The Equine Team

Linda Belton BVSc MRCVS

I qualified from the University of Bristol Vet School in 1991 and started working in Hampshire. I joined the George Veterinary Group in October 1992, becoming a partner in 2001. The George Veterinary Group Equine Clinic has continued to expand, providing high quality veterinary care to horses throughout Wiltshire and Gloucestershire.

I write an equine veterinary column for Horse Magazine and also write for our local equestrian newspaper Saddle Up. We also produce a quarterly magazine aimed at younger riders offering advice and information about horse health. This is distributed for free through local equestrian outlets and via our surgeries.

I have been a keen rider for a number of years, competing in various disciplines and having a lot of fun! As well as my own two horses, I now have children with ponies. Looking after and competing ponies is possibly more work than the horses!

I enjoy all aspects of my veterinary work, with a special interest in equine lameness and poor performance, two areas which often go hand in hand. I also do a lot of equine dentistry as correct dental care is vital to a horse’s digestion and performance.

As a practice, we also enjoy hosting lectures and demonstrations for horse owners on veterinary health care and have extended this service to various summer riding and pony club camps.

Sarah Hayes BVetMed MRCVS

Having qualified from the Royal Veterinary College, London in 1998, I started my career in Kent. I joined The George Veterinary Group Equine Clinic in November 1999.

As part of a busy equine practice, we cover a wide geographical area and I really enjoy being out and about seeing the countryside, often with Millie our border terrier! We treat all shapes and sizes of horse and pony, this variety is perfect to keep us all on our toes! I thoroughly enjoy all aspects of my veterinary work, but wound management is especially satisfying.

Additionally, I like the challenge of internal medicine cases and caring for some of our more elderly four-legged patients. I spend much of my time looking in horse’s mouths and performing dentistry to ensure maximum comfort and performance, this is another area of my job that I am particularly interested in.

Having ridden since a child, I am now watching my young children develop an interest in ponies, whilst still managing to slip away and do some riding myself!

Ali Mead BVetMed MRCVS

Ali qualified from London in 1980. After working in Kent and Australia she joined the practice in 1985. Ali works solely with horses and is experienced in all aspects of equine practice. Her main interests include equine lameness.

Andy Richardson BVSc MRCVS

I qualified from Bristol University 4 years ago and worked in equine practice in Somerset for 1 year, before starting my internship at the Dubai Equine Hospital in the UAE. My year in Dubai was spent based in the hospital, looking after in-patients and assisting with surgeries.

After leaving Dubai, I worked at the Three Counties Equine hospital in Tewkesbury for a little over 2 years, before leaving to join The George in December 2009.

I enjoy all aspects of equine work and the variation that goes with ambulatory practice.

Outside of work I enjoy lots of sports, including golf, skiing and rugby. Unfortunately a knee injury last year has put to any misplaced hopes of a late call up from Johnno! I am a keen follower of flat racing and have hunted regularly with the North Hereford for the last 15 years.

Oscar Wain BVSc MRCVS

Oscar joined our team in 2008; he joined us from an equine practice on the Staffordshire/Cheshire border where he worked for two years. He qualified from Bristol University and having grown up in Wiltshire, he is thoroughly enjoying being back on home ground.

Oscar enjoys all aspects of his job, but has a particular interest in sports horse medicine and the varied challenges of emergency work.

In his spare time, Oscar is a keen follower of horse racing and test cricket. He enjoys playing tennis, squash and football and finds time to snowboard in the winter.