What are the opening hours?

Monday 8:30am - 5:30pm Tuesday 8:30am - 5:30pm Wednesday 8:30am - 5:30pm Thursday 8:30am - 5:30pm Friday 8:30am - 5:30pm

Priors Farm Equine Veterinary Surgery

Home
United Kingdom
Forest Row
Priors Farm Equine Veterinary Surgery

Proudly independent equine vet practice in Sussex owned and run by the vets who work there. Donkeys are more than welcome!

Priors Farm Equine Surgery is situated in the village of Forest Row, south of East Grinstead in East Sussex. Established in 1978 the practice was taken over in 2008 by Ben Chilvers and Duncan Harrison, and now comprises a team of four dedicated equine veterinary surgeons. We are an exclusively equine practice carrying out first and second opinion work, as well as taking referrals from other local

veterinary surgeons and we take great pride in providing a high quality service to all of our patients whether they are top level competition horses or family pets. Over the years we have built a reputation for being caring and compassionate, and we aim to spend as much time as possible getting to know our patients as individuals in order to tailor our services to their particular needs. We are a purpose built equine hospital with full range of up-to-date diagnostic and surgical facilities. Stabling and 24-hour nursing care is available to enable us to cater for you and your horse’s needs. On Wednesday’s we offer a zoning scheme whereby you can reduce your visit fee to £15.00+VAT. Please telephone the practice for ways in which you can reduce your visit fee for routine work. We are proud that Priors Farm Equine Surgery has attained the RCVS’s Equine General practice standard. This has placed Priors Farm as one of the few equine practices in the area to have been inspected and approved by the RCVS. We are also delighted to have attained approval as a Veterinary Nurse Training Practice.

03/09/2026

WHAT IS PPID?

PPID, also commonly known as Cushing’s disease, is a hormonal condition that can affect horses and ponies, particularly as they get older.

The signs aren’t always obvious, and PPID can look different from horse to horse. Things to keep an eye out for include:

• A long or curly coat, or difficulty shedding
• Laminitis, particularly if there’s no obvious cause
• Loss of muscle or a change in body shape
• Increased drinking and urination
• Lethargy or reduced performance
• Recurrent infections
• Abnormal sweating

Some horses may only show subtle signs, which is why testing can be so important.

And there’s a great opportunity to test this September and October.
Care About Cushing’s is currently offering FREE laboratory testing for ACTH levels, which can be used to help diagnose PPID.

The free offer covers the laboratory test only, so veterinary visit, blood sampling and postage costs still apply.

To help keep the cost down, why not book your horse in on one of our Zone Days, when the visit fee is just £18?

If you’re concerned about any changes in your horse or pony, or simply want to know whether testing might be appropriate, please get in touch with us.

01/09/2026

FREE ACTH LAB TESTING THIS SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER

From today, Care About Cushing’s is offering FREE laboratory testing for ACTH levels throughout September and October.

ACTH testing can help diagnose and monitor PPID (Cushing’s disease) in horses and ponies, so this is a great opportunity to get your horse tested.
The ACTH laboratory test itself is FREE.

Please note, the offer does not cover the veterinary visit, blood sampling or postage costs.

To keep costs down, it’s worth booking your test on one of our Zone Days, when the visit fee is just £18.

If you think your horse or pony could benefit from testing, or they are due an ACTH check, please get in touch with us to book in or find out when we’re next in your area.

Offer available throughout September and October.

26/08/2026

With the Bank Holiday weekend coming up, please make sure you order any medication you need before 3pm Thursday to help ensure you receive it by Friday.

Please check your medication now and order early to avoid running out over the long weekend.

Thank you, and have a lovely Bank Holiday weekend!

20/08/2026

Brown or yellow grass does not necessarily mean low-sugar grass.

With cooler temperatures and some rain finally arriving, it’s important not to assume that the dry, yellow-looking grass is harmless.

Although the grass may look parched and lacking in goodness, it can still contain significant levels of sugar. During drought conditions, grass growth often, but the plant continues to produce and store sugars rather than using them for growth.

