Media release

Ballarat Veterinary Practice which has provided specialist equine services to the racing industry for the past 66 years, has been recognised with a prestigious national award for excellence.

The practice, which services all aspects of equine medicine and surgery with special interest in the treatment of equine respiratory tract disorders and lameness, was recently awarded the Australian Veterinary Association /Cenvet Large Animal Practice of Excellence Award for 2011.

With 11 horse-specific veterinarians, the Ballarat practice’s specialist equine clinic provides an important service to the racing industry with a high percentage of its business in the Thoroughbred and Standardbred areas.

Dr Ian Fulton, a specialist equine surgeon and one of the practice partners, says that the equine practice has always prided itself on providing the best available diagnostics and treatments to the racing industry.

“Ballarat is the only clinic in Australia that is performing laryngeal reinnervation by a nerve graft procedure on a regular basis – this is an innovative procedure that treats a fairly common problem affecting large, young Thoroughbred horses,” he said.

“We were also the first clinic in Victoria to install a bone scan (scintigraphy) unit in 1999, and we now have one of the only purpose-built equine bone scanners in Australia,” said Dr Fulton.

The Ballarat practice also has a strong vision for the future of the business which involves expanding the imaging systems in the equine clinic and continuing to improve the treatment of respiratory tract disorders and lameness.

“The addition of MRI and CT scanning equipment in the lameness clinic will enable horse owners to implement accurate management plans for treatment and rest and to prolong racing careers,” said Dr Fulton.