Loch Leven Equine Practice

Staff Profiles:

Hugh Somerville BVSc MRCVS
Hugh qualified from Bristol University in 1997 and before moving up to Scotland spent eight years working in dedicated equine practices down south. These ranged from smaller horse practices with basic operating facilities to bigger practices with purpose built operating facilities with a large throughput of equine surgeries. A nagging feeling to return to Scotland and join his parents resulted in the start of Loch Leven Equine Practice.

His main passion lies with the orthopaedic work and whilst he has missed the surgical aspects of the job recently, the satisfaction he has got from building the practice from scratch far outweighs the need for lots of very late nights operating on colic patients! Hugh is currently studying for his Certificate in Equine Orthopaedics.

Away from work Hugh enjoys driving his toy car very fast round Knockhill and lots of outdoors activities including some not very high powered Golf sessions! Long walks at his parents' home in Heriot and training sessions with his working Golden retriever take up the majority of his time off.

Liz Somerville
Liz married Hugh in May 2005 in Gloucestershire beforemoving up to Scotland to start the practice. Liz runs the office with the help of Patty dealing with client care, patient care and all aspects of managing a business. All of Liz's previous jobs have involved horses whether in racing, eventing, rehabilitation or working as a nutritionist for Feedmark. Away from the office and she manages to keep busy with her own horse Wainak, riding out locally for Lucinda Russell, sitting on the committee for Scone Palace Horse Trials and when time permits helping out at Pony Club.  

Pete Burton BVM&S MRCVS
Originating from Hawick, Pete is an experienced equine vet, who graduated from Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies in 1998 and since has been building his equine skills in England, Scotland and even New Zealand.

Pete has worked in a mixture of equine practices ranging from small first opinion practices to large referral centres with operating facilities, his last job being at Rainbow Equine Clinic, a purpose built referral centre in North Yorkshire.
Pete's main interests include a mixture of both orthopaedic and medicine cases.

Out of hours Pete enjoys most outside activities, which include walking the family dogs, and exploring.  Pete is also a self confessed music and film fanatic!

Patty Fraser
Patty will probably be your first point of contact when you phone the vet. She is from a farming background and has spent 12 years amongst horses before coming to work at the practice. Having brought up three children she is well practiced at multitasking- a skill needed to keep the vets on top of their work. She hails from the north of Scotland but has been living in Cleish for the past 21years so knows her way around the area. When not answering phones she enjoys walking dogs, her own or other peoples and cooking for herself or other people!

Jen Lugton BVSc MRCVS
Jen is our token Australian vet! She grew up on acreage on the outskirts of Sydney and has been a keen horse rider since the age of four. After attaining a degree in Veterinary Science at the University of Sydney, Jen went on to complete a 16month internship at Australia’s largest Equine Hospital, Goulburn Valley Equine Hospital, in Shepparton, Victoria.

In her internship she worked underneath specialists in surgery, medicine and reproduction and was consequently involved in just about every aspect of equine veterinary work. While she enjoyed all areas of her work in her internship, (except the 14hour night shifts), she developed a strong interest in reproduction and neonatal medicine. This made her an ideal candidate for our third vet as we have an ever increasing demand for stud work in this area and can now offer a full service.

Jen has also been thoroughly enjoying her time out of work, with socialising, riding other people’s horses and travelling about being her main activities.

Jonathan Withers BVMS Cert EP Dip ECVS MRCVS

Jonathan has recently gained his European College of Veterinary Surgeons Diploma in Surgery, the highest accolade in Equine surgery, and has come to join the team at Loch Leven until April.

Prior to his exams Jonathan completed a three year residency in Equine Surgery where he spent his time working between Glasgow University and well know practice Bell Equine Clinic in Kent.

Graduating in 2001, from Glasgow Veterinary School, Jonathan spent the first four and a half years working at Pool House Veterinary Group, Lichfield, Staffs, where in 2005 he completed his Certificate in Equine Practice.
Jonny has also several stud seasons working n Australia.

Outside work Johnny is a keen Arsenal supporter and enjoys watching rugby. He hopes that now he has finished studying he will have time to get back in the gym and spend some spare time hill walking and mountain biking. Johnny, who originates from Co. Armagh, Northern Ireland, has two Jack Russell’s, Heidi and Winnie.

Lynsey McKay
Lynsey McKay is the first vet nurse to join our team. Originally from Ayrshire on the south west coast Lynsey grew up on a farm and managed to persuade her parents to get her a pony at the age of seven. Lynsey rode at HOYS as a member of the winning Prince Philip Cup games team in 1992.
Following school Lynsey studied at SAC Auchincruive where she gained her BSc Applied Plant and Animal Science. In February 2003 Lynsey started employment at the Weipers Centre at Glasgow Vet School as a groom, later studying and qualifying as a vet nurse in 2003.

Since then Lynsey spent some time in South Wales gaining lots of experience at Cotts Farm Equine Clinic, before returning to bonny Scotland and the Weipers Centre. Lynsey also works for well known local event rider Louisa Milne Home.

In her spare time Lynsey enjoys helping her partner Stewart on the farm with the cattle preparing them for agricultural shows and sales.

Liz Burton
Liz and Pete married in 2007 in North Yorkshire, before their move to Scotland to join the practice.  Originating from Staffordshire, Liz spent the early years of her life pestering her parents for a pony, before following her childhood ambition to work with horses.  This led her to work on a variety of different yards, including show jumping, hunting, classical dressage, rehabilitation and at an equine hospital.  On completing her journalism degree Liz is now a freelance equestrian journalist and enjoys writing for a variety of publications, including the practice newsletter!

Liz has her own horse, Randi, and out of work also enjoys most outdoor activities, including walking the two family dogs, Rufus and Custard.