When rain arrives, stressed grass can begin growing again quickly, creating another period of increased risk for horses and ponies prone to laminitis.

Please continue to manage grazing carefully, particularly for good doers and those with a history of laminitis. Don’t rely on the colour or appearance of the grass as an indication of its sugar content. For advice on managing your horse's laminitis risk, please get in touch on 01342 823011.

18/08/2026

Ground Conditions

The prolonged dry weather has left the ground exceptionally hard, in many places, it is like concrete.

At the same time, many arena surfaces are becoming very dry, loose and deep. Working on either extreme can increase concussion or place additional strain on tendons, ligaments and other soft tissues.

For now, we recommend sticking to well-maintained, non-deep surfaces wherever possible. For hacking, keep the work low impact, with plenty of purposeful walking, and avoid faster work on very hard ground.

It may mean adjusting training plans in the short term, but protecting your horse’s legs now could prevent an injury and a much longer period out of work.

11/08/2026

Vaccination Reminder

Now is a good time to look ahead and check your horse's vaccination dates as holidays, camps and late-summer competitions creep up on you.

We often speak to owners who only realise they are out of date when an event entry or yard rule catches them out. If you are unsure what your horse needs, send us the details and we can help you work out the timing

06/08/2026

We are seeing the usual midsummer rise in itchy horses, rubbed tails and sore manes. Sweet itch can go from mildly annoying to downright miserable very quickly, so early management really matters.

Fly rugs, careful turnout timing, barriers for midges and prompt treatment of broken skin can make a big difference. If your horse is already rubbing or their skin is getting angry, get in touch before it turns into a bigger battle.

04/08/2026

The warm weather continues, so it is a good time for a quick stable-side check in.

Make sure your horse has constant access to fresh water, shade where possible, and a little extra downtime if the day feels sticky and close.

Travelling, competing and standing on a hot lorry can tip them over the edge more quickly than people expect.

If your horse feels dull, is breathing harder than usual, or just does not seem quite right, give us a ring and we can talk it through.

03/07/2026

Road Closure Notice: 6th-9th July

Please be aware that Priory Road will be closed next week from 6th-9th July due to roadworks.

If you're planning to visit us during this time, please give us a call on 01342 823011 before you set off, and we'll be happy to advise you on the best access route.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

25/06/2026

Equine Influenza: Vaccination Status and Referral Hospital Admissions
With Equine Influenza cases continuing to be reported across the UK, several equine referral hospitals, including Liphook Equine Hospital, have introduced additional admission requirements to help protect their inpatients.

This means that your horse's vaccination status could affect their ability to access referral services such as:

• Colic surgery
• CT and MRI imaging
• Advanced diagnostics and investigations
• Specialist medical and surgical care
Current guidance from Liphook Equine Hospital includes:
✅ Horses vaccinated within the last 6 months can be admitted without additional vaccination requirements.

⚠️ Horses that are unvaccinated or whose last flu vaccination was more than 12 months ago will generally require a booster vaccination at least 7 days before admission for elective procedures.

⚠️ Horses vaccinated between 6 and 12 months ago are strongly advised to receive a booster at least 7 days before admission.

Emergency cases will still be assessed, but hospitals need to be informed of the horse's vaccination status and may implement additional biosecurity measures.

While we all hope our horses never need referral treatment, emergencies such as colic can occur without warning. Keeping Equine Influenza vaccinations up to date helps protect your horse and may prevent delays if specialist care is required.

If you are unsure when your horse was last vaccinated, please contact our team and we will be happy to advise.

Address

Priors Farm, Priory Road
Forest Row
RH185JD

Opening Hours

Monday	8:30am - 5:30pm
Tuesday	8:30am - 5:30pm
Wednesday	8:30am - 5:30pm
Thursday	8:30am - 5:30pm
Friday	8:30am - 5:30pm

Website

http://www.priorsfarm.co.uk/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Priors Farm Equine Veterinary Surgery posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Priors Farm Equine Veterinary Surgery:

Want your business to be the top-listed Pet Store/pet Service in Forest Row?