OUR VETS
At MVS Equine, our veterinarians are recognised leaders in their fields, bringing world-class expertise to the heart of the Waikato. From specialist surgeons and reproductive experts to dedicated field practitioners, our team is committed to delivering innovative, evidence-based care for every horse.
Combining advanced diagnostics with a deep understanding of the industry, our vets work at the forefront of equine medicine. Meet the experts dedicated to the health, performance, and well-being of your equine athletes.
Dave Keenan
Director
BVSc MANZCVS
Read about Dave
Dave was a 1994 graduate from Massey University before spending 2 years in mixed practice in Ashburton.
He came to MVS in 1995 and is currently one of the five practice directors. Dave achieved his membership exams of the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists in Equine Medicine in 2003 and has a specific interest in performance horse work and equine skeletal development.
Andrea Ritmeester
Director
BVSc (Hons) MS DACVS-LA
Read about Andrea
Registered Specialist in Equine Surgery
Andrea graduated from Massey University in 1991. She took a job in mixed large animal practice with Veterinary Associates Equine and Farm in Takanini for 2 years before moving to USA to complete a 3-year Residency programme in Large Animal Surgery at Purdue University, Indiana, from 1993-1996. She stayed on as Instructor at Purdue University Veterinary School for another year while finishing a Master of Science degree in 1997.
Andrea returned to NZ in 1997 to resume work at Veterinary Associates Equine and Farm as Practice Surgeon. She passed the Boards Examination in Large Animal Surgery for the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in San Diego in 1998 to become the only Boarded Large Animal Surgeon in private practice in NZ at that time, and was granted Specialist status in Equine Surgery by the NZ Veterinary Council in 2000.
Andrea continued to work at Veterinary Associates Equine and Farm in South Auckland until early 2010, when a lifestyle change saw her move to the Waikato with husband Mark and 5-year-old daughter Jessica. She joined the Matamata Veterinary Services Equine team in March 2010 and is currently performing all types of surgery with a special interest in arthroscopy and abdominal surgery.
Barbara Hunter
Equine Vet
DVM MS MANZCVS DACVS-LA
Read about Barbara
Registered Specialist in Equine Surgery
Barbara finished her DVM at the University of Saskatchewan in 2007. Following an internship in equine referral practice at Mid-Atlantic Equine Medical Center in New Jersey, Barbara spent two years as a general ambulatory equine practitioner in Alberta, Canada. During that time she developed a special interest in equine sports medicine, imaging and surgery.
In 2010 she moved to the USA to complete a one year clinical fellowship in large animal medicine and surgery followed by a three year residency in large animal surgery at Oregon State University. She also completed a Masters in Veterinary Science that focused on bisphosphonate use in horses for treatment of navicular disease and was awarded first place for presentation of that research in the 2014 American College of Veterinary Surgeon’s Residents Forum. She is now one of two American board certified surgeons at Matamata Veterinary Services and has special interests in both race horse and sport horse lameness, minimally invasive surgery, and dental surgery.
Frances Peat
Equine Vet
BVSc CertAVP PGDipVPS MRCVS
Read about Frances
Registered Specialist in Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation
Dr Frances Peat graduated from Massey University and began her career at MVS in January 2010. She has 17 years’ experience in referral equine practice and is recognised as a Specialist in Equine Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation by the New Zealand Veterinary Council.
Between 2014 and 2024, Frances completed specialist training and a PhD at the world-renowned equine orthopaedic and sports medicine centre at Colorado State University, USA. Her time overseas included work and research periods in Kentucky, Florida, Newmarket (UK) and Hong Kong. During her master’s degree, she studied laser photobiomodulation of equine stem cells for use as a biological treatment in musculoskeletal disease. Frances’ PhD in diagnostic imaging included the largest ever Thoroughbred sales radiology and ultrasound study, on over 2,500 sales yearlings and two-year-olds and their subsequent racing performance worldwide.
Frances’ areas of expertise are equine performance and sales work. She has a strong interest in advanced diagnostics and imaging, including echocardiography (cardiac ultrasound), MRI, CT and PET scanning. Frances is recognised internationally in her fields and has been an invited speaker in the United States, New Zealand and Australia, including for Racing Victoria and the Federation of Bloodstock Agents Australia.
