Equine Services
Your partners in complete Equine Health Care.
Gambier Vets cater for all types of horses, from children's ponies and hacks, to racers, pacers, studs and performance horses.
We have experienced horse vets on staff, including Dr Stuart Skirving who is registered with the Australian Stud Book for all your horse microchipping and DNA needs.
We also have an extensive range of diagnostic equipment, including ultrasounds, endoscopes and digital x-ray facilities, so you and your horse can get results fast.
We provide scheduled visits to properties, and a full 24 hour emergency service, so whenever your horse needs a vet, we're only a phone call away.
Radiographs
We offer advanced on-site equine radiographic services to help diagnose and manage a wide range of musculoskeletal and orthopedic conditions. Whether you're dealing with a performance concern, a sudden injury, or a pre-purchase evaluation, our digital radiography equipment delivers fast, high-quality images for accurate diagnosis and treatment.
Radiographs, commonly known as X-rays, use low doses of radiation to create detailed images of bones and joints. They are a crucial tool in diagnosing fractures, arthritis, bone chips, laminitis, and developmental orthopedic disease, among many other conditions.
When Are Radiographs Recommended?
Lameness evaluations
Joint or bone abnormalities
Pre-purchase or insurance exams
Hoof problems (e.g., laminitis, navicular disease)
Injury assessments
Monitoring healing of fractures or surgical sites
Our veterinarians are highly skilled at capturing and interpreting radiographic images and will walk you through the findings in a clear, supportive way.
Dentistry
A healthy mouth is essential for a healthy horse. We offer comprehensive equine dental care to ensure your horse is comfortable, able to eat properly, and performs at their best—whether they're a pasture companion or a high-level athlete.
Why Is Equine Dentistry Important?
Horses’ teeth grow continuously throughout their lives and naturally wear down as they chew. However, uneven wear, sharp points, or dental abnormalities can lead to discomfort, poor performance, weight loss, or even behavior changes. Routine dental exams are vital for maintaining your horse’s health and comfort.
Signs Your Horse May Need Dental Care:
Dropping feed or slow eating
Weight loss despite good appetite
Head tossing or bit resistance under saddle
Unusual odor from the mouth or nasal discharge
Facial swelling or draining tracts
Quidding (chewing and dropping wads of hay)
Undigested feed in manure
What We Offer
Routine Dental Exams & Floating
Using hand tools to smooth sharp points and correct imbalances.
Sedation Dentistry for Comfort & Safety
Light sedation ensures a thorough, stress-free exam and procedures
Book a Dental Checkup - We recommend dental exams at least once a year for most horses, and more frequently for senior horses, performance horses, or those with known dental issues.
Pregnancy Exam
Whether you’re managing a breeding program or expecting a single foal from your mare, ensuring a healthy pregnancy starts with expert veterinary care. We offer comprehensive equine pregnancy exams to confirm conception, monitor fetal development, and support successful foaling.
Why Pregnancy Exams Matter
Early and accurate pregnancy detection allows you to make informed decisions for your mare’s care. Timely exams can identify twin pregnancies, monitor fetal viability, and detect complications before they become serious. With our experienced reproductive team and advanced diagnostic tools, we help set your mare and her foal up for a safe, healthy outcome.
Pre Purchase Exam
Buying a horse is a major investment—whether for sport, breeding, or companionship. A Pre-Purchase Examination (PPE) by an experienced veterinarian is one of the most important steps you can take to protect that investment and ensure the horse is a good fit for your goals.
Dr Stuart Skirving offers comprehensive, unbiased pre-purchase exams tailored to your needs, from basic soundness evaluations to in-depth diagnostics.
What Is a Pre-Purchase Exam?
A PPE is a thorough clinical evaluation of a horse’s health, soundness, and suitability for its intended use. It does not pass or fail the horse—but provides you with detailed information to make an informed decision.
What’s Included in a Standard PPE:
Full physical exam
Heart, lungs, eyes, skin, body condition, teeth, and general health.
Lameness and soundness evaluation
Includes movement assessment in-hand, on a lunge, and under saddle if requested.
Hoof and limb inspection
Evaluation of hoof conformation, wear patterns, and palpation of joints and tendons.
Flexion tests
To detect subtle lameness or joint discomfort.
Neurologic screening
Basic assessment for signs of ataxia or neurological issues.
We work directly with buyers, trainers, and agents to ensure transparency and confidence in the buying process. Whether you're purchasing a weekend trail partner or a competitive athlete, our goal is to help you make the best possible decision.
Microchipping
Permanent identification for peace of mind.
We offer equine microchipping as a simple, safe, and permanent method of identifying your horse. Whether you're registering a competition horse, meeting breed or regulatory requirements, or simply adding a layer of security in case of theft or natural disaster, microchipping is a smart and responsible choice.
A microchip is a tiny electronic device—about the size of a grain of rice—that’s implanted under the skin, usually in the left side of the horse’s neck (nuchal ligament). Each chip contains a unique 15-digit identification number that can be read with a handheld scanner.
Why Microchip Your Horse?
Permanent identification
Unlike brands or tattoos, microchips are tamper-proof and last a lifetime.
Required by many organizations
Microchipping is now mandatory for registration with many breed registries and equestrian sport governing bodies (e.g., FEI, EA, ASB).
Theft prevention & recovery
If your horse is stolen or lost during a natural disaster, a microchip increases the chances of safe return.
Veterinary & health record tracking
Helps keep accurate records across owners, trainers, and vets.
What to Expect
Quick, minimally invasive procedure
Performed under sterile conditions with a single-use injector.
Lifetime registration
We provide instructions to register your horse’s microchip number with a national database.
Certification available
Documentation provided for competition, transport, or sale purposes.
Lameness Exam
Subtle or sudden, lameness can affect any horse—whether in light work, intense competition, or even at rest. We offer thorough, science-based lameness examinations to accurately diagnose the cause of your horse’s discomfort and create a clear path toward recovery and performance.
What Is a Lameness Exam?
A lameness exam is a comprehensive evaluation to identify the source of pain, uneven movement, or poor performance in your horse. Lameness can result from issues in the limbs, joints, hooves, tendons, ligaments, or back—and may be caused by injury, conformation, overuse, or underlying medical conditions.
When to Schedule a Lameness Exam
Changes in gait or movement
Poor performance or reluctance to work
Intermittent or persistent limping
Head bobbing or stiffness under saddle
Behavioral changes while being ridden
Swelling, heat, or sensitivity in limbs
What’s Included in a Lameness Evaluation
Full physical and orthopedic exam
Includes palpation of limbs, back, and joints for heat, pain, or swelling.
Movement assessment
Evaluation at walk, trot, and canter in hand, on the lunge, and under saddle if appropriate.
Flexion tests
To detect subtle joint or soft tissue pain.
Hoof testing and balance evaluation
Assessment of shoeing, conformation, and hoof structure.
Diagnostic imaging
In Clinic digital radiographs (X-rays) and ultrasound to visualize bones, joints, and soft tissue structures.
Don’t let pain go undetected. The sooner a lameness issue is diagnosed, the better the outcome. We’re here to support your horse’s health, performance, and long-term soundness.