Meet the team
Central Lakes Equine is a boutique equine clinic. We dream to stay small and maintain the ability to provide our clients with the highest level of service. We are committed to customer satisfaction as well as a high level of care to our patients. Our truck is kitted out to have all of the equipment that many state of the art equine veterinary hospitals have, with the added bonus that we come to you. Click this link to see a video of our facility.
Please get in touch here any time that you need assistance. See our testimonials page for what our clients say about us.
Becci Ireland, Veterinarian Bvsc (hons) MANZCVS
Becci is originally from a small town called Rugby in the UK. She moved to New Zealand in 2009, and since this time she has worked hard to become the dedicated equine veterinarian she is today. Since 2009 she has published or been co-author in several research papers, won an award at the annual New Zealand veterinary conference, sat her Australia and New Zealand college memberships in equine medicine, and gained invaluable experience in the equine veterinary field.
Becci has developed a wonderful life for herself in Central Otago with her husband and two daughters. She established Central Lakes Equine in November 2018 and enjoys dedicating her time to her second family… her clients! She enjoys all disciplines of horse riding but particularly eventing…. Well that’s if she ever finds that bit of spare time!
Kirstin Park, Veterinarian BVM&S
Kirstin grew up in Alberta, Canada, before moving to Scotland for vet school. She graduated from the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies at the University of Edinburgh before returning to Alberta to complete an internship in equine medicine and reproduction.
Following her internship, Kirstin’s passion for travel brought her to the North Island, where she worked as a locum veterinarian in Cambridge for the busy summer season before returning to Canada to work as an associate vet at an equine clinic in Alberta.
Kirstin enjoys all aspects of general practice, particularly the variety of cases and patients it offers. Her clinical interests include dentistry and emergency medicine. Outside of work, Kirstin loves to travel and spend time outdoors. She can often be found hiking, camping, and exploring with her friends and family.
Paula Mugford, Receptionist
Originally form Christchurch, Alexandra has been Paulas home for almost 30 years.
Paula grew up around her uncle's racehorses and worked in a show jumping yard as a teenager, she also completed in eventing and showing.
Outside of horses Paula enjoys walking and running in our beautiful Central Otago countryside.
She is excited to be part of the team and be back around horses again as being back in the horse world was always a dream of hers.
Natalie DeCaro, Equine Nurse
Natalie was born in Canada and has worked with horses all over USA, Australia and NZ. She has worked in almost any discipline you can imagine, from driving carriages, eventing, rodeo, polo and all things in between. She has 5 horses of her own and competes in a variety of different events. Natalie also owns her own well known and successful business ‘Its A Stitch Up’ a sewing business creating functional and fun products to use every day for you and your horse.
Zoe Bateson, Equine Nurse
Hi everyone, I’m Zoe the new trainee Junior Equine Nurse.
I started out at CLE during my last year of High School on Work Experience and some of you will have seen me around.
Now I am excited to start this journey with this epic team and see where it leads me for my future
Panda, Inpatient Babysitter
Originally from a trekking life Panda has come to us in his retirement years as our resident babysitter for all of our inpatients. He is quite the character but a nice calm presence in the Hospital.