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This article was originally published in 2020 and has been translated now.
A lifelong love of horses helped lead Camilla Church into a veterinary career. She was disappointed to find that many mixed practices treated their horse patients second rate compared to the cats and dogs. Determined to provide the sort of care and service for horses that she would want her own horses to receive, Camilla made the brave decision to create her own business in the midst of the pandemic. Meet this enthusiastic, talented young woman with an unrelenting passion for horses and their people.
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Growing up in Norway until the age of 12, Camilla worked hard at nearby stables in exchange for riding lessons. When her family moved to the UK, they chose a croft of 14 acres of land near John o’Groats. The family grew to encompass four sheep for grazing, chickens, and six ponies.
"This is when I got my 14-hand cob cross, Banner, and my sister had Mistletoe," Camilla reminisces.
This is also when she started working her way through The Pony Club qualifications, spending a lot of time teaching little ones, sharing her knowledge and love of our favorite four-legged friends. This generosity of spirit, with her time and knowledge, is a strong thread throughout Camilla's life with horses.
Camilla wasn't sure what to do when she grew up, but she knew it would be something that helped and supported others. She considered becoming a doctor or a vet. Luckily for the horses of Perth, Scotland, she decided on the latter.
"I came to Perth when I first graduated. The people are so lovely here. I also love how it feels rural but is still close to plenty of amenities," she explains.
Working in a few different practices as a newly qualified vet, Camilla learned the realities of the job.
"Mixed practises deal with lots of different animals in a day; cats, dogs, and horses. I just felt like horses were second best in every one I worked in."
When another independent business she was working in was bought out by a large corporation, she handed in her notice, determined to do it her way, in her own business.
"The corporates sweep in and offer vets in their 50s 8-10 times as much as an individual could get together. That's great for those looking to retire. However, the corporations don't allow local decision-making. I think this is what is growing the movement of vets in their 30s and 40s going independent and creating businesses like Pennard Vets, who follow the John Lewis/Waitrose model of being employee-owned."
As a horse owner myself, I want to provide what I expect to receive.
As a freelance riding coach, thanks to her Pony Club qualifications, when Camilla started her practise, she was able to tell people with whom she had already built an established relationship.
"I officially opened on 5th January 2021, the same day we went into another lockdown! We were lucky in one respect because, in the previous one, we had only been able to attend 'proper emergencies'. This time, as long as we were social distancing, we were able to carry on working."
Unfortunately, however, on the night of 4th January, a huge snowstorm hit the area. The snow was so thick and heavy, it stayed for three whole weeks. This meant that, although she had patients with routine bookings, she couldn't go see everyone that she had planned. But she still went to most appointments, kitted out with her fancy 4x4 with great winter tires.
"I was battling with myself thinking 'Is this a sign I shouldn't be doing this?' but luckily, I stuck with it because there was clearly a need. Bt the time lockdown came to an end, and I'd been effectively on call 24/7, I realized I already needed a second vet to share the workload."
Camilla is locally based in the town of Perth but covers 45 minutes in all directions.
"We're really strict with that limit, which is frustrating and difficult at times. But we couldn't guarantee emergencies could be dealt with effectively if we went further."
Despite this relatively small area, the demand is great. Lauren is a vet nurse working with Camilla on, what was, on an ad hoc basis, helping with things like radiographs. By April, this had become more regular, and she is now full-time. Just the two of them were not enough, of course, so Camilla faced the daunting task of recruitment. She put an advert in a horsey veterinary Facebook group and received two applications within two hours. She easily could have hired both but was sensible in her decision-making, not to grow too fast too soon.
"Anna is a vet with 27 years of experience. It's quite funny that she's been working nearly longer than I've been alive! And as horse owners ourselves, we aren't frightened of horses, like many other vets I've met who have only had a one-hour lecture at university about how to use a dandy brush and put on a head collar,” says Camilla who is planning on adding more team members in 2022 as well. She is starting her specialty in Equine Dentistry at the beginning of 2022 to provide her clients with even more services.
"Customer service is my non-negotiable", Camilla says, firmly. Phone calls are answered, voicemails are replied to, and emails are responded to. Blood results are chased. "Our website also provides clients with the ability to get bits done themselves, easily and efficiently," she says proudly. This means you can order supplements, order repeat prescriptions, and book appointments on the site without having to wait on hold to speak to someone.
"It's these small things that I felt were lacking in the industry as a whole, as I'd experienced it. Not only as an animal owner but as a vet too. They're not difficult to do or to get right but when they're a non-negotiable, the difference to the client is vast." This dedication to the client experience has quickly grown Perth Equine Vets' reputation. "As a horse owner myself, I want to provide what I'd expect to receive. By linking with other vets in Scotland, we've been able to share knowledge and even equipment with one another as well."
"The mental shift from being an employee and making sure you don't overdo it, leaving work on time and all that, has been a big change. Now I'm working more and earning less! But I'm loving it."
Camilla explains that when she was working for other people, she would find it frustrating.
"My colleagues and I would be working our socks off and the boss would be in the backroom somewhere. We always thought they were slacking. Now I understand!” Camilla emphasizes having realized that the worst part of running her own business is all the administration. Work like debt chasing, website updates, VAT returns, and working out all the pricing is a never-ending hamster wheel.
But - this is all mitigated by the upsides though.
"I absolutely love driving around from yard to yard. I get to experience the changing seasons in the most beautiful countryside. Having a cup of tea with the people at the yards, hearing their funny stories, and having pony cuddles just brings me so much joy. I feel like an old-fashioned GP, more like a family friend than a distant, clinical professional."
Camilla's love of sharing her knowledge helps break down those barriers between vet and owner.
"I love teaching little girls how to use the stethoscope and listen to their ponies' hearts."
By being so generous with her education, Camilla helps owners nip things in the bud that could otherwise develop into bigger, more expensive problems.
"It's important to me that we make a genuine difference to the lives of the horses and their humans. And then they can see we're not just money-grabbing but there to help."
Being part of the whole journey of horse ownership is one of Camilla's drivers.
I just felt like horses were second best in every practise I worked in.
"Doing vetting for a new horse is so exciting. I get to be involved throughout their whole lives. Even when a horse can't be fixed and they have to go, even then, it's important to me to be there to offer support and being part of the end of the journey."
That empathy-led style of working means Camilla hopes she will get to be part of people's lives for years and years.
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