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ABOUT US
Hunter Equine Vet is a dedicated equine veterinary practice based in Newcastle, the Hunter and surrounding areas. We provide 24 hour care to our patients with special interests in reproduction, racetrack practice, foal medicine and lameness evaluation.
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We are a family owned and run practice and pride ourselves in our personal approach and high duty of care to our patients and clients. We believe that being a small team we can provide continuity in our care for your horses and price ourselves in exceptional client communication.
MEET THE TEAM
MEET THE TEAM
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Dr Madalen Baltussen
Dr Madalen Baltussen
BSc BVMS MANZCVS - Owner and Head Veterinarian
With more than 20 years' experience as an equine Veterinarian, Madalen has had the opportunity to work with some very special horses and clients.
She started in racetrack practice at Belmont Horse Hospital, Western Australia. The bulk of her career was spent at Lindsay Park Stud operated by the Hayes family where she developed her reproductive and racetrack skills under the guidance of Dr Campbell Baker dealing with every stage of the thoroghbred's life cycle.
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Reproduction and foal health is one of Madalen's passions, having more than 20 consecutive breeding seasons under her belt. She has bred and raced her own Stakes winning thoroughbred and continues to be involved in racing as an owner.
Continuing education is of paramount importance, Madalen attends local and overseas meetings to keep up with the latest technologies and ideas.
She completed her Membership in Equine Medicine with the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists in 2013. She is also a long term member of the AVA and EVA. In 2014 Madalen started Hunter Equine Vet to provide a personalised ambulatory service to clients. She has a family of four beautiful children and challenges herself out of work with pole, yoga and encouraging others to keep mobile.
Darcy Baltussen
Vet Nurse Extraordinaire
Darcy has been working closely with horses since the age of 14. He worked for 16 years as a studside foreman at Lindsay Park Stud in charge of breaking in youngsters, looking after pre-training agisters, race day duties as well as working closely with the veterinarians there.
It is at Lindsay Park Stud that he met Madalen. They married in 2001 and moved to Newcastle with their 4 children Imma, Oscar, Max and Bronte.
He and Madalen have trained their own racehorses and experienced the thrill of having a good one! Since being in Newcastle he worked for 8 years riding trackwork at Newcastle Racecourse and officially joined the HEV team in 2017 as vet nurse, driver, horse handler and all round HEV cheerleader.
Dr Livia De Biase
DVM, CertAVP - Associate Veterinarian
Livia De Biase is our Italian associate vet. She grew up riding horses and competing in show-jumping.
After graduating in Italy, Livia moved to Kildare. Ireland. There, she worked for well-known Equine hospitals and thoroughbred studs. She then focused her attention mainly on Reproductive and foal medicine, completing many breeding seasons back-to back between Ireland, working for Kildangan Stud-Darley, and Australia, working in Scone for Hunter Equine Centre, before settling permanently in Australia in 2020.
Livia always strives to improve her veterinary knowledge and develop a well-rounded range of skills. She has completed the Certificate in Advanced Equine Veterinary Practice with the Royal College of Veterinary Medicine.
Following her interest in Integrative Holistic Medicine, and Rehabilitation, she has completed her studies in Equine Acupuncture, which she has integrated as part of her veterinary offerings and treatments.
To further improve and continue her professional development, Livia is currently studying Animal Biomechanical Medicine.
Outside of the equine world, Livia is passionate about yoga, mindfulness, and the outdoors. She is part of an NGO in India, helping to build a small animal Veterinary hospital, with the goal of reducing suffering in the stray dog population.
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