Equine Ambulatory Veterinary Surgeon Full or Part Time

 Isle of Wight


Salary: £38k to £45k depending on experience + OOH bonus + benefits


Are you an experienced equine vet looking for varied, interesting work, a close and supportive team, and a genuine work-life balance? Vectis Equine Vets is growing, and we're looking for an additional ambulatory vet to join us on the beautiful Isle of Wight. Full-time and part-time applicants are equally welcome.


About us

Vectis Equine Vets is an independent, 100% ambulatory equine practice caring for the majority of the Island's horses, ponies and donkeys. The practice began as a branch of Liphook Equine Hospital and became independent in 2012. We have kept close links with Liphook, and their RCVS and European Specialists in surgery and internal medicine visit regularly for referral work-ups and standing surgery. You're encouraged to stay involved with your cases through out. We are currently a team of four vets, led by Director Kate Vincett BVM&S CertAVP(EM)MRCVS, with two excellent receptionists who organise your day and provide first-class admin support. We are part of the RCVS Practice standards scheme and an Approved Graduate Development Practice (VetGDP). We run our own BEVA approved 18-month ambulatory internship programm, so teaching and case discussion are part of everyday life here.


The caseload

Our work is varied and rewarding. It includes sport and leisure horses, FEI show jumpers, CIC4*eventers and more than 120 donkeys at the Island's Donkey Sanctuary. You'll carry out lameness investigations, colic work-ups, dentistry, ophthalmology, medicine, PPEs and routine preventive care. You'll have mobile diagnostic equipment, digital radiography, ultrasonography, gastroscopy and our in-house laboratory to support you. We also have our own stocks, plus access to a trot-up and ménage at a local yard.


Why the Island?

The Isle of Wight is only 23 miles by 12, so calls are rarely more than 20 minutes away, including out of hours. Over half the Island is a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. When the day is done you can go riding, sailing, surfing, cycling, walking or take a sea swim after work.


About you

You'll need:

• Your MRCVS

• At least 18 months' experience of equine ambulatory work in the UK

• Confidence working independently on the road, and enjoyment in being part of a collaborative team

• Excellent communication skills with clients, colleagues and paraprofessionals

• A full UK driving license


An interest in supporting and mentoring graduates and interns would be a real advantage. So would a special area you'd like to develop, such as lameness, dentistry or medicine where we would fully fund and support an RCVS certificate.


What we offer

• Competitive Salary plus a bonus for every OOH call, with an extensive benefits package

• A 1:5 weekends and 1:4 week night out-of-hours rota covering a small geographical area, with a long weekend off after each weekend on call

• 8.30am–5.30pm working day

• 5 weeks' holiday plus bank holidays, and the practice closes for routine calls between Christmas and New Year with an emergencies-only rota

• Private medical insurance through Vitality, plus an Employee Assistance Programm through Peninsula

• Company vehicle, iPhone and laptop

• VDS membership paid

• CPD allowance £1000pa including CPD days at Liphook Equine Hospital shadowing specialists

• A practice that takes staff wellbeing seriously, with written wellbeing and mental health support policies. We were short listed to the final four practices nationwide and given a highly commended award for the SPVS team development and support award in 2026.

• Part-time hours and OOH commitment agreed pro rata, and we'll work flexibly with you

• Please see testimonials on our website https://www.vectisequine-vets.co.uk/jobs


How to apply

For an informal chat, call Kate on 07825 747419. We'd also love you to come and spend sometime with us to see the practice for yourself. To apply, email your CV and a covering letter to recruitment@vectisequinevets.co.uk

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Why should you join us??  - see what our current / recent vets

 plus visiting specialists have to say...

Dominique Carver BVetMEd MRCVS

Joined the team as a new graduate in August 2022


"Having grown up on the island, I am definitely a little bias but after 8 years of living away in London 

and Bristol, I couldn’t be happier to be back working in such a beautiful and friendly place. We rarely drive more than 20 minutes to a call and in the summer (or winter if you’re brave) you can go for a sea swim after work! In the 6 months that I have been part of the team at Vectis I have had the 

perfect balance of support and independence which has allowed me to gain a lot of confidence and experience. I never imagined that 6 months after graduating I would be happily doing castrates and lameness workups alone. Being able to catch up with other vets when you pop back to the office for lunch is really helpful and we enjoy discussing cases together. We are also very lucky to have 2 very supportive receptionists who make the days tick along efficiently. I feel as a new graduate, this job has really set me up well to have a long and enjoyable career as an equine vet". 

Bridey Shawyer BVM BVS MRCVS

Joined  Vectis Equine Vets in Feb 23 


"Vectis Equine Vets is a small and friendly team, based on the beautiful Isle of Wight. I joined the team on a fixed term basis before starting an internship. From the moment I started, I have felt part of the team and if I hadn't already had my internship arranged, without any doubt, I would be staying with Vectis Equine permanently. I can honestly say I love being a vet when working with the Vectis Team".   

Read more

Jamie Prutton  BSc (Hons) BVSc DipACVIM DipECEIM MRCVS. 

Visiting RCVS and European Specialist in Equine Internal Medicine, American Specialist in Large Animal Internal Medicine. 


