Northern Rivers Equine

Welcome to Northern Rivers Equine Vet Clinic & Llowalong Farms

Where Quality is our Priority

Northern Rivers Equine Veterinary Clinic & Llowalong Farms is a 100% equine-cattle clinic and stud farm located in Kyabram, Victoria. We offer a 24-hour fully ambulatory service as well as hospital facilities located at 78 Gray Rd, Kyabram. Our ambulatory service covers Kyabram, Echuca and surrounds, reaching as far as Swan Hill, Bendigo, Shepparton and everywhere in between. We also offer agistment, foaling down and a full range of general practice, hospital, surgical and reproductive services.

At Northern Rivers Equine Veterinary Clinic & Llowalong Farms, our team of equine veterinarians and friendly support staff are dedicated to servicing the needs of both you and your horse. Get in touch with us today to discuss how we can help you get the best out of your horse.

Introducing Llowalong Farms!

Started in 2009, Northern Rivers Equine Veterinary Clinic has grown from just myself in a car to the clinic and facilities that you now know in Kyabram Victoria, boasting 3 full time vets servicing all aspects of equine work as well as breeding. Since 2017, the stud component of Northern Rivers Equine has grown and flourished into the world class facilities that are now present with a world class stallion line-up to match! Use the Stallions tab above to see our full listing or our 2022 roster announcement HERE.

The veterinary clinic and stud complement each other perfectly, however, to enable each business to prosper and grow to their full potential it makes good sense to separate the two entities and hence Llowalong Farms is born with Northern Rivers Equine Vet Clinic continuing to function as normal.

What is the origin of Llowalong Farms?

The naming of it goes to the core of who I am. Being a vet is not just what I do, it is who I am. And this would never have been possible without the support of my Grandfather and World War two veteran Jack Adams. Without him I would never have got the opportunity to study Veterinary Science at the University of Sydney. With his early influence as a successful farmer and involvement with cattle and racehorses, his unwavering support and the support of my parents, his fine example of work ethic and passion for life, I was able to have the opportunity to become the veterinarian I had always dreamed to be.

Llowalong is the name of one of my Grandfather’s farms in Gippsland that I spent so much time at growing up. His property was a beautiful undulating property split by a meandering creek bed and majestic 100-year-old red gum trees. Llowalong speaks of hard work and sacrifice, it speaks of history and family beginnings and now with my husband Luke and two girls Heidi and Georgia I hope to continue this heritage through Llowalong Farms from our current base in Kyabram.

With a unique skillset and knowledge unrivalled in the standardbred stud space in Australia as well as a drive and passion to assist in growing the Harness Racing Industry, we as Llowalong Farms, look forward to leading Victoria and indeed Australia, into the breeding arena long into the future. I look forward to having you all join with us for the journey!

Regards, Dr. Kath McIntosh

For all the latest news and all things Northern Rivers Equine Vet Clinic & Llowalong Farms, please also click on our Facebook and Twitter pages and YouTube channel!

Outstanding results for new sire Volstead

The latest addition to our trotting roster for 2024, VOLSTEAD, had a stellar start to the juvenile season siring three of the four Nutrien Equine Trotting Classic winners at Melton. The wins give him the enviable statistics of twenty winners from just 36 starters, thirteen of whom lined up in the finals on Saturday.

Derek The Jet (VOLSTEAD) maintained his unbeaten record when he took out the $150,000 Nutrien Equine Classic (3YO Trotting Colts & Geldings) Final at Melton. Sent out tHe $1.28 favorite, Derek The Jet pressed forward at the start and won a spirited early battle for the lead over his main danger Val Thorens ($5) with Valentino settling in third place. Derek The Jet straightened in front and victory was sealed after Val Thorens galloped when challenging along the sprint lane and it was left to Locksley Cavalier, who charged home from back in the field, to fill second placing. Jack said the son of Volstead has been a project horse.

"It took a long time for him to click on what he was doing and there a few people I need to thank including Todd Matthews and all the staff at home," Jack said. "Six months ago I was concerned that he wasn't going to make it to the races and now he's four from four," he said. Jack was pleased with the win considering the quality of the opposition. "It was a strong field and there were two Group 1 winners in the field," he said.

"All credit to him as he had to work early and then to get home in 27.7 and we only went from the top of the straight, it just goes to show the sheer speed he has."

A clever drive by comeback reinsman Josh Aiken paved the way for Maoris Mac (VOLSTEAD) to take out the $150,000 Nutrien Equine Classic (3YO Trotting Fillies Final). Punters were on good terms with themselves when the $1.80 favorite We Can Have It All (VOLSTEAD) led while Maoris Mac was buried four horses back along the pegs. Aiken, who was having his first race drive since June last year, somehow managed to extricate Maoris Mac away from the pegs with 600 metres to travel and the son of Volstead quickly gathered momentum. Preferred Love was being hailed the winner when Maoris Mac ($18) finished stoutly down the centre of the track scoring by a metre from Preferred Love and We Can Have It All. Aiken admitted he couldn't have scripted the race any better. "She's a really nice filly and the race panned out perfectly with a genuine speed on and then to get the split down the back was great," Aiken said. The winner is raced by harness racing stalwart John (Bluey) McHugh. "And to get a winner for Bluey was pretty special," he said.

"He worked at the Showgrounds then Moonee Valley and here at Melton as well, he really deserved this win."

Later in the night 38-year-old Matthew Whittle scored the biggest win of his career when he steered debutant Prohibited Grace (VOLSTEAD) to an upset win in the $75,000 Nutrien Equine Classic (2YO Trotting Fillies) Final. Prohibitive Grace ($17) was caught sitting parked outside Kinvara Kate before forging to the lead on straightening and the unraced youngster proved too strong in the home stretch scoring by four metres from the $2.30 favorite Keayang Kurki. Prior to the race Whittle had driven only 15 winners in his career. "It beats running around in the old TO races," Whittle said. "It's good to sit behind a reasonably nice horse that does all the right things for a great outcome, it's definitely the biggest race I've been involved in," he said. Whittle admitted he was concerned when he was caught leading the outside division and unable to get cover.

"I didn't want to be sitting out there as she was only trial fit and all the others were race fit but turning for home I was still hanging on to her and the others were asking, but she got home better than the others," he said. Prohibitive Grace is a daughter of boom stallion Volstead who sired the winners of three of the four Trotting Finals.