Esther van Herwaarden | MSc (Dist.) PgDip(IAWEL)
Esther van Herwaarden | MSc (Dist.) PgDip(IAWEL)
October 2, 2024
Esther returned to MVS in September 2024 as an equine vet to work during the 2024/2025 season. Esther did an internship at MVS in 2015 and has worked as an equine vet in Asia, Australia and the Netherlands since then. She graduated with great distinction from Ghent University, Belgium in 2014.
Esther enjoys all parts of equine practice, with a particular interest in internal medicine, dentistry and welfare.
Esther is a keen traveller and outside of work she enjoys being outdoors, hiking, camping etc.
Ali Mitchell | BVSc
March 4, 2024
Ali joined MVS in February 2024 as a Veterinary Intern. She graduated from Massey University in 2023.
Ali grew up on a lifestyle block just outside Wellington. Ali grew up show jumping to young rider and more recently Pro-amateur level. She is interested in all areas of equine practice and is looking forward to working amongst the experienced team here at MVS.
Outside of work Ali enjoys riding her horse William and running.
Fianne Kuijpers | MSc
March 4, 2024
Fianne joined MVS in February 2024 as an Equine Veterinary Intern.
Fianne graduated with a Masters of Science in Veterinary Medicine from Utrecht University, The Netherlands in 2023. During her studies she developed an interest in equine reproduction and neonatal foal care. She went to UC Davis to do research on Equine endometrial organoids and has written her Master Thesis on the topic. After graduation she went to Australia for a breeding season to gain experience in the field and of equine reproduction.
During her internship, Fianne is aiming to expand her knowledge and develop her skills in all areas of the equine veterinary profession, with emphasis on anesthesia, internal medicine and equine sports medicine.
Outside of work Fianne enjoys cooking, going on hikes, pilates, and is hoping to get back into driving standardbreds.
Fumiko Tsunashima | BA in Psychology, BVSc
February 4, 2024
Fumiko joined MVS in January 2024 as an Equine Veterinary Intern.
Fumiko is originally from Japan and came to New Zealand in 2012. She developed her interest and enthusiasm in racing when she was a teenager. Working with racehorses has been her dream since then. After she worked in Auckland for a while, she decided to study veterinary science and graduated from Massey University in 2023.
While she was studying at Massey, she helped yearling preps/sales every summer. She was also working at a racing stable on weekends.
Fumiko is interested in correlations between health/conformation in foals/yearling horses and their future performance, the influence of nutrition on horses’ demeanour and behaviours and holistic treatments such as herbal medicine and acupuncture. She also would like to learn more about pedigrees and breeding in thoroughbreds.
She used to enjoy horse riding, mainly dressage, and hopes to get back to riding again at some point while she is working as an intern at MVS. Other than that, she enjoys yoga and travelling.
Caroline Thompson | BVSc (Dist.)
September 10, 2019
Caroline joined MVS in February 2019 as an equine intern, after graduating with distinction from Massey University.
Caroline has a strong equine background, having grown up competing in eventing as well as working in the racing industry for seven years. During vet school Caroline focused her studies on equine practice wherever possible, with a particular interest in racetrack practice and sports medicine. Caroline is looking forward to getting stuck in and gaining a wide range of experience whilst at MVS.
Outside of work Caroline enjoys anything outdoors, and maintains a keen interest in the racing and sporthorse industries.
Therese Ritson | BVSc (dist.)
August 3, 2017
Therese joined MVS in August 2017 through our equine internship program. Therese graduated with distinction from the University of Liverpool, UK in 2016. Since then she has spent a year in a mixed animal practice in England where she enjoyed the wide variety of work it provided. Therese also undertook a surgical elective at Anglesey Lodge Equine Hospital as a student. Since completing her internship with MVS, Therese has stayed on as a permanent team member and has moved into an ambulatory vet role with the clinic.
Outside of work Therese enjoys riding, running and cycling.
Jessica Connell | BVSc
September 8, 2016
Jess joined MVS in July 2019 as a veterinarian on our equine team.
Jess graduated from Massey University in 2011 with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science. She has held a variety of jobs in the equine industry, including with thoroughbred racing, pre-training stables, and sport horse farms. She then went on to spend two breeding seasons at a well known thoroughbred stud in the Waikato as a junior stud vet.
As Jess sought to progress and further her career she arrived at Marks+Ewen in 2014 where she completed her internship and progressed to the role of veterinarian associate. Her main interests are equine reproduction, all aspects of thoroughbred stud medicine and radiography.
Jess’s interests outside of work involves spending a lot of time with her own horses, this includes show-jumping and hunting, as well as breeding the odd sport horse. In her spare time there’s always work to be done on their kiwifruit orchard.
Tracey Kerr | MVB, MANZCVSc (Eq Med)
August 18, 2016
Tracey graduated from University College Dublin in 2007 and spent two years working in Kentucky before coming to New Zealand for the breeding season. Ten breeding seasons later she is still here enjoying the Kiwi equine industry and lifestyle.
Tracey’s main areas of interest include internal medicine, in particular neonatal foal medicine, and all aspects of stud work. She gained membership of the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists in 2012, focusing on Equine Medicine.
Outside of work Tracey enjoys hiking, travelling and a good book.
Roisin McQuillan | MVB BAgrSc
July 19, 2016
Roisin joined MVS in April 2018 as part of our equine team. Roisin graduated from University College Dublin, Ireland in 2004 and worked in mixed practice in southern Ireland for two years before moving to Australia to pursue an interest in equine reproduction and medicine. The southern hemisphere appealed and so she applied to register in New Zealand, initially working as a locum vet in the North and South Islands before settling in the Waikato to work in equine practice.
Roisin has been employed to work as a member of the equine team to carry out ambulatory work on the stud farms and stables. Her interests include reproduction, performance medicine, internal medicine, dentistry and ophthalmology. She also enjoys racetrack practice.
Outside of work Roisin enjoys outdoor pursuits such as trail running, hiking and walking her dogs. She enjoys attending the races, local dramas and cinema. Roisin is a keen traveler with her most recent adventure hiking in Patagonia!
Rochelle Kerr | BVS BAgSc DipAgSc CVA
June 19, 2016
Rochelle joined Matamata Vets Equine team in 2017 after spending 20 years working at Marks Ewen and Associates predominately as a stud veterinarian.
Rochelle graduated from Massey University in 1993, she worked in mixed practice for a few years before travelling and working in large animal practice in the UK.
Rochelle’s interests are equine reproduction and stud medicine. In 2019 she become certified in Veterinary acupuncture after completing the Australian International Veterinary Acupuncture Society qualification. She is enjoying being able to offer a different perspective to traditional western medicine.
Rochelle is passionate about NZ thoroughbred breeding and is on the NZTBA council.
In her spare time, she enjoys hunting, watching her children play cricket and going to the races and having the odd flutter.
