Meet our Veterinary Surgeons
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Ben Coles
Clinical Director
BVSc CertAVP(Lameness) MRCVSAfter graduating from the University of Liverpool, Ben completed a surgical internship in Australia, before joining the BVEC team in 2018. He holds an RCVS certificate in equine lameness diagnosis and therapeutics, and has a passion for optimising performance in sport and race horses, and lameness, poor performance and pre-purchase examinations. He is also heavily involved in eventing, having worked with the Australian eventing team, been part of the British Equestrian Federation since 2018 and been involved with the Tokyo Olympics.
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Millie Stewart Wood
Associate Clinical Director
DVM MRCVSBorn and bred in the Cotswolds, Millie has owned and competed horses from a young age and studied at The University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest. She joined us in 2018, and can usually be found driving around the region with our gastroscope in the back of her car. She is currently undertaking a certificate in advanced veterinary practice, and enjoys spending her spare time eventing, hunting and team chasing with her own horses.
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Aled Thomas
Associate Clinical Director
BVM BVS MRCVSAled studied at the University of Nottingham, before completing an internship at an equine hospital in Ireland and a stud season in Australia. He worked at a specialist racing practice before joining us in 2017, and is head vet at many of our racing stud yards, with many artificial insemination clients. He holds a certificate in equine stud medicine, has spent many winters completing stud seasons in New Zealand and enjoys horse racing, football and skiing.
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Lydia Coles
Managing Clinical Director
MAVetMB CertAVP MRCVSLydia grew up in the Cotswolds and studied at the University of Cambridge. She is mainly based at our hospital, where she anaesthetises our surgical patients, performs MRIs and looks after critical care and post-operative patients. She has a keen interest in internal medicine, which she has completed a certificate in, and also supports our administrative team. Outside of the clinic, she loves baking and exploring the countryside with her children and her dogs.
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Ollie Crowe
Specialist Surgeon
BVSc CertES(Orth) DipECVS MRCVSAfter graduating from Liverpool Vet School in 1997, Ollie completed a surgical training programme at the Royal Veterinary College in London and spent 20 years developing and running a large equine hospital in Gloucestershire. His main interests include surgery and poor performance, and he has published studies into treatments such as suspensory disease, coffin joint arthroscopy and kissing spine. He holds an RCVS certificate in equine surgery and is a diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Surgeons. He is also recognised as a European and RCVS specialist in equine surgery, and regularly speaks and lectures at national and international conferences.
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Hattie Barnes
Specialist Surgeon
BVSc CertAVP (ESST) DipECVS MRCVSOriginally from the Cotswolds, Hattie studied at the University of Liverpool and later completed a residency there, as well as internships with several equine hospitals. She joined our team in 2023, and became an ECVS Diplomate of Large Animal Surgery the following year. She has a particular interest in abdominal and laparoscopic surgery, and spent time as an additional surgeon during the southern hemisphere breeding season in New Zealand. In her own time, she enjoys eventing and exploring the outdoors.
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Lucy Collins
Veterinary Surgeon
BVMedSci BVM BVS CertAVP(ESM) MRCVSSince graduating from Nottingham Vet School, Lucy has focused on ambulatory and stud work, and enjoyed a stint in the southern hemisphere on a busy stud developing her interest in equine reproduction, an area which completed a certificate in. She has been with us since 2023, and loves spending time with her family, playing sports and gardening.
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Charlotte Oastler
Veterinary Surgeon
BVBiol BVSc MRCVSCharlotte grew up between the UK and Australia, and studied veterinary science at Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga. She joined us in 2022, after a few years spent working in practices in Victoria and the UK and at a polo practice in Berkshire. She has a particular interest in equine medicine and anaesthesia, and loves good food, exploring the world and socialising with friends.
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Valentina Aresu
Veterinary Surgeon
Valentina studied at the University of Sassari on the Italian island of Sardinia, after which she completed several internships in both Australia and Kentucky She has been with us since 2024, and has a particular interest in stud work.
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Ben Harries
Veterinary Surgeon
BVSc MRCVSBorn and raised in South Wales, Ben studied at the University of Liverpool and gained experience at an ambulatory practice in Cornwall before joining our team in 2023. He has a keen interest in poor performance and dentistry, but enjoys the variety that being out on the road brings. Outside of work, he enjoys playing rugby, horse racing and travelling.
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Kelsey Cook
Veterinary Surgeon
BVMSci MRCVSKelsey joined our ambulatory team shortly after graduating from the University of Surrey, and also holds a degree in biomedical science and a masters degree in veterinary microbiology. She previously spent time working with a racing vet team in South Africa and has a special interest in sports performance, reproduction and foal medicine. She loves walking her dogs, swimming, travelling and visiting her family in Scotland
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Polly Sishton
Veterinary Surgeon
BVSc MRCVSPolly joined us after graduating from the University of Bristol and a short stint working as a small animal vet. She completed a 12-month internship at Bourton Vale before joining the ambulatory team, and enjoys all aspects of equine work, especially internal medicine. She is a whizz with our gastroscope, and is often found in theatre anaesthetising patients for our surgical team. Outside of work, she loves walking her dog, riding her horses, skiing and running.
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Frankie Bethel
House Vet
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Caoilfhionn Gibbons
House Vet