Frances has returned home to clinical practice at MVS Equine. She has a personal background in athletics, eventing (3*) and played hockey for Auckland and Waikato. Frances has a genuine passion for providing the equine athlete with world-class evidence-based veterinary care.
Links to the following articles:
Show Circuit article
Returning to New Zealand with world-class equine expertise.The Thoroughbred Report article
Failed the x-rays but won a G1: The science.Journal Publication
Stifle lucency/cyst xray findings in sales Thoroughbreds and associations with racing performance.Journal Publication
Sesamoid xray findings in sales Thoroughbreds and associations with racing performanceJournal Publication
Suspensory ligament ultrasound findings in sales Thoroughbreds and associations with racing performanceJournal Publication
Combined xray and ultrasound findings in sales ThoroughbredsJournal Publication
Laser photobiomodulation of equine stem cells
Leigh De Clifford
Equine Vet
BVSc CertAVP PGDipVPS MRCVS
Read about Leigh
Born and raised in rural Australia on a mix farm, Leigh grew up around racing, rodeo and campdrafting.
Leigh graduated from Massey in 2008 and worked in a large equine hospital in western Victoria before taking up a position as the private veterinarian for Qatar Bloodstock and Qatar Racing, based in Gloucestershire, UK.
Leigh’s interests include sports medicine, lameness and surgery and is keen on advancing the management of the equine athlete to get maximum performance, whether it be polo, dressage, eventing, show jumping or racing. Leigh was also asked to join the Australian Equestrian Veterinary Team for WEG in 2014.
When not at work Leigh can be found running around a rugby pitch, at the gym or grooming for his wife at her dressage competitions.
Tracey Kerr
Equine Vet
MVB, MANZCVSc (Eq Med)
Read about Tracey
Tracey graduated from University College Dublin in 2007 and spent two years working in Kentucky before coming to New Zealand for the breeding season. Ten breeding seasons later she is still here enjoying the Kiwi equine industry and lifestyle.
Tracey’s main areas of interest include internal medicine, in particular neonatal foal medicine, and all aspects of stud work. She gained membership of the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists in 2012, focusing on Equine Medicine.
Outside of work Tracey enjoys hiking, travelling and a good book.
Roisin McQuillan
Equine Vet
MVB BAgrSc
Read about Roisin
Roisin joined MVS in April 2018 as part of our equine team. Roisin graduated from University College Dublin, Ireland in 2004 and worked in mixed practice in southern Ireland for two years before moving to Australia to pursue an interest in equine reproduction and medicine. The southern hemisphere appealed and so she applied to register in New Zealand, initially working as a locum vet in the North and South Islands before settling in the Waikato to work in equine practice.
Roisin has been employed to work as a member of the equine team to carry out ambulatory work in the stables and studs. Her interests include racetrack work, performance medicine, dentistry and ophthalmology.
Outside of work Roisin enjoys outdoor pursuits such as trail running, hiking and walking her dogs. She enjoys attending the races and local dramas and is a keen traveller.
Rochelle Kerr
Equine Vet
BVS BAgSc DipAgSc CVA
Read about Rochelle
Rochelle joined Matamata Vets Equine team in 2017 after spending 20 years working at Marks Ewen and Associates predominately as a stud veterinarian.
Rochelle graduated from Massey University in 1993, she worked in mixed practice for a few years before travelling and working in large animal practice in the UK.
Rochelle’s interests are equine reproduction and stud medicine. In 2019 she became certified in Veterinary acupuncture after completing the Australian International Veterinary Acupuncture Society qualification. She is enjoying being able to offer a different perspective to traditional western medicine.
Rochelle is passionate about NZ thoroughbred breeding and is on the NZTBA council.
In her spare time, she enjoys hunting, watching her children play cricket and going to the races and having the odd flutter.
Ian Heyns
Equine Vet
BSc Agric BVSc
Read about Ian
Ian joined MVS July 2019 as part of our equine team
In 1977 Ian graduated from University of Natal, South Africa with a BSc Argric, he then attended Pretoria University graduating in 1982 gaining his BVSc.
For 15 years Ian owned and operated a mixed animal practice in Mooi River, Natal, SA which included intensive and extensive beef, sheep and horses. 1990 – 2000 saw Ian working exclusively on TB stud farms in Natal including three seasons in the Northern Hemisphere in Turkey. Followed by spending 2003-2017 as the stud vet in The Cape for numerous studs including, Drakenstein Stud & Wilgerbosdrift & Maine Chance Farms.
