Meet Your Team
Veterinary Surgeons
Emma Jones
Emma qualified from Cambridge University in 1996. After completing an internship at the Animal Health Trust in Newmarket and spending time in equine practice in Gloucestershire, Emma completed a surgical residency and was appointed Lecturer in Equine Orthopaedics at the University of Edinburgh. Her particular interests include lameness diagnosis and diagnostic imaging. She holds an RCVS certificate and advanced practitioner status in equine orthopaedics. In her spare time Emma has more luck controlling her spaniel, Freddie than her two children and is trying to persuade her horse that you do not win dressage tests by being the fastest to complete the test!
David Holman
David qualified from the University of Melbourne, Australia in 1990. After working in both Australia and the UK, he joined Abbey Veterinary Centre in 2004 and has become a very popular member of the team. He particularly enjoys all aspects of stud medicine and also has an interest in equine acupuncture. David is a keen horse racing fan and makes it to meets whenever he can.
Carys Reynolds
Carys' family live in Abergavenny and she graduated from the University of Liverpool Vet School in 2010. She went on to complete an 18month specialist Equine Internship at the B&W Equine Veterinary Hospital in Berkeley and subsequently joined their ambulatory team in the Bath and Bristol area, before returning to her roots here at Abbey in 2018.
Carys enjoys all aspects of equine veterinary work and has gained extensive experience across the board; from pleasure horses and donkeys to international competition team horses and even Zebra along the way! Carys has a particular interest in Internal Medicine, with specific focus on poor performance diagnostics such as Gastroscopy, Endoscopy and Abdominal Ultrasound as well as Stud Work throughout the breeding season. Carys has her ARVS membership and is a proud member of the fantastic Veterinary team at Chepstow Racecourse as well as at Point to Points. She has also completed her Legal Expert Witness course and has been involved in several high profile welfare cases.
Outside of work she loves socialising with friends and competes under British Eventing with her Dutch Warmblood horse Tommy. Carys will rarely be alone on her calls, her black Labrador Tally has the job of chief vet's assistant!
Georgina Vaughan
Georgina graduated from the Royal Veterinary College, London in 2007. After which she spent some time working for S.P.A.N.A., a horse charity in Morocco, before undertaking an internship at the Dubai Equine Hospital in the UAE. Georgina then spent 3 years working at a large Equine Practice in Leicestershire before joining us in 2011.
She is an FEI endurance vet, team vet for the British Endurance team and is an OV registered vet. Her main interests are performance horses, neonatal medicine and anaesthesia.
Georgina grew up in mid-Wales through the pony club and hunted regularly.
Georgina is passionate about endurance riding as well as vetting at numerous rides around the country she also breeds, trains and competes her own horses at FEI 3* level. Her spare time is spent training her horses in the beautiful black mountains or helping on the hill sheep farm.
Helen Vaughan
Helen graduated from the University of Queensland in 2013 and after 2 years in mixed practice became a locum, dealing mainly in small animals. This was only a short term plan until an equine position came up close to home. In November 2016 Helen jumped at the chance to join Abbey Equine Clinic, initially as maternity cover.
Helen is a qualified Veterinary Physiotherapist with a keen interest in equine biomechanics, helping compliment the clinic’s orthopaedic department through rehabilitation post injury/surgery. She also enjoys all aspects of first opinion equine practice and has her OV licence, allowing her to perform pre-export certification.
Having grown up competing in multiple disciplines Helen gets out as much as possible eventing her WBx gelding, alongside BD and some showjumping. Helen will be seen out on calls with her Collie cross dog, who is becoming famous for her enthusiasm in protecting the car!
Sam Crumpton
Sam graduated from the University of Nottingham in 2017, this was followed by an internship at the Royal Veterinary College Equine Referral Hospital in London. This experience, alongside competing from a young age, sparked Sam’s main interest in Sport Medicine and Orthopaedics. Following her internship Sam initially joined the team at Abbey in 2018 but then worked closer to her home in Bristol as an equine ambulatory vet. However she couldn't stay away from Abbey so returned back in 2020! She is currently completing her Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice in Equine Lameness Diagnosis and Therapeutics. Sam will be heavily involved with our new Chepstow branch opening in April.
When not working Sam is normally out eventing, training or making the most of the beautiful countryside with her loyal, friendly and ever so helpful veterinary assistant Digby the labrador.
Anna Wilkinson
Anna graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2018, after previously completing a degree in Bioveterinary Science. Keen to get straight out into practice Anna joined us here at Abbey for a couple of years before relocating to another equine practice in Cornwall where she has spent the last year enjoying the coastal views on her calls. Anna enjoys all aspects of equine practice however has developed a keen interest in anaesthesia, neonatal care and internal medicine. Having grown up in Wales and starting her career here initially with us, Anna is very excited to be returning home and back to the Abbey Equine team! Outside of work you will find her busy exploring the countryside alongside her crazy springer spaniel Mickey.
Amber Whitmarsh
Amber graduated from Bristol University in 2011 with Veterinary Science being her second degree. Her first degree at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth was in Animal Science. Since graduating she has worked at equine practices in Manchester, Sherborne and Bristol, and has completed an internship at the prestigious Philip Leverhulme Equine Hospital. Amber also holds a Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice (equine practice). She enjoys all aspects of equine ambulatory work and has a particular interest in internal medicine and ophthalmology.
Outside of work Amber is kept busy with her three naughty New Forest ponies and ex-police horse. Her family own a champagne importing business and she loves nothing more than sampling the merchandise.
