McGonnell & Gillatt
Equine Veterinary Practice Ltd
24 hour telephone: 01488 657575

Andrew McGonnell MVB, Cert EM (Stud Med) MRCVS

Andrew qualified in August 1990 from Dublin University. Having started work in such exotic places as Anglesey and Glasgow he spent a year in Melbourne and then came to the UK for a 6 month locum on his way back to Ireland. 14 years later he is still here!

He gained his experience in equine practice at Liphook Equine Hospital and then at O’Gorman’s in Newbury. He started the practice in August 2003.

Although Andrew’s post graduate qualifications and area of specialist interest is Stud Medicine, he enjoys all areas of equine work and is very pleased that the practice encompasses all types - from much loved pony to international competition horse.

Outside of work Andrew enjoys spending time with wife Sarah and four children Alice, Ben, Tom and Clare.

Richard Gillatt BVSc MRCVS

Richard grew up on the family farm in Lincolnshire and has been involved with horses all his life from his time in the local pony Club (where his mother is still District Commissioner!) to assisting his sister with her racehorses. Richard qualified from Bristol University in 1993.

After a period in a mixed practice in Cheshire he decided to concentrate on horses and joined the Equine Verterinary Hospital Arundel, West Sussex in 1997. He spent a year at The Milbourn Equine Veterinary Hopsital, Ashford, Kent before joining the Ridgeway Veterinary Group at Valley Equine Hospital, Lambourn in 2000 and remained there until joining Andrew in February 2005, becoming a partner in 2006. Although Richard enjoys all aspects of equine practice, he has a particular interest in conditions causing poor performance in the competition horse, especially those affecting the neck, back and pelvis.

Richard lives nearLambourn with his wife Nicky, daughter Emily and Molly the dog who is often seen keeping Richard company in his car. Outside work he enjoys playing golf, squash and acting as groom for his wife when she takes her horse competing!.

Michael Harwood BVSc MRCVS

Michael grew up in Newmarket. Graduated from Liverpool University Veterinary School in 2004 after which he spent a year in mixed practice. He then headed to Australia, joining Hawkesbury Equine Veterinary Centre where he was involved in a broad range of routine and referral work. From Hawkesbury he spent a season in racing practice in Queensland before joining Scone Veterinary Hospital in the Hunter Valley where he was involved in all aspects of stud work. On returning to England, Michael spent a year in sports horse practice before joining McGonnell and Gillatt.

Outside work he is a keen sportsman enjoying windsurfing, playing polo, snowboarding, mountain biking and many other adrenalin pursuits which have taken him all over the world. Michael has interests in both breeding work and lameness investigation.

Gudrun Wallis Mag.med.vet MRCVS

Gudrun graduated from Vienna, Austria in 2003 and moved to England straight away. She worked initially in a mixed practice in Yorkshire but her first love has always been horses and it wasn't long before she was working with them full time. After the 2007 stud season in Ireland she moved down to Berkshire to locum with McGonnell and Gillatt for 2 months. She spent 6 months traveling and exploring the world with her husband Stuart before returning to the practice in April 2008.

With any free time available, Gudrun is mostly riding her horse, but she also enjoys playing her violin, singing in the choir, walking in the Lake District and at the first fall of snow will almost certainly be found on a snowboard!

Kate Bandey BVM&S Cert EP MRCVS

Kate grew up near Kingsclere and has been involved with horses since a young age. She qualified from The Royal Dick Veterinary College at Edinburgh University in 2001 and started out her veterinary profession in mixed practice on the Yorkshire Moors. The cold Yorkshire winter became too much for her so she moved south to the Liphook Equine Hospital to pursue her interest in equine veterinary medicine. After an eighteen month internship, followed by 5 months skiing in Verbier, she joined Stable Close Equine Practice in Winchester. She worked there until 2008, gaining her Certificate in Equine Practice in 2007.

The desire to travel then took over, so she headed first to Australia (working at Wyong Equine Clinic in New South Wales), then New Zealand (working at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital at Massey University). She returned to the UK in October 2009 and got married to Richard in December 2009. Richard and her ride-out for various racehorse trainers in their free time and are currently training their own horse to run in point-to-points. Kate has a Jack Russell Terrier called Archie who often accompanies her on calls. Kate joined us on 1st January 2010.

Lucie Steel - Practice Manager

Lucie started work for McGonnell and Gillatt in December 2004. Since then she has seen the business grow from her desk in the spare room to a proper office with four staff and 5 vets! Lucie has over twenty years working experience, mainly for small companies, usually running the office, payroll and accounts. She loves working for McGonnell and Gillatt, having known Andrew as her vet for seven years before starting work for the practice.

“The practice has a small friendly feel, we know our customers and they know us, it’s a lovely way to work”. She lives near Hermitage with her husband Matthew, their son Ralph, three dogs, one of which (Woody) can often be seen in the office and her two cats. In her spare time Lucie enjoys nothing more than riding her horse Blue around the Berkshire countryside.

Sarah Mercer - Practice Administrator

Sarah joined us in November 2005 having previously worked for an international healthcare company, she too has over twenty years working experience and particularly enjoys the varied aspect of her job.

Sarah grew up on the family farm near Newbury riding a succession of horses and taking part in pony and riding club activities. Her father was a top jockey so Sarah’s knowledge of racing is extensive. Sarah has two children, Amy and Josh and they live in Hermitage with their Jack Russell dogs and two cats.

Ali Morgan – Practice Administrator

Following a career in the hospitality and advertising industries in London and Dubai, Ali returned to her roots in the country to fulfil a lifelong ambition and train for her BHS teaching qualifications. Having freelanced since 2000 Ali joined the practice in December 2006 as a part time member of the team giving her the chance to combine ‘a proper job’ working in the horsey world with some teaching and competing.

Ali shares her life with Glenn, her New Zealand born husband and their son Oliver and Spaniel Kea, who also sees herself as a valued member of the McGonnell and Gillatt team either greeting clients when they visit, curled up in the corner of the office or shredding all the waste paper in everyone’s bins!

Carol Dunford – Practice Administrator

Carol joined us in April 2009 as a part time member of the team. Carol lives with her husband Nick and daughters Laura and Gemma in Long Parish where she helps run their arable farm, fishing lakes and her own livery yard.

Carol has had horses in her life since she could walk, her main passion is eventing, but has decided to go down the safer route of dressage. She hopes to take her 16.2 hh Irish Sports Horse Chloe to Prix St George level in the future. Carol represented her Riding Club in the National Horse Trials Championships twice and Dressage Championships in Lincolnshire. Carol is also a qualified fitness instructor. Other hobbies include running, singing and drama.

Lillie Beever

Lillie only joined us as a full-time vet in 2007, but tragically died in a train crash in June '07 whilst on holiday in Sardinia with her boyfriend.

She is sorely missed by all at the practice, her clients and her friends & family.