Ian built and was the managing director of the Drakenstein veterinary clinic, now named Vetscape in 2007.
He also was also successful in breeding on his own account owning a thoroughbred stud in Paarl, Cape Town which bred a Grp 1 winner named Seal.
Ian then relocated to NZ 2018 with his family.
Outside of practice Ian enjoys spending time with family, running, squash and touring the wild country in SA and now NZ.
Jessica Connell
Equine Vet
BVSc
Read about Jessica
Jess joined MVS in July 2019 as a veterinarian on our equine team.
Jess graduated from Massey University in 2011 with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science. She has held a variety of jobs in the equine industry, including with thoroughbred racing, pre-training stables, and sport horse farms. She then went on to spend two breeding seasons at a well known thoroughbred stud in the Waikato as a junior stud vet.
As Jess sought to progress and further her career she arrived at Marks+Ewen in 2014 where she completed her internship and progressed to the role of veterinarian associate. Her main interests are equine reproduction, all aspects of thoroughbred stud medicine and radiography.
Jess’s interests outside of work involves spending a lot of time with her own horses, this includes show-jumping and hunting, as well as breeding the odd sport horse. In her spare time there’s always work to be done on their kiwifruit orchard.
Therese Ritson
Equine Vet
BVSc (dist.)
Read about Therese
Therese joined MVS in August 2017 through our equine internship program. Therese graduated with distinction from the University of Liverpool, UK in 2016. Since then she has spent a year in a mixed animal practice in England where she enjoyed the wide variety of work it provided. Therese also undertook a surgical elective at Anglesey Lodge Equine Hospital as a student. Since completing her internship with MVS, Therese has stayed on as a permanent team member and has moved into an ambulatory vet role with the clinic.
Outside of work Therese enjoys riding, running and cycling.
Caroline Thompson
Equine Vet
BVSc (Dist.)
Read about Caroline
Originally from Canterbury, Caroline graduated with distinction from Massey University in 2018. Her passion for horses began early, growing up in the equestrian world, competing in eventing, and working in the racing industry before pursuing veterinary medicine.
Caroline has a strong interest in anaesthesia and analgesia and is currently studying towards a Certificate of Advanced Veterinary Practice in this area. Her other interests include emergency and critical care and internal medicine, with a particular focus on foal medicine. During the foaling season, Caroline can often be found managing the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and overseeing other intensive care cases.
Outside of work, Caroline loves travelling and exploring the outdoors. She enjoys hiking with her dog, Tuesday, and discovering new adventures whenever possible.
George Randell-Sly
Equine Vet
BVMedSci BVM BVS MRCVS
Read about George
George joined MVS in September 2025 as part of our racing team. George graduated from Nottingham University in the UK in 2023 and began his career in North Yorkshire, UK, working in primarily thoroughbred practice, looking after a number of racing stables in the racing town of Malton. George is currently based in Cambridge, primarily working with racing stables, pre-training and spelling farms based in the area. Outside of work George is often found at the races. When not around racehorses, he plays rugby, runs, hikes, fishes and generally appreciates the outdoors.
Kirsty Connell
Equine Vet
BVS
Read about Kirsty
TBA
Alexandra Mitchell
Equine Vet
BVSc
Read about Alexandra
Ali graduated Massy University in 2023. Ali joined MVS as an intern in 2024 and stayed on in a veterinary role following the end of her internship. Her role consists of general ambulatory work, with a focus on stud work and some hospital work including anesthesia. Ali grew up on a lifestyle block just outside Wellington. Ali grew up show jumping to young rider and more recently Pro-amateur level. Outside of work Ali enjoys anything in the outdoors and riding her horse William.
ELITE EQUINE CARE - 24/7
Our team combines world-class equine specialists with experienced field vets to provide the highest standard of care for your horse. We deliver expert surgical, reproductive, and emergency services across the Waikato.
Expert veterinary care for horse health, performance, and wellbeing. Based in Matamata, our dedicated team provides ambulatory and clinic services across the Waikato 24/7, 365 days a year.
CONTACT
07 888 8193
equine@matamatavets.co.nz
362 Hinuera Road, RD2 Matamata
Waikato, NZ
Normal clinic hours:
8am - 5pm Monday - Friday
Emergency calls accepted anytime.
