Tim Mair BVSc PhD DEIM DESTS DipECEIM AssocECVDI FRCVS

Head of Hospital - Specialist in Equine Internal Medicine & Equine Surgery (Soft Tissue)

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 in equine medicine and surgery, and is a recognised specialist of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) in Equine Soft Tissue Surgery. He is a founding diplomate of the European College of Equine Internal Medicine, and is a European specialist in Equine Internal Medicine.

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, parasitology, skin tumours, antibiotics and clinical audit), and has published widely in the professional veterinary literature (with over 2000 peer-reviewed veterinary articles). He has also written and edited several books on equine veterinary medicine and surgery. He has acted as an external examiner for veterinary undergraduates at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) and the University of Bristol, and in 2007 he became a Visiting Professor at the RVC. He has been on the council of the British Equine Veterinary Association, serving as President in 2019-2020 and sits on several RCVS  and professional committees.

Tim leads the hospital services at Bell Equine and has special interests in equine medicine, colic, soft tissue surgery and MRI / CT. He also supervises our residency, intern and extern programmes, as well as being the Equine Veterinary Director of CVS Ltd.

In 2025 Tim was awarded the prestigious Sage Kester Lifetime Achievement award from the AAEP for services and contribution to equine veterinary medicine.

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.

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.

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.

Alison Fairburn BVSc DipECVDI-LA MRCVS

Specialist in Diagnostic Imaging

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 completed a four year large animal diagnostic imaging residency at Bristol University, where she obtained her European Diploma in Diagnostic imaging (large animal), before joining Bell Equine in 2017. She loves all aspects of equine diagnostic imaging and also enjoys lameness diagnosis and acute orthopaedic work (investigation of severe lameness, wounds, swollen limbs etc).

Outside of work she enjoys being outdoors, especially cycling, running with her labrador Betty and attemping to grown her own food!

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.

Rachel Jago BVM&S MScR DipECEIM MRCVS

Specialist in Equine Internal Medicine

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 respiratory cases, together with the work up of emergencies and management of critical care patients.

Jane Morgan MRCVS

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 was part of our ambulatory vet team, with particular interest in medicine, especially colics, ophthalmology and geriatrics.

Jane is currently working part-time working with Axiom Veterinary Laboratories.

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

Ceri Sherlock BVetMed (Hons) MS MVetMed DipACVS-LA DipECVDI-LA DECVS MRVCS

Specialist in Equine Surgery and Diagnostic Imaging

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. 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 whilst keeping up with her two young turbo-charged daughters!

Janine Astrid Terschuur DVM DipECVS MRCVS

Janine graduated from the University of Madrid in 2016, and then went on to complete internships at the Hagyard Equine Medical Institute in Kentucky and the University of Cambridge, before undertaking a 3-year European College of Veterinary Surgeons residency in Equine Surgery at Cotts Equine Hospital in Wales. After completing her residency, she stayed on as a consultant in lameness and surgery at the Cotts Equine Cowbridge branch, whilst also covering the out of hours service at their hospital in Pembrokeshire.

Janine joined our hospital and emergency referral team in 2023 and became a European recognised Specialist in Equine Surgery in early 2026.

Her main area of interest lies in emergency and general / soft tissue surgery, but she also has a keen interest in lameness diagnosis and treatment, and working to getting horses back to peak performance alongside physiotherapists and farriers.

Outside work she enjoys travelling, discovering new restaurants and wine, going for endless walks with her cocker spaniel Grace and bringing her homebred mare Delilah on to be a future show jumping star!

Maxime Vandersmissen DMV MSc DIP.ECVDI-LA MRCVS

Specialist in Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging

Maxime graduated from Leige University's Vet School in 2013 and worked as an equine vet before focusing on diagnostic imaging in 2016. Maxime completed a residency in large animal diagnostic imaging from 2018 to 2021 at Leige University under supervision of Valeria Busini and Laurence Evrad, earning diplomate status from the ECVDI in 2022. Subsequently, Maxime serves as a senior radiologist in Leige whilse persuing a PhD.

Maxime has joined BELL's imaging team, reading and reporting advanced imaging studies.

Phoebe Barker MA VetMB MRCVS

Phoebe graduated from Cambridge University in 2024 and joined the Bell hospital team to undertake a hospital internship in 2025.

Phoebe grew up in West Kent so knows the area well. Her main veterinary interest is sports medicine, but she enjoy all aspects of equine veterinary care.

Outside of work Phoebe enjoys taking on triathlons and has represented Great Britain in both triathlon and cross-country running. In Autumn 2025, ran the Hastings half marathon with a winning time. She also enjoys baking in her spare time (which the team are all very happy about!).

Chiara Villella MRCVS

Chiara graduated from the University of Perugia in Italy before moving to the UK to grow not only as a veterinary surgeon, but also as a person.

Outside of work, her greatest passion is travelling, with a special love for Africa — its wildlife, colours and vibrant culture.

When she’s not at the clinic or planning her next adventure, she enjoys cooking for friends in true Italian style!

Simon King MRCVS

Simon graduated from Cambridge university in 2025 and recently joined the Bell Equine team to start his hospital internship in January 2026. 

Originally from Surrey, Simon has enjoyed moving over to Kent. He has an interest in equine medicine but is also keen to develop his skills in all aspects of equine veterinary care.  

Outside of work Simon enjoys walking, football and occasionally playing golf with friends.

Richard Jones MA VetMB CertEP MRCVS

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.