Stables Equine Practice Meet the Stables Equine Practice Team

Nicko grew up on the Mendips, hunting with the Mendip Farmers and was an active member of the Mendip Farmers Pony club, particularly in tetrathlon and horse trials. His yearning for the patter of tiny hooves and bred a colt in 2013 from his former polo brood mare, Swallow.

Nicko studied at the Royal Veterinary College, London University qualifying in 1989. After a couple of years in mixed practice, including working in Western Australia, he worked in equine practice in Hertfordshire until 1997 when he moved to Somerset and waited for the phone to ring.

Tim graduated from Bristol Veterinary School in 1994 and from there went straight into equine practice in Worcestershire. He returned to Bristol in 1998 as Director of Equine Practice at the Langford Field Station. Subsequently he joined Nicko at The Stables where a great partnership was forged. Although Tim 'hung up his boots' as a rider several years ago, he remains closely involved with the sport of Horse Trials in various capacities.

Tim is a Veterinary Advisor to the United States Equestrian Team as well as maintaining his long standing involvement with Equestrian Team GB. He was a member of the Veterinary Commission for the 2012 and 2016 Olympic games and continues to spend much of his spare time working at events up and down the UK each Summer. Within the practice, his areas of special interest are lameness investigation and reproduction.

Mike joined the practice in September 2023 after having worked in a variety of sectors during the course of his career. A key goal for him in this new role is to ensure that The Stables continues to offer an exceptional personalised service to equines of all shapes and sizes and their owners. Outside of work, Mike's interests include music, cooking, geopolitics and astrophysics.

Steve has 35 years equine veterinary experience. After graduating in Australia, he spent eight years in racing practice there followed by nine years in equine practice in Kent and Sussex, seven years in Devon before moving to Somerset in 2011.

Steve has a particular interest in the equine athlete, performance related issues and lameness investigation. He has a wealth of experience in equine reproduction having worked in large Thoroughbred and Arab studs for many years.

When not working, he remains surrounded by horses! He and his wife, Amanda, have bred and produced eventers and keenly supported their two sons’ Pony Club and Eventing escapades over the years. Steve enjoys swimming, cycling, running, sailing and motorsport.

Penny graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2016 and worked in equine practice since, joining SEP in July 2018. Penny enjoys the variety of equine general practice with her particular veterinary interests being in orthopaedics and laminitis. Penny holds a certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice (Equine Practice) and enjoys getting to know clients and their horses. She is a keen trail runner and can often be found exploring the Mendips with her dog.​

Jenny has worked for the Equine Practice based at Langford Vets, University of Bristol since 2004. She is interested in all aspects of equine surgery and medicine. She holds the Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice (Equine Soft Tissue Surgery) and gets great satisfaction from working on cases from beginning to end.

Jenny continues to work for the University, with a leading role supporting the students in their final year equine rotations, to ensure the vets of the future are up to the job! As another part of her role she works alongside the vets at the Stables Equine Practice to provide both the best level of care to her patients and their owners as well as being responsible for the student experience, so you are likely see her around!

Outside her work, Jenny is often busy with her daughter who is an active pony club member - as a result you may see her at various equine events in the weekends and holidays. Rest is a rare word for this busy lady who relaxes by nurturing her beautiful and productive garden and occasionally helping on their small holding which keeps her husband happy.

Sophie graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in London in 2016, and then undertook a 12 month internship at Langford Equine Hospital, seeing a wide variety of medical and surgical cases and completing a Post Graduate Diploma in Veterinary Clinical Practice. Following this she worked in an equine practice in Dorset, where she spent time both out on the road and in the hospital. Sophie enjoys all aspects of equine practice but is particularly interested in medicine, including care of older horses, and dentistry. Having grown up in Somerset, Sophie has always wanted to come back here to work. Outside of work she can usually be found with her own horses, Seren and Sylvie, or with her ever growing menagerie of small animals!

Jenny graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2013 and spent a year working in mixed practice in Norfolk before completing an 18 month Equine Internship at Donnington Grove. Jenny joined The Stables Equine Practice in July 2016. Her main interests lie in the field of medicine, poor performance and lameness. She is a keen follower of British Eventing and enjoys exploring the countryside either by foot, horse or bike!

Bex graduated from the University of Cambridge in 2020, receiving the Equine Prize in final year. After an initial year in first opinion practice, she followed her lifelong ambition to work with horses, and worked in a busy Referral Equine Hospital in Gloucestershire, gaining experience in Equine anaesthesia, internal medicine, equine orthopaedics and diagnostic imaging. A keen sportswoman outside of work, she is a proficient skier and sailing instructor, and has owned and competed horses at National Championship level, culminating in riding at the British Eventing final held at Badminton Horse Trials. She still takes the opportunity to ride whenever she can and thoroughly enjoys all aspects of the role as an ambulatory equine vet. She looks forward to getting to know the local clients of Stables Equine Practice and their horses.

Sue has worked with horses for over 25 years in various disciplines, and for 8 years worked for the Equine Hospital as yard manager.

She is looking forward to meeting all our clients and their horses when she is out helping the vets.

Outside work she enjoys eventing with her mare and taking long walks on the Mendips.

Carolynne joined the office staff of the Stables Equine Practice in August 2008. She enjoys the variety of work in the ‘all-purpose built’ clinic and meeting the clients as it is so nice to ‘put names to the faces’ be it the human or the Equine Clients.

Mel joined the practice in August 2023. Her various roles have always involved customer service and animals of which she thoroughly enjoys.

Mel previously qualified as an Animal Nursing assistant in 2007 and as a RCVS Small Animal Veterinary nurse in 2009.

Her outside interests are yoga, art and being a busy mum with her lovely family.

Darcey joined the practice in October 2022. She has worked in a few different worked in a few different areas of the equine industry areas of the equine industry during her career so far and during her career so far and has also enjoyed riding her has also enjoyed riding her own or other people’s horses own or other people’s horses in different disciplines for in different disciplines for many years. When not working, Darcey enjoys many years. When not working, Darcey enjoys walking her dogs on the Mendips and helping walking her dogs on the Mendips and helping around the farm. around the farm.