Jessica Milford
Jess graduated from Bristol university in 2023. She enjoys all aspects of equine ambulatory veterinary work and is looking forward to getting to know clients and their horses. Before becoming a vet Jess has worked with horses in various capacities including as a BHS qualified instructor. Outside of work she enjoys being outdoors riding, paddle boarding, surfing or walking. She has a young thoroughbred she is hoping to event in the future.
Kiersten Gillis
Hailing from Virginia, USA, Kiersten recently graduated from the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies in Edinburgh. Prior to veterinary school, she received a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and Animal Science from Virginia Tech. During her time at Virginia Tech, she worked on an American Quarter Horse farm and learned to play polo on the side. She has gained valuable veterinary experience through her roles in various equine hospitals across Virginia, Kentucky, and Colorado. Beyond her interest in horses, Kiersten enjoys doing yoga, hillwalking, camping, rock climbing, and spending quality time with her dog, Finn.
Nursing Team and Technicians
Karen A Williams
Karen qualified as a registered veterinary nurse from Pencoed College in 2000 and joined Abbey Vets in 2002 and gained her second Diploma in Equine Nursing in 2013 after studying at the Open College of Equine Studies in Suffolk. Karen qualified as an Amtra Registered Animal Medicines Adviser (RAMA) for both equine and companion animals in 2016. She can also be found working in all weathers as part of the on course veterinary team at Chepstow Horse Races covering events such as the prestigious Welsh National.
Karen enjoys both National Hunt and Point-To-Point racing which she has participated in as an owner, trainer and jockey. Since 2014, she has taught the Equine Syllabus to students at Abbeydale Vetlink Nursing College in Monmouth. Karen has a keen interest in welfare, first aid and all preventative health care issues. Other interests include foreign travel, Scuba diving , good food and driving her Fresian Mare "Matty" around the country lanes. If you would like any advice or information on equine nursing issues please give her a ring at the clinic.
Maddie Watts
Maddie joined the Abbey Equine team in December 2019, as our Student Equine Veterinary Nurse while studying at The Open College of Equine Studies; where she went on to qualify in January 2023. Maddie enjoys all aspects of equine nursing but has a keen interest in wound management and radiography. She enjoys assisting the vets out on the road and is often seen riding lameness workups for Emma. Outside of work, she can be found riding her horses, Jeda and Tara and trying to tame her first pony William!
Sian Warman
Sian Warman joined our team 2010 having been in her previous veterinary practice for 16 years. She has also worked at hunt kennels. Sian has also qualified as a 'Suitably Qualified Person' (E-SQP) for both Equine and Companion animals. Sian has her own horse which she enjoys showing and hacking, she also breeds working labs and spaniels.
Michelle Siggers
Michelle has worked as our weekend stable hand since 2018, Michelle then took up a veterinary nursing role at the clinic in July 2021 after qualifying as a registered veterinary nurse from Usk College. Michelle is currently studying a Level 5 equine veterinary nursing top up and aims to complete in 2022.
Outside of work Michelle enjoys hiking with her partner and their Husky X Collie Kodie, also spending time with her Friesian X Spotted Sports Horse Khali.
Office Team
Ann Walker
Ann joined Abbey Equine on the 1st Feb 21 having spent a year working as Yard manager at a Stud and Vet Practice in Gloucester. Previous to that Ann was yard manager at SWHP for 11 years and has a passion for equine welfare and rehabilitation. Ann has her own horses and enjoys been out and about in the country side with her dog Roxy.
Ella Abbott
Ella joined the practice in January 2022. She has worked in the equine industry for many years, starting her career working with event horses, then moving into equine practice as a veterinary technician and then spending a number of years in a stud management role. Outside of work Ella can usually be found out and about with her two dogs or travelling around in her campervan.
Ellie Morgan
Ellie joined Abbey Equine Clinic in October 2019 having spent the previous five years working in the insurance industry so she is always at hand for any insurance queries that you may have. Ellie has her work cut out for her trying to keep whereabouts on the vets which as you can imagine some are easy to keep track of than others! Outside of work Ellie enjoys competing on her horses, socialising and exploring the countryside.
Lisette Davies
Lisette has been involved with horses from a young age firstly in Newmarket with Sir Mark Prescott, then Martin Pipe. Later she trained point to pointers & pre trained horses for Jimmy Neville. Then had a family & worked corporately for many years in sales & marketing, but continued to ride work for local trainers & take horses racing whenever I could. She holds a BHA Racing Coach in which she is currently working towards Level 3. In her spare time Liz enjoy breaking in youngsters & Team Chasing with Team RideAway on Taz the Connie cross who is a bit of an open TC legend!
Maria Watts
Maria joined us as Equine Office Manager in May 2017. Maria graduated in 2005 from the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester with BSc (Hons) degree in Agriculture with Animal Management. She has previously worked in the hunt service, at both the Brecon & Talybont and Curre & Llangibby hunt kennels, and joined us from the insurance industry. Maria grew up on her familys' livestock farm in Brecon and has always enjoyed working with animals. All Marias' spare time is devoted to looking after her tribe of horses, dogs and chickens. She also enjoys cooking, baking and looking after her two young nieces.
Let's talk
24hr Emergency No: 01873 840 069
Llansabbath Barns, Llanellen, Abergavenny, Gwent NP7 9BY
T: 01873 840 069
E: office@abbeyequine.co.uk
Abbey Equine Chepstow
Ride and Stride, St Arvans, Chepstow. NP16 6DN
T: 01291 444877
E: office@abbeyequine.co.uk
Opening Hours: Monday – Friday: 9:00am – 5:30pm
