Dr Kirsten Neil graduated from the University of Melbourne in 1996. Over the past 18 years Kirsten has worked in equine hospitals in Victoria, at the Scone Veterinary Hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit, at Massey University in New Zealand and completed her specialist residency training at Michigan State University in the United States. Whilst at Michigan State, Kirsten also completed a Masters degree on the use of glucosamine and chondroitin sulphate for equine osteoarthritis.

Kirsten has been an FEI veterinarian for over 80 eventing, showjumping, and dressage competitions, and has been a treating and private veterinarian at numerous events including at the Sydney Olympics, Badminton and Rolex Three Day Events. Kirsten has been a team veterinarian for Equestrian Australia, including at the Young Rider Eventing Team Trans Tasman in 2012 and the World Equestrian Games in 2014. Kirsten is the Victorian Eventing Squad team vet, and attends the major three day events in Australia to care for Victorian based squad horses and her own private clients. In 2013, Kirsten was awarded the Equestrian Victoria Official of the Year Award.

In 2008 Kirsten decided to concentrate on her particular interest in performance horses and started Sporthorse Veterinary Specialists, a practice dedicated to sport and pleasure horses. Kirsten provides second opinion, medical and referral consultations for other veterinarians, and concentrates on problems in sporthorses, in particular lameness and poor performance.

Kirsten has a special interest in musculoskeletal ultrasonography and regularly attends conferences overseas dedicated to the advanced diagnosis and care of the equine athlete, and instructs veterinarians at conferences in Australia in musculoskeletal ultrasonography. In 2012 Kirsten obtained an advanced qualification in equine lameness, biomechanics and imaging by becoming a certified member of the International Society of Equine Locomotor Pathology (ISELP), and is currently the only veterinarian in Australia to have obtained this qualification.

In 2013, Kirsten became a Diplomate of American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, and is one of only three veterinarians in Australia with this qualification.