ADVANCED CARE, NEARBY– EQUISTRIDE VETERINARY
Equistride Veterinary is the vision of Victoria Beck, a specialist in equine orthopaedics bringing advanced lameness care closer to horse owners in the region.
Launched earlier this year, Vicki’s work was driven by a simple but important realisation: many horse owners struggle to access meaningful help for lameness and performance issues, often having to travel long distances south to find effective care. While regions like the Waikato have well-established equine veterinary hubs, she recognised a clear gap further north, where a growing number of owners were searching for answers when their horses were not quite right.
Her connection to horses began long before her veterinary career. As a teenager working at a busy riding school in West Yorkshire, she spent long days mucking out, tacking up, and riding newly arrived horses, many of which were fresh from sales and not always easy to handle. Acting as the unofficial “test rider” gave her a strong foundation in practical horsemanship and an early understanding of how subtle discomfort can influence a horse’s behaviour and performance.
With 11 years of experience since qualifying from the University of Liverpool in the UK, Vicki has built her career around equine orthopaedics and lameness diagnostics. She spent her first eight years working in a busy equine specialist referral hospital in Yorkshire, managing complex cases for some of the UK’s top competition horses, from diagnosis through to surgery. Mentorship from leading lameness clinicians, along with exposure to a high caseload, shaped her diagnostic approach and strengthened her passion for understanding how and why horses develop performance issues.
Today, Vicki describes lameness work as “putting together the puzzle pieces.” Careful history-taking, detailed observation, and methodical diagnostic skills all play a role in her approach. She works collaboratively and pragmatically, partnering closely with owners, farriers, physiotherapists, trainers, and, when needed, behavioural specialists. A key message she shares is that behaviour often labelled as naughty or resistant may actually be a horse’s way of communicating discomfort.
Through Equistride Veterinary, she offers fully mobile digital x-ray and ultrasound services, as well as ultrasound-guided treatments, advanced nerve and joint blocks, and the latest injectable therapies. Her pop-up day clinic model enables controlled and thorough assessments, helping to uncover subtle issues that might otherwise go unnoticed. Her focus remains on practical, achievable solutions that suit real-world budgets and management situations.
Looking ahead, Vicki aims to continue raising the standard of equine orthopaedic care in northern New Zealand. She is working towards introducing advanced biological treatment options and has a long-term goal of bringing advanced imaging, such as standing MRI technology, to the country. She is also passionate about supporting younger Kiwi veterinarians to build confidence in lameness work and strengthening collaboration with farriers to improve remedial hoof care locally.
Based in Wellsford, Vicki services areas from Auckland through to Awanui. Education is a central part of Equistride’s role within the local equestrian community. Through social media and client education evenings, she helps owners better understand equine soundness, behaviour, and performance, ensuring horses are heard, understood, and given every opportunity to thrive.
Ultimately, Vicki’s goal is simple: to help horses stay comfortable and perform at their best, whether competing at a high level or simply enjoying a relaxed ride, while making advanced veterinary expertise more accessible to owners closer to home.