Farm Services Team

Born and raised on a sheep farm in Omihi, Ben is also a local bred. He has been at RVC for 15 years and became a partner over 10 years ago. He enjoys all aspects of large animal practice but has particular interests in camelid medicine and husbandary and is also enjoying the challenges of recently taking over as the main vet for Orana wildlife park. A closet goat breeder and lifestyle blocker Ben is well supported by his wife Sarah and their three talented children. He enjoys a hit of tennis, skiing and is often seen on stage in varying roles performing with the local musical society.

Recently married Richard, Tash and their varied dogs joined the RVC team from Southern Rangetiki Vets in Bulls. Leading the dairy team Richard enjoys herd and preventative dairy health/consultancy and is currently working towards his post graduate diploma in veterinary preventative medicine through Massey University. He is a registered provider of the DairyNZ IN-Calf and Healthy Hoof programmes and has recently completed trial work with Dr Neville Grace on the effect of Vitamin B12 supplementation in replacement dairy heifer calves. When not working Rico can be found chasing golf balls round the various farways and greens of North Canterbury.

Having graduated from Cambridge University in the UK in 2006, Lucie spent six years in a mixed animal practice in North Wales. During this time she developed a keen interest in bovine reproduction, and was able to implement many different reproductive programmes on farms to enhance their performance. She also has a special interest in bovine surgery, and performed laparoscopic AI and helped with the ET teams with sheep and cattle. Lucie has also spent time in Zambia, Nigeria and South Africa working with local communities and wildlife.

Having spent a summer at university on a farm in Fairlie, including ski touring up the Tasman glacier, Lucie was keen to return to NZ. She spent two calving/mating seasons in Waimate as a mixed animal vet, returning to Wales for their calving/lambing season, some say she must be crazy doing two calving seasons in a year!

The offer of having her dogs brought out was too good to refuse, so she returned to Waimate for two more years with animals in tow! She then spent a year in a dairy vet position in Ashburton where she implemented reproductive programmes based on ovarian scanning, before joining RVC in October 2017.

Lucie loves the outdoors and owns three active dogs, she is keen on tramping, climbing, kayaking and biking.

Lucie is looking forward to meeting and working with all the local farmers, and exploring the region on foot/bike/kayak of course!

Tristan joined the RVC Large Animal team at the beginning of April 2019. After becoming a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, gained at the University of Utrecht, in the Netherlands, Tristan worked as a mixed animal vet for seven years and developed a special interest in internal medicine, surgery and pharmacotherapy.

Originally born and raised in Christchurch, he headed off for a big OE which lasted the better part of 17 years, of which 15 years were based in The Netherlands. While on the OE he travelled extensively through Europe and also met the other (larger) half of his family on his father’s side.

He made his way back to New Zealand early 2019 where he enjoys rock climbing, snowboarding and mountain biking when not being a vet. He also dabbles in a bit of small furniture making.

Colin is our on farm large animal technical and product support person. He assists farmers to ensure they have enough of the right product at the right time to achieve the results they need. Working closely with clients, the vet team, and product companies Colin has a vast and detailed farming knowledge which he pulls together to get clients results on farm. From drawing up and implementing planned annual animal health plans to getting required products and advice onto farms Colin is the man. If not on the roads of North Canterbury in his delivery ute Colin enjoys getting out in his mobile home and keeping an eye on what’s happening farm wise in other parts of the country.

 Kellie began working at RVC casually in May 2017, but then accepted a full time position as a technician in October 2018.

After graduating Vet nursing at Ara in 2016 and realising she had a bigger interest in the dairy sector, Kellie completed a certificate in Rural animal technology in 2017 whilst working on a dairy farm in North canterbury.

Born in Christchurch and growing up in West Eyreton, Kellie recently brought a house in Sefton where she lives with her partner and 2 cats, Gus and Mia.

In her spare time, you will find Kellie spending time with her friends and family. She also enjoys travelling around NZ and being outdoors, such as fishing and renovations on their house.

Rebecca has a certificate in vet nursing and has been a familiar face at RVC since 2012.

She has a special interest at RVC in pet insurance, and also horses, this particular interest in horses carries on outside the clinic environment and extends to dressage and Shetland ponies, along with anything outdoors

Born in Christchurch and growing up in North Canterbury, she is married to Adam and together they have a gorgeous daughter, Lily. Extended close knit family members live pretty close by and they enjoy getting together as a family, along with Rebecca’s menagerie of pets including dogs Ruby, a Japanese Chin and Cobber, a Jack Russell, Baldrick the horse, Izzy, Rose and Kadion the Shetland ponies, 9 sheep, 5 chooks and 1 goat.

 Sacha joined that Large Animal support team in 2018.

Outside the clinic environment, she loves spending time with her daughter and mucking about on their lifestyle block in West Eyreton which includes - horses, cows, sheep, dogs and a cat.

Sacha has travelled extensively and lived overseas, she is always happy to explore new cultures and has a keen interest in boxing, horse riding & exploring new places with friends.