Scone Equine’s Intensive Care Unit at Clovelly Stables is no stranger to this busy period, becoming an equine version of a “maternity ward” for the next five months and caring for more than 150 neonate cases. 

Along with their dedicated team of permanent staff, each year Clovelly is also a training base for many aspiring equine nurses. 

Being part of one of the biggest veterinary clinics in the Southern Hemisphere, Clovelly attracts employees from all over Australia and also internationally, with 2017’s nursing recruits coming from a variety of backgrounds and experiences.

This year, seven new equine nurses joined the team for the breeding season, all undertaking an initial two weeks of intensive training before beginning their full-time roles. 

The team will then go on to a rotating roster, which allows the hospital to run 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 

Clovelly also hosts approximately 10-15 TAFE students for work experience while they are completing their Veterinary Nursing Certificate. 

During their placement, the pupils are given the opportunity to shadow one of the experienced nurses and observe day-to-day activities within the hospital.

“Being in the heart of some of the best thoroughbred horse studs in the world, it is vital that we are able to service these farm’s veterinary needs to an extremely high standard of care,” said Dr Niamh Collins, specialist in equine internal medicine and hospital superintendent at Clovelly. 

“Our nurses play a huge role in the day-to-day care of our patients and it is important that we continue to offer them as much opportunity and education as possible throughout their time at the hospital.”