VS EQUINE - Key Persons
Dave Kruger is our equine veterinarian based from our Napier clinic. He is very experienced in equine dentistry, lameness investigation, and foot balance diagnostic imagery. Dave has always had a passion for equestrian and water sports and is actively involved in the Hawke's Bay Endurance Club.
Dave joined the Vet Services team in 1996 after moving to New Zealand from South Africa. He is based out of our Napier Clinic and involved with both the equine and companion animal divisions of our practices.
Dave has a special interest in equine dentistry and lameness/foot balance and is very experienced with ultrasonography and radiology in horses.
Dave's always had a passion for horses and the outdoors. When he is not at work you may find him riding his endurance horses with his wife Pilar or near the water, surfing, diving, or volunteering with surf lifesaving with his sons.
Henry Yule's passion for animals started from an early age while growing up on a sheep and beef farm in Hawke's Bay.
After graduating from Massey, Henry moved to South Auckland and spend a number of years working as a mixed practice veterinarian at Franklin Vets. While in Auckland, henry completed postgraduate study in critical care in small animals.
In late 2020, Henry returned to Hawke's Bay and decided to focus his career on production animals and equines. He enjoys the variety of interesting cases and helping clients achieve their performance goals.
Johnny Atkins is our veterinarian for all things equine related in the Dannevirke region. His keen interest in horses was discovered during his school years, as he spent time riding. He has continued his education completing additional studies to further his knowledge and skills, particularly in Equine Dentistry, Medicine and Lameness. He enjoys the challenge and physicality that comes with working with horses.
Johnny has been working with Vet Services Dannevirke since 2012, after completing his studies at Massey University. Originally hailing from Wellington he thoroughly enjoys the ‘small town life' Dannevirke offers.
Johnny's keen interest in horses was discovered during his school years, as he spent time riding. He has continued his education completing additional studies to further his knowledge and skills, particularly in Equine Dentistry, Medicine and Lameness - making him the go to vet for all things equine related in the Dannevirke region.
While not at work you can often find him out running, but he enjoys a range of sports and making the most of all the awesome outdoor opportunities rural NZ has to offer.
Libby has spent her entire life around horses. Her grandfather breed horses and she was in the saddle riding before 8 years of age.
Before training as a vet nurse she worked as a polo groom in Australia and then with a local sport horse and racing stables.
After completing her diploma in vet nursing Libby spent a number of years in the companion animal nursing team before the opportunity arose to follow her passion and join VS Equine.
In her spare time Libby competes in showing and side saddle classes, does a spot of hunting, volunteers with the fire service and travels the country with her off road loving partner and Swedish vallhund Harold.
Morag is a bright and bubbly member of our Production Animal Customer Service and Equine Team.
She joined Vet Services in 2017 as a Production Animal Receptionist fielding farm and equine enquiries, bookings and charges. Morag recently made the move to a new Equine Technician role and is very excited as this is an area she has a great interest in.
When she's not at work you'll find Morag spending time with her husband Wayne and two children Harry and Lucy on their lifestyle block at Ocean Beach, or enjoying some equestrian activities.
Nicolette hails from the green dairy pasture of the Waikato but after graduating from Massey University, she made her home in Central Hawkes Bay. Nicolette wears many hats at Vet Services clinic with a particular interest in equine and working dog medicine.
She spent her early years on the farm wrangling with a naughty pony in her attempt to make it into a stock horse. Today she fills her spare time running around the rugby field.
Nicolette loves the challenge that equine medicine provides and enjoys the physicality of working with horses while also utilising the precision often reserved for the small animal clinic.
Born and bred in the Hawke's Bay, Portia started riding horses from a young age and started competing at 13.
Portia has a Diploma in Veterinary Nursing from EIT and has worked in both our Waipukurau and Hastings Clinics. .
Portia currently shares her time between VS Equine and the Napier clinic. She is passionate about all animals and is excited to see where this career path leads.
Richard McKenzie leads our equine division in Hastings. He has been an equine veterinarian for over 30 years and is very experienced with horses of all sizes and disciples. He has special interest in performance horses, equine lameness, radiography and reproduction services.
Richard originally joined the Vet Services Team in 1989 arriving for a three-month locum and staying for three years.
He spent four years abroad working in mixed bred and equine practices across the UK returning to our Hastings Clinic with a cemented interest in Equine work. 90% of Richards day is now involved with horses of all sizes and disciplines. He has interests in performance horses, equine lameness, radiography and reproduction.
Outside of work his kids, partner and thoroughbred horses take up most of his time but enjoys swimming, fishing, and a bit of armchair critiquing for rugby and racing when he gets the chance.