After a tumultuous few years, Agnes Banks Equine Clinic (ABEC) is set for a fresh start under new ownership. On Friday, a trio of veterinarians - Christine Smith, Lauren Jordan, and Hadley Willsallen - finalised the purchase of the 30-year-old Hawkesbury equine practice, marking a turning point for the clinic and its future.

The new owners are no strangers to ABEC. Each has deep professional and personal ties to the practice, having worked there in various capacities over the years. Their decision to take over comes after a challenging period that saw staff departures, community frustration, and, ultimately, the clinic’s closure in late 2023. The practice was temporarily reopened in early 2024 under corporate management, but its long-term viability remained uncertain until Smith, Jordan, and Willsallen stepped in.

Lauren Jordan, ABEC managing director and one of the new owners, acknowledged the difficulties ABEC faced in recent years, including economic pressures, floods, and the broader challenges of corporate veterinary management. “We understand why the previous owner sold - running a clinic of this scale alone is a huge responsibility. The corporate group that took over had good intentions, but there were missteps that impacted both staff and clients. The changes they made didn’t always align with the expectations of a tight-knit equine community like ours,” Jordan said.

Under corporate ownership, ABEC saw significant turnover in staff, which led to a decline in client trust. “Equine veterinary care is deeply personal. Clients come for their vet, not just for the practice name. When you lose that continuity, you lose the heart of the clinic,” Jordan explained.

By late 2023, with few veterinarians remaining, the clinic shut its doors. A small group of former staff, including Jordan and Smith, returned in February 2024 in an attempt to revive operations, but rebuilding trust proved difficult. By the end of the year, corporate ownership opted to sell, and the opportunity arose for a homegrown revival.

The new owners admit their decision was driven more by emotion than financial logic. “It’s a huge leap, but we couldn’t watch the practice disappear. We’ve all been part of ABEC for so long - it’s family to us,” Jordan said. “If we hadn’t stepped in, it would have shut down permanently. That wasn’t an option.”

The transition is already underway. Over the weekend, staff and supporters including Olympian, Shane Rose held a working bee, giving the clinic a fresh coat of paint, adding flowers, and restoring a sense of community spirit. But the real challenge lies ahead - rebuilding the team and restoring the clinic’s full 24/7 services.

“We need the community’s support,” Jordan emphasised. “Bringing in more vets is essential, but that takes time. We know people want the clinic back to what it was, and we’ll get there, but we have to do it sustainably.”

As ABEC moves forward, its new owners are focused on regaining the trust of clients and ensuring the clinic remains a cornerstone of equine care in the Hawkesbury. For those who have relied on the clinic for decades, its return to local hands is a welcome sign of stability and renewal.

Agnes Banks news owners, and supporters including Australian Olympian Shane Rose teamed up for a working bee to spruce up the clinic on the weekend.

New owners, vets Christine Smith, Lauren Jordan, and Hadley Willsallen