VETPARTNERS has continued its expansion with the acquisition of two of the UK’s leading equine practices.
The arrival of Liphook Equine Hospital in Liphook, Hampshire, and Rainbow Equine Hospital in Malton, North Yorkshire, underlines VetPartners’ venture into the equine and mixed sector.
The UK group, based in York, built up a strong base of nearly 70 small animal practices across England, Scotland and Wales, before moving into the equine and mixed market earlier this year.
Liphook and Rainbow join their other equine practices, Minster Equine, Ashbrook Equine Hospital, Gillivervet, Hampden Vets, Hale Veterinary Group, Penbode Vets Uplands Way Vets and Abbey Veterinary Group.
VetPartners chief executive Jo Malone said the group, which was established in October 2015, would continue to expand its equine sector.
Former Minster Vets director Julian Rishworth has been appointed as VetPartners Head of Equine and the group has established a Graduate Development Programme for its equine division.
Chief Executive Jo Malone said: “Liphook and Rainbow are two of the leading equine hospitals in the UK and we are privileged they chose to join us.
“It was an active decision to move into the equine sector and we want to do that properly by attracting leading hospitals to the group to set the tone on the standard of care and make it more appealing to other equine practices who want to be part of a bigger group.
“Expanding our equine sector will have huge advantages for practices from a career development point of view, from our Graduate Development Programme to having some of the UK’s top specialists.
“Our collaborative approach across the group will also enable us to share the expertise, knowledge and experience of some highly talented team members at leading UK equine practices.”
Some 83 small animal, equine and farm practices are part of VetPartners, which has 3,500 employees working across 313 sites across the UK and from its headquarters at Leeman House in York.
Expansion is set to continue and VetPartners expects to have 350 sites by the end of 2018.
Julian Rishworth, pictured, has been appointed VetPartners’ new Equine Director and the Graduate Development Programme will be expanded to include equine vets.
Liphook Equine Hospital is one of the largest specialist equine veterinary practices in the UK and a centre of excellence at the forefront of equine medicine and surgery.
Its state-of-the-art referral hospital provides 24-hour care to horses, ponies and donkeys referred from its own ambulatory first opinion practice and other clinics across the UK, while it also boasts an on-site laboratory.
Rainbow Equine Hospital is the largest fully equipped RCVS Tier 3 Equine Referral Hospital in the North.
The practice offers the most advanced diagnostic and surgical techniques in state-of-the-art facilities, with specialists in equine soft-tissue and orthopaedic surgery, internal medicine, anaesthesia and diagnostic imaging. It also has an on-site laboratory.
For media enquiries, please contact Amanda Little, VetPartners Head of PR and Communications, on 0191 300 1181 or email amanda.little@vetpartners.co.uk