Shanaghan Veterinary Services - Dr Esther Skelly-Smith Mrcvs

Busy Day yesterday in a very cold Strabane at Ardglen & Tievenny Irish Draught Horses with all the horses getting their routine Dental’s done. Thanks Vi & Seamus for the hospitality!

The multimodal approach of looking at the injured horse is really important as often it’s not just one technique that is needed to getting your horse back to full function. Often I used a combination of chiropractic, acupuncture and laser therapy. Quite often you see a lot of upper body compensation secondary to limb problems that need to be addressed before your horse can fully recover.

Dear Clients, please be aware of the current equine flu concerns and ensure your horses vaccines are all up to date! Best wishes Esther

As many prepare for the competition season ahead, this is a lovely video to look back on of the 1962 Royal Dublin Horse Show!

This article explains a common problem I see, these “leg movers” tend to hollow their back and therefore don’t engage their back muscles properly, this put huge strain on the whole musculoskeletal system and often leads to a shortened career. They often have a lot of secondary compensatory muscle discomfort and a weak top line! Often they need chiropractic and acupuncture to help remove this discomfort and allow them to start to work properly through their back and top line musculature.

In addition to the 1st February a second day has now been added on the 2nd February at Wheatfield Equestrian & Livery Centre Warrenpoint with Freedom Saddlery! Get booking now to avoid disappointment! This is a fantastic opportunity to have a saddle fitting by one of only 10 Master Saddle Fitters World Wide!

Freedom Saddlery will be back in Northern Ireland at Dukes Livery Stables & XC Hire on Friday 1st February. Thanks please book directly with Freedom Saddlery.

Dear Clients,
I just want to take this opportunity to thank you for all your support and custom over the last year. I have thoroughly enjoyed every moment throughout 2018 helping to keep your horses and ponies comfortable and performing to the best of their ability.
Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and Festive Season.
... Please note we are now closed reopening on 2nd January 2019, in case of emergency please contact your primary vet. However calls and messages will be periodically responded to over the Christmas period.
Merry Christmas and Best Wishes
Esther
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English colleagues and clients, this is a great opportunity if you live near Whitegate Farm Livery & Training Centre

Interesting Study on affect of acupuncture on gait parameters, more in-depth study needs but certainly a promising start. I find acupuncture particularly useful in myofascial pain, used along side other integrated medicine tools such as chiropractic it is very beneficial to sports horses.

Yesterday Esther was back in London at a Council meeting representing the Northern Ireland Branch of the British Veterinary Association - BVA it was a great day discussing a variety of topics from Workplace/ gender discrimination, the Vet Led Team to Animal Welfare. #teamvet #BVA #ShanaghanVeterinaryServices

Very good article on bitting with a good summary on research from Dr Hiliary Clayton 😀

I had the privilege of speaking at this years ABC Enterprise Week 2018 on Wednesday! It was a great day and thank you to Banbridge District Enterprises Limited for the invite!
#abcew18 #gew2018

A very educational day spent with Stephanie at Freedom Saddlery and thanks again to Sammy Wheatfield Equestrian Centre for hosting!

Final Call for Saddle fitting, we have one space left! Please get in touch with Freedom Saddlery to book your place 😀

Dear Clients, please note that Stephanie Bradley will be in Northern Ireland on 15th November, should you wish for a saddle fitting please contact her directly to book your place. Freedom Saddlery

Dr Esther Skelly-Smith BVMedSci (Hons) BVM BVS PCAC MRCVS launched Shanaghan Veterinary Services in 2017 which is Northern Ireland’s first equine veterinary referral service dedicated to providing an integrated approach to the veterinary treatment and care of horses. This includes veterinary Acupuncture, veterinary chiropractic, chronic pain management, rehabilitation and laser therapy.
Esther graduated from the University of Nottingham Vet School and went on to work in th...e world-renowned Animal Health Trust in Newmarket, working closely with Dr Sue Dyson. She is a published author of veterinary research and her work has been presented at the British Equine Veterinary Association Congress. Since her return to Northern Ireland she has worked as an equine vet for a mixed practice and an equine dental clinic while she was persuing further professional development in Veterinary Acupuncture and Veterinary Chiropractic. She is a professional member of the Association of British Veterinary Acupuncture and the Western Veterinary Acupuncture Group. She is also the Equine Council Representative on the North of Ireland Veterinary Association (NIVA) and the Honorary Secretary of the Association of Veterinary Surgeons Practising in Northern Ireland (AVSPNI). Esther has been actively involved in the sport horse industry breeding Irish Draughts and Irish Sport Horses from an early age and “Shanaghan Horses” are now internationally recognised. She has also competed at a national level in dressage, working hunter, side-saddle and other equestrian disciplines. In her spare time Esther enjoys spending time on the family farm with her husband, her flock of sheep and her working sheep dog Shep!
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Highly recommended Esther knows her stuff and is fantastic with my young horse.

Esther has worked with a couple of my clients horses to great effect, so I decided to bite the bullet and have her treat Rosie. I can't get over the difference in just two treatments! Esther has a lovely gentle way of working and the horses respond really well. Am very excited now at the possibility that I might be able to bring her back into work. Thank you so much Esther.

Esther has been doing Chiropractic on my Mare who had a inner should muscle pulled and in just 8 week we were back riding. I cannot thank Esther enough also keeps my 17yr old ID in competition and in the Ribbons and championships lol. Esther has great knowledge off all Veterinary treatment.

Highly recommended Esther knows her stuff and is fantastic with my young horse.

Esther has worked with a couple of my clients horses to great effect, so I decided to bite the bullet and have her treat Rosie. I can't get over the difference in just two treatments! Esther has a lovely gentle way of working and the horses respond really well. Am very excited now at the possibility that I might be able to bring her back into work. Thank you so much Esther.

Esther has been doing Chiropractic on my Mare who had a inner should muscle pulled and in just 8 week we were back riding. I cannot thank Esther enough also keeps my 17yr old ID in competition and in the Ribbons and championships lol. Esther has great knowledge off all Veterinary treatment.

Highly recommended Esther knows her stuff and is fantastic with my young horse.

Esther has worked with a couple of my clients horses to great effect, so I decided to bite the bullet and have her treat Rosie. I can't get over the difference in just two treatments! Esther has a lovely gentle way of working and the horses respond really well. Am very excited now at the possibility that I might be able to bring her back into work. Thank you so much Esther.

Esther has been doing Chiropractic on my Mare who had a inner should muscle pulled and in just 8 week we were back riding. I cannot thank Esther enough also keeps my 17yr old ID in competition and in the Ribbons and championships lol. Esther has great knowledge off all Veterinary treatment.

Highly recommended Esther knows her stuff and is fantastic with my young horse.

Esther has worked with a couple of my clients horses to great effect, so I decided to bite the bullet and have her treat Rosie. I can't get over the difference in just two treatments! Esther has a lovely gentle way of working and the horses respond really well. Am very excited now at the possibility that I might be able to bring her back into work. Thank you so much Esther.

Esther has been doing Chiropractic on my Mare who had a inner should muscle pulled and in just 8 week we were back riding. I cannot thank Esther enough also keeps my 17yr old ID in competition and in the Ribbons and championships lol. Esther has great knowledge off all Veterinary treatment.