"I get to work with the Vectis team regularly in person, through referral work and on the phone.  The cases are highly varied giving the everyone a chance to learn and extend their knowledge.  Normally whoever is referring the case can attend whilst I work them up so that they learn and ensure case continuity.  The team are great to work with, with excellent communication and team ethos.  Every time I go to the island for cases its like heading over on a small holiday on the ferry with great ice cream at the other side".

Rachel Tucker BSc, MVetMed, CertAVP(ESO), DECVS, MRCVS 

Visiting RCVS and European Specialist in Equine Surgery


"Kate and the Vectis team are a tight knit bunch who care for the majority of equids on the Isle of Wight. I have got to know the whole team, and many of their clients, over the years of visiting or seeing cases in at Liphook Equine hospital. I think the Island has a more laid back feel and more community spirit than elsewhere in the South and I love that you are never far from a beach. Vectis has close links with Liphook Equine Hospital, whether for case discussion, referral of cases or for on the job CPD. I visit a few times per year to help with procedures and to perform basic standing surgeries, helping the vets pick up some new skills along the way. I particularly enjoy a Donkey sanctuary visit!"

Claudine Wallace MRCVS

Our first equine ambulatory intern Oct 21-Feb 23


Having had the opportunity to complete an ambulatory internship at Vectis I can’t think of a better place to have started my career. The support I received was great, and enabled me to feel confident handling increasingly complex cases independently over the course of the programme. The unique characteristics of the island bring more benefits to the job, and not having to drive far to calls in the middle of the night is always a win! Working at Vectis has given me the skills to pursue my career dreams, and friends and memories to last a lifetime. 

18 month Ambulatory Internships. Next available in 2028

We see the job differently here at Vectis Equine Vets and want to give you a fulfilling, exciting role as part of a supportive team. 
We recognise the first few years can be very overwhelming, particularly in ambulatory equine work, but opportunities for an internship whilst being a general practitioner are very limited. We offer a programme to allow you to develop your skills whilst benefiting from mentoring and one on one training from a VetGDP Advisor and all our ambulatory vets. This would suit a recent graduate with experience in mixed practice or a new graduate wanting to complete their VetGDP in a solely equine practice. 

By the end of your internship you will be confident in all aspects of equine ambulatory work including:
General:
colic evaluation and treatment, 
evaluation of wounds and possible synovial sepsis,  
exploration of the foot and draining of subsolar abscesses

Lameness:
Diagnostic analgesia including palmer digital, abaxial sesamoid, low four point, and sub tarsal/carpal nerve blocks
Intra-articualr analgesia of DIPJ, PIPJ, MCPJ, carpus, hocks and stifle 
Radiography of feet, carpus, hocks, stifles, necks and backs
Ultrasonography of the distal limb

Anaesthesia
In field anaesthetic techniques and monitoring

Medicine
Vaccination and relevent legislation
Routine dental examination, rasping and evaluation of growth abnormalities, caries and diastema, including use of dental oroscope. 
Ophthalmic examination and ultrasound, management of cornela ulceration and uveitis
Identify common cardiac murmurs and arrhythmias
Abdominoparacentesis
Flash scanning for colics and more in depth abdominal and thoracic ultrasound scans
Upper respiratory tract scoping including tracheal wash and broncheo-alveolar lavage techniques. 

You will also benefit from professional development day’s at “Liphook Equine hospital” shadowing their European and RCVS specialists to help gain the practical experience and case management skills needed to compliment your advancing knowledge.



Our varied case load includes sport horses, pleasure horses, FEI showjumpers, CIC4* eventers and over 100 donkeys at the Island’s Donkey Sanctuary. Enjoy picturesque journeys between calls through the beautiful landscape of the island, over 50% of which is designated as an area of outstanding natural beauty. The island measures 23 miles by 12 miles meaning short journeys between calls and out of hours leaving time to take advantage of the amazing outdoor pursuits the island has to offer riding, sailing, walking, cycling, surfing, running ….

100% ambulatory but with our own stocks and use of trot up and menage at local yard when required. Currently a 4 vet team with 2 fantastic receptionists who will help organise your day and provide exceptional admin support. 

Originally the practice was a branch of “The Liphook Equine Hospital” but became independent in 2012. We retain very close ties with Liphook and their European specialists visit regularly for referral opinions or surgeries allowing you to stay involved in referral work ups.

Intern specifics
• Long weekend off after a weekend on call. 
• 5 weeks holiday per annum, plus bank holidays, plus the practice is also closed between Christmas and New year with an emergencies only rota. 
• Comprehensive private medical plan, Company vehicle, i-phone, surface-pro laptop provided. 
• VDS cover included
• 8.30am start, 5.30pm finish 
• Bonus for every OOH call. 1:4 OOH rota. 
• Quiet OOH covering small geographical area. 

For more information call Kate for an informal chat on 07825 747419 or come and spend time at the practice to see what we can offer.

If you are an Equine Vet who shares our passion for providing outstanding care to horses and their owners, and you are looking for a role that offers a great work-life balance, a supportive team, and modern equipment, we want to hear from you. Please apply today with your CV and a covering letter to recruitment@vectisequinevets.co.uk

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