Sports Med Vet is New Zealand’s first specialist equine veterinary practice dedicated to sports medicine, lameness, vetting and rehabilitation for sport, race and pleasure horses. Led by Dr Johnston – the only veterinarian in the South Island of New Zealand holding specialist registration in Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation – we bring international expertise and advanced diagnostics directly to you across Canterbury and the wider South Island.
Whether you’re prepping a racehorse, campaigning a sport horse on the eventing circuit, or chasing soundness answers for a much-loved pleasure horse, we work alongside your regular vet, trainer, farrier and physio to keep your horse performing at their best.
Book a consultation → Vetting & PPE forms →
Specialist equine veterinary care for the South Island
Most equine veterinary practices are excellent generalists – they cover farm calls, vaccinations, dental work and routine medicine across a huge mix of patients. Sports medicine is different. It demands focused expertise in lameness, biomechanics, diagnostic imaging, cardiology and rehabilitation, and the equipment to investigate and treat the subtle problems that hold sport and race horses back.
That’s where we fit in. We’re a specialist-led service providing world-class expertise in our niche. We work with your regular GP vet, not instead of them, when a horse needs that deeper investigation or a tailored rehab plan.
Services we offer to Christchurch clients
Lameness and poor performance work-ups
Subtle, intermittent or unexplained lameness – and the dreaded “he’s just not himself” – are exactly what we’re built to solve. A full work-up includes physical examination, palpation, flexion tests, in-hand and lunge evaluation, ridden assessment when needed, diagnostic anaesthesia (nerve and joint blocks), and advanced imaging. Learn more about performance evaluations →
Pre-purchase examinations (vetting)
Buying a horse is a big investment, and a proper vetting is the best protection you’ve got. We provide comprehensive pre-purchase examinations – physical exam, soundness evaluation, diagnostic imaging where required, and a clear “risk analysis” discussion tailored to your intended use, whether that’s eventing, dressage, showjumping, racing, polo or pleasure. We service vettings across Christchurch, Canterbury and further afield by arrangement, including yearlings at sales. Learn more about pre-purchase exams →
Tailored rehabilitation programmes
Rehab is never one-size-fits-all. We design individualised, evidence-based rehabilitation plans for horses recovering from injury or surgery – from suspensory and tendon injuries through to back problems and post-operative recovery. Plans are regularly monitored and updated as your horse progresses. Learn more about tailored rehab →
Diagnostic imaging
Top-quality on-farm digital radiography (x-ray), ultrasound, ECG and endoscopy, with specialist interpretation. Critical for lameness work-ups, sales radiographs and pre-purchase examinations. Learn more about diagnostic imaging →
Equine cardiology
Heart murmurs, arrhythmias and unexplained exercise intolerance investigated using echocardiography (cardiac ultrasound) and ECG, at rest and during exercise. Learn more about equine cardiology →
Exercise testing
Real-world assessment while your horse is actually working – heart rate, lactate, ECG, GPS speed and stride symmetry. Invaluable for training optimisation, return-to-work after injury and diagnosing subclinical issues. Learn more about exercise testing →
Shockwave therapy
Focused shockwave therapy for musculoskeletal pain relief, soft-tissue and bone healing. Effective for conditions including suspensory injuries, back pain and certain bone reactions. Learn more about shockwave therapy →
Disciplines and horses we work with
Christchurch and Canterbury have one of the most diverse equine populations in New Zealand. We’re equipped for all of it:
- Thoroughbred racing — pre-training and racing soundness, poor performance investigation, sales prep and sales x-ray review.
- Standardbred / harness racing — performance work-ups for trotters and pacers based around Addington and the wider region.
- Eventing — soundness, fitness and rehab for one-day and three-day event horses competing across the South Island.
- Showjumping and show hunter — joint and soft-tissue management for the demands of jumping at every level.
- Dressage — subtle lameness and back issues that hold horses back from the higher movements.
- Polo — Christchurch Polo Club ponies and others; fitness, soundness and joint maintenance.
- Endurance — cardiovascular fitness, lactate monitoring and pre-ride soundness.
- Pleasure and pony club — all deserve the same standard of care as a high-level competition horse.
Where we service
With a new clinic based just west of Christchurch, we also provide ambulatory (mobile) specialist services across:
- Christchurch — all suburbs including Yaldhurst, Riccarton, Halswell, Templeton, Wigram and Belfast
- West of the city — West Melton, Templeton, Burnham.
- Selwyn District — Lincoln, Rolleston, Leeston, Springston, Tai Tapu, Darfield, Greendale, Springfield
- Waimakariri — Rangiora, Kaiapoi, Oxford, Cust, Loburn
- Central Otago and Southland – regular monthly trips to Wanaka, Queenstown, Dunedin and Balclutha
- Further afield — extended service across Canterbury, the wider South Island and to the North Island by arrangement
For specialist consultations, vettings and complex investigations, we’ll travel – please get in touch to discuss.
Why see a Specialist in Veterinary Sports Medicine?
Specialist registration is the highest formal qualification in veterinary medicine. To hold specialist status, a vet must complete a residency, publish peer-reviewed research, and pass rigorous board examinations. Dr Johnston is the only equine vet specialist in Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation based in the South Island of New Zealand, which means Canterbury horse owners no longer need to send their horses to the North Island or overseas for that level of expertise.
For horse owners, that translates to:
- More accurate diagnosis of complex, subtle or multi-limb lameness
- Rehabilitation programmes that get horses back to competition, not just back to soundness
- Confident sign-off on high-value pre-purchase examinations and sales radiographs
- A second opinion or referral resource your regular vet can rely on
Frequently Asked Questions
How is a Specialist different from a regular equine vet?
Specialists complete additional years of supervised training (a residency) in a defined area, publish original research, and pass board exams. Dr Johnston’s specialty is Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation – the diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of equine athletes. Your regular vet handles day-to-day care; we step in for all types of sports medicine cases, vettings and tailored rehab.
Do you replace my regular vet?
No – we work with your regular vet, not instead. Most clients see us by referral or for specific specialist services, and we communicate findings back to the primary vet so your horse’s care stays joined up.
How much does a vetting cost in Christchurch?
The cost of a vetting (pre-purchase examination) depends on the level of examination needed and how much imaging is involved. We tailor every vetting to the buyer’s intended use, the horse’s value and any specific concerns. Contact us for a quote based on what you need.
Do you travel for vettings outside Christchurch?
Yes – we regularly travel across Canterbury and the wider South Island for vettings and complex consultations. Travel costs are agreed in advance.
What’s the difference between resting and exercising cardiology?
Some heart problems only appear under load. A resting echocardiogram and ECG tells us about the structure of the heart and the rhythm at rest, while exercising ECG and cardiac assessment shows us how the heart actually performs when the horse is working – essential for diagnosing exercise intolerance and unexplained poor performance.
Can you help with subtle, intermittent lameness?
This is one of the areas where specialist expertise makes the biggest difference. Subtle, multi-limb or intermittent lameness often requires systematic flexion testing, diagnostic anaesthesia and high-quality imaging to identify – exactly the work-up we’re built for.
Book a consultation
Whether you have a clear concern or just a nagging feeling that something’s not quite right, we’re here to help. Most cases come to us by referral from regular vets, but you’re welcome to contact us directly.
New client registration → Phone +64 29 045 0824 → office@sportsmedvet.co.nz
📍 3893 Old West Coast Road, Sheffield, Canterbury 7500 🕐 Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM