Thanks to Yellowstone most of us now want to go to Montana, but this week we find out more about a young lady that has come from Montana and no she’s not Beth Dutton!
Nicole Meyer is resident vet for Yulong Stud, pictured with this foal recovering from a chest injury.
This week we find out more about Nicole Meyer, a veterinarian with a passion for thoroughbreds that has led her to Victoria and a great job as resident vet for Yulong Stud, the home of champion sire Written Tycoon.
1/ Where are you from, and what got you in involved in the thoroughbred industry?
I’m originally from Montana -- check out the hit TV show Yellowstone and you will get a glimpse of where I grew up. I always wanted to be a veterinarian from the time I quite young. My grandfather grew up on a ranch and they utilized Percheron Belgian draft crosses to haul various items including ice blocks from the lake for ice houses in town. My dad caught the horse bug and is an exceptional horseman. I suppose I got my love of horses from him.
From there I become enchanted with a children’s book series called Thoroughbred. It was about a young girl growing up on a thoroughbred breeding farm in Kentucky. Shortly thereafter I began following horse racing on TV (there are very few thoroughbred racehorses in Montana!).
I continued to follow racing throughout my young adult life. When I was in my final year of veterinary school, I was offered a surgical internship at one of the oldest and largest equine veterinary hospitals in the world, Haygard Equine Medical Institute.
Closing the abdomen on a horse after it had colic surgery with my intermates watching on.
I spent an additional two years in Kentucky completing a medicine fellowship at Hagyard and then accepted a position as the assistant resident veterinarian at WinStar Farm. It didn’t take long working in the thoroughbred industry in Kentucky to become absolutely hooked.
Nicole with Super Saver. He won the 2010 Kentucky Derby and loved to stick his tongue out. I worked with him when he stood as a stallion at WinStar.
I love following a horse from conception through birth, as a yearling and later a racehorse, and in some cases, back full circle as a stallion or brood mare. Being part of their life, every step of the way gives me a unique opportunity to closely follow many horses along on their journey to becoming a racehorse. Which gives me insight on how I can better adjust my treatment approach for various illnesses and injuries to help produce elite level athletes.
2/ What does a workday in the life of Nicole Meyer look like?
Luckily as an equine veterinarian, I rarely have a typical day! Keeps my job very interesting as I never know what unusual case I may come across each day or night…
During the breeding season I begin my day by doing a physical exam on each new foal that was born overnight. I check their bloodwork, heart, lungs, eyes, umbilicus, legs and mucous membranes for any abnormalities. From there I address any newly sick/injured horses and then move onto those who have known issues.
Triage is a big part of my day. With over 500 horses on farm you have to be good at prioritizing who gets seen when as the days are busy and the stud staff have many other duties outside of veterinary related matters. The remainder of my day consists of catching up on paperwork and communicating with managers regarding each horse’s recovery plan. But then rarely does the days schedule go to plan!
The welfare of foals is a big part of the job.
Oftentimes, I have been up most of the night with a foaling emergency. When this occurs, I will stay with the mare and foal the remainder of the night as one or both generally require ongoing care.
Once the veterinary nurses and the other stud vet arrive in the morning, I will duck home for a quick shower and if I’m lucky a 20 minute nap. Then I head back in to get on with the remainder of the day’s work. There is never a dull moment.
As breeding season finishes, we move straight into sale season. A good portion of my time then becomes focused on sale radiographs and pre-sale scoping. Add in microchipping over 200 foals and caring for sick and injured horses before you know it the offseason has flown by.
3/ Who is your favourite horse and why?
Nicole's horse Lyrical back home in Montana.
Aside from my own cheeky quarter horse back home I would have to say Frankel. I loved watching him race. I was lucky enough to meet him a few years ago in Newmarket.
Nicole Meyer enjoys an audience with Frankel.
He was a very “chilled out” stallion – I’m afraid some of his offspring don’t seem to be inheriting that trait!
4/ Tell us about the best day you had at the races or at the sales, and what made it memorable for you?
The best day I had at the races was Derby Day 2015. I had just moved to Australia and had never been to the races here. In Kentucky I had gone to the Kentucky Derby once and our local track Keeneland a few times but neither match the energy or crowds of the big race days here in Australia.
Sam Fairgray and Nicole Meyer on Everest Day.
When I arrived in Australia I was straight into the breeding season and was living quite remotely in Scone so I hadn’t made many friends yet. My boss at the time, Dr. Bridget Bester, insisted that I go to Derby Day. So, off to Melbourne I went. I didn’t know a soul. The taxi dropped me at Epsom Drive. By the time I made it into the racecourse my feet were already killing me. So, I decided to sit by the parade ring. I was then befriended by a few other women who weren’t involved in racing but came to the Derby every year. I think I saw every last inch of Flemington that day… the girls were determined I experienced all it had to offer! It was my first real insight to how mainstream racing is here.
Nicole at her first Scone Cup.
It truly is engrained into the culture, and I love that about the Australian thoroughbred industry. I also realized how friendly Australian’s are-- it was incredibly kind for those women to “adopt me” for the day.
Nicole enjoys racing with friends.
5/ What is your favourite show on Netflix or TV?
Succession
6/ Now that travel has opened again where is the first place you will go?
Home to Montana and then hopefully off to Tanzania
7/ What is your favourite cuisine and restaurant?
I love anything Asian. I think I found a new favourite up at the Gold Coast-- Mr. Hizola’s in Burleigh Heads
8/ Name two things on your bucket list?
1. African Safari
2. Doing more volunteer work for animal health/welfare
9/ What’s the best advice someone has ever given you?
Everyone is replaceable. It was told to me by a mentor-- he basically meant there is always someone waiting to take your place if you’re not at the top of your game.
10/ Tell us one thing that not many people may know about you?
I have a strong interest in interior design. Although I probably shouldn’t quit my day job anytime soon…
