Meet the team

Stephen Wildman graduated from the University of Queensland, Australia in 1987. His career began in racing practice in Queensland, Australia.

In 1995 he began practising in England, working in equine practices in Cambridgeshire, Kent, Sussex and moved to Devon in 2004 to start his own equine practice.

Stephen's professional interests include lameness investigation, poor performance and equine reproduction. Horses have always been a part of his life having ridden from the age of nine. Stephen now hunts regularly and is a keen supporter of his two sons pony club exploits.

Wildman Equine are pleased to welcome Gordon Sidlow BVMS MRCVS to the team. Gordon will be assisting Stephen in all areas of veterinary work.

Gordon graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1984. After 11 years of large animal practice in mid Devon, he moved overseas in 1996 to work for the Hong Kong Jockey Club, where he was mostly involved in routine equine veterinary practice. During his 12 years in Hong Kong he worked in many parts of Asia and was team vet for both Hong Kong and China at a variety of international competitions.

He then served as FEI veterinary delegate at the South East Asian Games and was on the treating vet team for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Gordon is now living back in Devon with his young family, although he still commutes to China 4 times a year to act as the HKJC Equestrian and Veterinary consultant.

When not working Gordon enjoys playing sports badly for as long as his dodgy knees will allow.

Wildman Equine practice continues to expand in client list, services available and experience. Gordon's presence in the practice will ensure a strong and dedicated veterinary service to all clients.

It is my great pleasure to announce that Julie Elkins MRCVS joined Gordon and myself on the veterinary team at the practice at the beginning of March.

Julie graduated from Edinburgh University in 2005 and is no stranger to Devon as she was in mixed practice here during the early stages of her career. She completed an 18-month internship at the Liphook Equine Hospital soon after, and has also worked in equine practices in both Cheshire and New Zealand.

We trust you will join with me in making her feel welcome.

Anna Dalby, Office Manager and Head Nurse for Wildman Equine has been working in veterinary practice since leaving school in 1997.

She qualified as a Veterinary Nurse in 2000, following two years study at Bicton College. Having spent seven years in general practice in Witheridge and Tiverton, Anna took a twelve month sabbatical and travelled to Asia and Australasia.

Upon her return in 2005 she started working for Wildman Equine and she has been an intrinsic part of the team ever since.

Anna enjoys hunting when her spare time allows, and follows Exeter Chief’s Rugby Club avidly.

Hayley Wedlake has now joined Anna in the office, and is helping with the administrative side of the practice, including answering telephones during busy periods. She has an equine background and also finished her Zoology BSc at Cardiff University in 2008 with 2:1 honours. Her course was based mainly on animal behaviour with her dissertation focused on equine parasite resistance and their control.

Hayley has competed in endurance riding for a number of years, achieving the South West Novice Award in 2002 with her horse Modern Jazz, and subsequently qualifying for Advanced level in 2003. It is no surprise that she is especially interested in equine fitness and performance.

Her main hobbies apart from horse riding include sport and travel. She has experience as a polo groom in Australia, a research assistant on a nature reserve in Botswana and has also ridden over 100 miles across reserves in Kenya.

In the future Hayley is hoping to qualify as an equine sports massage therapist and to compete in endurance at FEI level.

The office team has also expanded with Wendy Welch joining Anna and Hayley. Wendy is working on a part-time basis looking after all our accounting related procedures. She is a qualified Accounting Technician (MAAT) and Taxation Technician (MATT) and has spent the last 12 years working for a large corporation.

When not in the office, Wendy spends her time competing with her three horses at BE and BSJA events. She also breeds and brings on young stock, and has done well with showing her equine off-spring at both County shows and at National level.

We welcome Wendy to our team here at Wildman Equine.