LISA DURHAM  MA VetMB CertEP MRCVS

Lisa qualified from Cambridge University Vet School in 1991 and, after six years of exile there, couldn't wait to get back home to Wales.  As a student she 'saw practice' with Bush House Vets in Llandeilo.  She also saw what a beautiful area it was and so didn't hesitate to accept the offer of a permanent post there on qualification.  Lisa enjoyed working at Bush House for twelve years and gained a great deal of experience in equine medicine, having a particular interest in stud medicine.  She also achieved the postgraduate qualification of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Certificate in Equine Practice.

Lisa has considerable experience as an endurance riding vet.  In addition to numerous events throughout Wales, she has vetted both the National Championships in Cirencester, the Home Internationals in Thetford (Welsh Team Vet) and the Golden Horseshoe ride on Exmoor.    Since 1999, Lisa has undertaken a number of assignments for  SPANA (the Society for the Protection of ANimals Abroad), a charity operating worldwide to improve the lives of  working horses and donkeys.  The most rewarding of these assignments was a six-week period in Tunisia training local  vets and technicians but she has also worked with SPANA in Morocco, Syria and Jordan. 

Lisa's first pony was a just-backed adrenaline junkie four year old called Skipper.  He was extremely fast and good across country; he's still pretty fast for his age (thirty) and enjoying retirement at home, along with Welsh Cob mare Annie (thirty four).   In Spring 2004, leaving the horse clients in Philippa's capable hands, Lisa set off from home riding her beloved Arab gelding, Audin, (bought as a yearling from Emrys Jones) with husband Harry riding his Arab mare, Sealeah, and Hannah (Annie's foal by Audin) as a packhorse.   Sixteen months, twelve countries and six thousand miles later they reached the Red Sea in Jordan.  It's a long story -  see 'the fairly big ride' on www.rideopenspaces.co.uk.

In the years since returning Lisa has enjoyed riding Sealeah , helping to keep her  fit  for her successful endurance career with Harry. Sealeah also enjoys  t.r.e.c. competitions and Hannah  is enjoying light hacking and eating good Welsh grass.  In 2006 Lisa bought Shakmari Gold  ( Bryn) a 2year old Arab gelding bred by Mrs Pitt.   She has enjoyed backing him and bringing him on and hopes to start him on his endurance career this year.

PHILIPPA HUGHES BVSc MRCVS

Philippa qualified from Bristol University Vet School in 2003.  Her enthusiasm for equine medicine was always apparent, so choosing "Laminitis and it's aetiologies" as her final year thesis was no surprise.   It was at foster practice that Philippa met Lisa.  Their love of horses and dedication in equine medicine was matched and after qualifying Philippa took up employment at Bush House.  Her work consisted mainly of equine patients and she was heavily involved in stud medicine.

Since a young age, Philippa has successfully competed with her show hunter ponies.  She was Welsh Points Champion, British Novice Champion, and placed at both the Royal International Horse Show and Horse of the Year Show with her bay mare Quantro Bay (Robbie).  She has also represented Wales as a member of the British Show Pony Society's Welsh Show hunter team and  Young Judges Team.  At home, she now cares for her beloved veterans Coed-y-Rhyd Malibu (Mali) and Pendley Minerva (Mick) .

She  successfully competes her Anglo Arab Dolphin Superiority (Finn) in showing classes.  In 2008 he qualified for the Cherif  Championships and was 4th  in the intermediate show riding type class at the BSPS Championships.  This year she also hopes to bring out her youngster Hugo Horton.

Angie has been our practice manager since December 2006.  Angie's background as a nurse practitioner and manager of human GP services has proved an interesting and useful preparation for her role here.  As practice manager, Angie is responsible for the day-to-day running of the clinic and managing the business side of things so that the vets can concentrate on looking after your horses.  She deals with all our invoicing, is able to resolve most queries you may have and is always willing to talk to clients who are concerned about meeting the cost of treatment or who need help with insurance claims.  If you have any comments about our services (good or bad), Angie would like to hear from you so that we can try to develop our services to meet your needs.

Angie lives at Caio with her husband Paul and daughters Martha and Naomi.  Angie describes herself as a "very happy hacker" having recently taken over Naomi's beloved eventing pony, with whom she plans to try all Riding Club activities as well as some Trec with younger daughter Martha.  Angie is also kept busy supporting daughter Naomi's eventing career- Naomi and her horse  Celtic Sunrise (Daisy) progressed from Intro to Intermediate in their first full season (2008) and rode for the Welsh squad at the CCI*JRN Championship.