medicine Certificate in 2023.

Whilst working full-time in first opinion equine practice, she undertakes several other roles: VetGDP advisor, veterinary undergraduate teaching and examining, and RCVS Advanced Practitioner assessor.

Imogen is BEVA Junior Vice President, Chair of the Ethics and Welfare Committee and member for the Education Committee. She is passionate about both education and improving standards of both clinical care and welfare in practice.

Sam Corrie MRCVS

Sam graduated from Liverpool vet school in 2015. Prior to this he also completed a degree in Equine and Human Sport Science. During his time at Vet school Sam assisted the veterinary Team at London 2012, and was awarded the Equine award in his final year.

He completed his Internship here at Bell Equine before spending time in general practice here and at a practice in North Yorkshire. He also holds a post graduate certificate in Equine Practice.

His favourite parts of the role include rescues and emergency, orthopaedic injuries and colics.

Sam has recently completed a study into the benefit of ultrasound examination in the first opinion colic.

Outside of work Sam enjoys riding his horse and looking after his small herd of cows and alpacas.

Karen Coumbe MA VetMB CertEP CertVA MRCVS
Advanced Practitioner (1) Anaesthesai (2) Equine Practice

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 has 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 many 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 five 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 outside of work. Many of the images on this website are thanks to Karen’s camera being pointed in vaguely the right direction!

Helen Dagg BSc(Hons) BVSc CertAVP(EM) MRCVS

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. In addition, Helen has a Biology Degree from Durham University. 

Helen holds an Advanced Veterinary Practitioner Certificate in Equine Medicine. Her particular interests are ophthalmology, dermatology and internal medicine.

In addition to her busy ambulatory case load, Helen is the Quality Improvement lead at Bell Equine.

In her spare time, Helen is an enthusiastic gardener.

Zosia Damsell, MRCVS

Zosia graduated from the University of Liverpool in 2021. She worked for a mixed practice in Guernsey where she grew up before moving to Kent in 2023 to join our busy ambulatory team.

Zosia has a particular interest in equine medicine and will soon be studying for her Certificate in Equine Medicine.

In her spare time she enjoys keeping fit and catching up with friends.

Michael De Cozar BSc (Hons) BVetMed DipECVS MRCVS

Specialist in Equine Surgery

Michael graduated from The Royal Veterinary College in 2011, before joining Bell Equine in May 2012 to undertake a hospital internship. He subsequently  spent several years on our ambulatory tream before joinging the hospital team to completed a three year residency in equine surgery. He obtained his European Diploma in Equine Surgery in 2024 and is now part of the hospital specialist clinical team.

Michael's main clinical interests are in all areas surgical, but particularly in soft tissue, orthopaedics and emergency surgery. Michael has published scientific research into post-operative complications in colic patients whish is another area of keen interest to him. He enjoys all areas of clinical practice, in addition to promoting animal welfare and maintaining the human-animal bond. 

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

Natalia Dziubinski MRCVS

Natalia joined the Bell Equine Clinic in January 2024.  She qualified as a veterinary surgeon at Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Poland in 2012, completing multiple externships and placements during her time at there. After qualifying she completed a 2 year internship at an equine hospital at the F.U. Berlin. Natalia subsequently worked at an Equine Clinic in Waldenbuch as an ambulatory and Internal Veterinary Assistant.

Since 2015 Natalia has practiced in the UK and spent the last nine years in first opinion practice in Waltham Abbey, where she obtained her certificate in Equine Lameness Diagnosis and Therapeutics. She has also completed a Chiropractic course at The International Academy of Veterinary Chiropractic in Bournemouth. Her long term interests are in equine orthopaedics and sport medicine.

Natalia started riding as a teenager and then progressed to compete in dresage competitions and worked as a riding instructor. She was also a memebr of the academic riding club at the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Poland.

Outside of work Natalia enjoys spending time with her two young daughters and being outdoors walking her beloved dog Duke!

Sarah Emptage BVetMed MRCVS

Sarah graduated from the Royal Veterinary College and from here went to work for a large animal practice in Kent for the following 10 years. She subsequently moved to an Equine Clinc in East Kent, where she went on to became clinical director. Sarah joined the ambulatory team at Bell Equine in September 2022 and enjoys all aspects of equine work, with a special interest in geriatric patients.

Outside of work she enjoys family time with her husband and three boys, walking her dog Digby, gardening, singing and helping to run a local Scout group.

Zuleika graduated from the University of Gran Canaria in 2014. After graduation she went on to complete an internship at Cotts Equine Hospital in Wales, before returning to her home Island of Tenerife were she ran her own ambulatory Clinic in with a friend whom she had grown up with.

Her main area of interest lies with emergency and general medicine, as well as being very keen on lameness investigations.

Outside of work you can find her bringing on her feisty chestnut mare or travelling different corners of the world!

Lucinda Giles MRCVS

Lucinda graduated from University of Liverpool in 2020 after completing a number of student placements at Bell Equine before undertaking an internship in equine surgery and medicine at Bourton Vale Equine Clinic in Cheltenham. Following this, Lucinda worked in ambulatory practice in and around Kent and East Sussex for two years before moving to Bell Equine.

She has a keen interest in internal medicine, endoscopy, donkey medicine and is part of our stud team.

Lucinda grew up in Kent and was an active member of the Ashford Valley Pony Club. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her three Donkeys; Tilly, Tom and Tiny, as well as walking her Irish Setter Margot, who often accompanies her to work. Lucinda enjoys dog walks, spending time with family and friends, as well as going to music concerts.

Harriet Fairhurst Bsc BVetMed PgCertVPS CertAVP(EM) MRCVS

Harriet graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2016. After qualifying, she returned to Kent and has worked in ambulatory practice in Kent/East Sussex since. Harriet has a keen interest in internal medicine, equine reproduction and donkey medicine. Most recently, Harriet has completed her exam to become an Advanced Practitioner in Equine Internal Medicine and is currently studying for her certificate in stud medicine.

Harriet grew up in Kent and was an active member of the East Kent Pony Club. Out of work Harriet enjoys eventing her horse Hazel, as well as caring for her menagerie of other equids! In the little time not spent with horses, Harriet can often be found in a pub garden with her loyal dog, Ginny!

Pippa Hawkes BVetMed MRCVS
Joint Lead Vet, East Kent

Pippa graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in London in 2009 and started her career in mixed practice in West Kent. She then transitioned to an equine clinic, where she became head of ambulatory and anaesthesia. During her previous role she was a clinical instructor and mentor for final year students and was actively involed in mentoring graduate vets.

Currently Pippa is our Lead Vet for East Kent, focusing on expanding our first opinion services in this area. During the bredding season she is an active member of our stud team. In addition to breeding, Pippa has a strong interest in ophthalmology, dermatology, and poor performance investigations. She is also studying for her certificate in Equine Practice.

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 Hinojosa LdoVet, MSc, CertAVM(ED), Advanced Practitioner in Equine Dentistry, MRCVS

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 Practice (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, and on the pathologies of the paranasal sinuses. 

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.

Emily Lunn MA VetMB MRCVS

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 ophthalmology. She also carries out a large number of pre-purchase examinations for potential owners.

Sarah Smith BVM&S CertAVP MRCVS

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 obtained her Certificate in Equine Medicine in 2022. 

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

Quentin Wedmore MRCVS

Quentin graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2022 after working with horses in a multitude of disciplines. Quentine joined us after graduating as one of our hospital interns and after completing his internship has now returned as a member of our busy ambulatory team.

His main veterinary interests lie in epidemiology, horse welfare, and lameness. 

Outside of work he enjoys reading, spending time with friends, and the occasional glass of wine!