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. 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. 

Dr Rebecca Forsythe

BSc BVSc MRCVS - Veterinarian

Rebecca is originally from Scotland and graduated from the University of Bristol in 2014. She started her career in mixed practice in the UK, after which she spent a stud season in South Africa developing her stud medicine and surgery skills. She moved to Australia in 2016 and worked as an ambulatory equine Veterinarian in Adelaide Hills. Before joining our team Rebecca spent 18 months at Scone Equine Hospital where she was exposed to extensive reproduction, neonatal, surgical and lameness caseloads in hospital and on farm alongside board certified specialists.

Rebecca recently volunteered in India working with the Worldwide Veterinary Service, helping to train young vets in surgery, equine health and welfare as well as treating local working equids.

Out of work Rebecca enjoys all things beachside, be it running and swimming with her dog or attempting to learn to surf in the Newy breaks!

She joined us in April 2019 and is looking forward to being part of a brilliant team in such a beautiful part of Australia. 

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.