VETERINARIANS

Dr Kylie Splatt BVSc (Hons), MVSc, MANZCVS (Equine Medicine)

Kylie joined Barwon Equine Hospital in 2002. Her early days in practice were spent in mixed practice at Whittlesea, Broadford and Woodend. An internship in equine medicine and surgery at the University of Melbourne’s Werribee Equine Centre followed, where she worked alongside Dr Alistair Maclean, Dr Sally Church and Dr Geoff Hazard.

Kylie’s clinical areas of interest are internal medicine and reproductive medicine. Kylie can be found treating horses of all ages and sizes on any given day. She strives for great attention to detail in all her work and loves being able to make use of our diagnostic imaging equipment to facilitate a diagnosis for her clients and patients.

Dr Paul Kavenagh BVSc

A veterinarian with over 40 years of clinical experience, Paul’s career began in rural mixed practice in Camperdown, in south west Victoria. Moving away from dairy cattle practice and further exploring his interest in horses, Paul later moved to Geelong. It was then he founded a solely equine practice, which has developed and grown over time into Barwon Equine Hospital as we know it today.

With a lifelong attraction to the racing industry, lameness and poor performance are major areas of interest for Paul.

Dr Claire Rowe BSc (distinction), LLB (Hons), BVSc (Hons), MANZCVS (Equine medicine)

Claire joined the practice in 2012. Like Paul, she is a graduate of the University of Melbourne and hails from a farming background in south west Victoria. Claire has ridden horses from an early age and took up veterinary science following an extensive competition background. Her passion was eventing and she was a member of the Victorian Young Rider Squad in her youth.

Claire’s interests lie in imaging and sports medicine & rehabilitation. She is an accredited FEI permitted treating veterinarian and was a Jurox Scholar at the 2014 Bain Fallon Equine Veterinarians Conference. She is a past Victorian young member representative for Equine Veterinarians Australia.

Dr Cristina Rosales BVSc, MVS, MVSc, MANZCVS (Equine Medicine) 

Cristina works part time for the practice, whilst concurrently juggling a young family and running her internal medicine consultancy service, Scope Equine. Cristina graduated from Melbourne University, before undertaking in internship at Ballarat Veterinary Practice – Equine Clinic. She has since completed a residency at the University of Melbourne in internal medicine, as well as working in both New Zealand and the United Kingdom.

Cristina maintains a keen interest in travel and has attended the Mongol Derby as a veterinarian.

SUPPORT STAFF

Alison Rotherham

Alison is a ‘jill of all trades’ – responsible for taking calls, managing syndicate and account queries, mare swabs, booking jobs, assisting vets with patients and overseeing the daily running of the practice, when not looking after her ‘high maintenance’ horse Spike. Alison has an extensive background working in the vet nurse industry, having spent time at Ballarat, Avenel and Goulburn Valley.

Norm Tonks

Our business manager, Norm has worked with Paul since their time in Camperdown and has years of experience in practice management. Now working on a part-time basis, Norm spends his time away from the practice enjoying travelling with his wife and playing golf.

Mikayla Warby

Mikayla is another of our friendly receptionists/nurses, taking calls and assisting vets where necessary. Mikayla is an experienced horse handler and a keen horse rider. She is currently a student at Charles Sturt University, looking to attain a place in the veterinary science course.

Phoebe                                                                                                          

The clinic cat, Phoebe (aka Feedme) was the lucky one of several kittens at a local racing stable. Now living the life of luxury, she can often be found around the stables, keeping our patients company, or trying to charm our guests into feeding her!

Tyson

Tyson is the clinic’s constant equine resident. A calming influence on all patients in the hospital, Tyson has also proven an invaluable resource for the many veterinary students who pass through the clinic, patiently and safely allowing them to reinforce their anatomical knowledge and practical skills.