After years of growth and careful planning, Ocean State Equine Associates Inc. has moved into a barn of its own.
The equine veterinary practice in December moved into a newly constructed office and barn facility, which allows it to see patients, affords a modern surgical suite and provides additional space for quarantined horses, typically those being transported into the U.S. from overseas.
The veterinarians associated with the practice still make traditional “barn calls,” or visits to the homes and farms of their clients, but they are encouraging people to bring their horses into the new clinic for regular appointments.
The move marks a graduation of sorts for the equine practice, which spouses Hollie Stillwell and Enda Currid purchased in 2001. At the time, the business employed the young couple and the original owner.
Renamed in 2008, the equine practice continued to work from its original location, a leased facility that dated to the 1970s, even as it steadily grew.
Three years ago, Stillwell and Currid purchased a farm in the North Scituate village of Scituate. Construction of their new facility began last year, with financing provided by a small-business loan from R.I. Commerce Corp. and Coastway Bank. Construction management was provided through MPM Properties.
In addition to the 6,000-square-foot barn and clinic, the property has a house where the veterinary interns live. The practice employs eight veterinarians, including the owners, and eight staff members.
“Now we have the security of owning a piece of property,” Stillwell said. “It’s a pleasure to walk in every morning.”
Although the number of horses nationally is in decline, the Ocean State and surrounding areas of Connecticut and Massachusetts have enough horse enthusiasts to keep the practice busy. The business draws its clients from a one-hour radius of the farm.
Ocean State Equine Associates provides services to horses kept for pleasure, to farm horses and to competitive show horses. In Rhode Island, many people keep horses for professional competition, in jumping and other events.
Stillwell, who grew up in Narragansett, and Currid, who grew up in County Sligo, Ireland, met while students at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University.
She had expected to become a horse doctor as a child. After a few years of pursuing other avenues in veterinary science, she fell back in love with the animals while at Tufts.
“I was at vet school. I got a job in the large-animal hospital. I just realized how much I missed being around the animals, because I had stopped riding and I had gotten away from it for a while,” Stillwell said.
As a child, many horse lovers have a romantic attachment to them. As a doctor, the attachment relates more to respect. “They’re intelligent. … They’re solid. They’re athletic,” she said.
OWNERS: Hollie Stillwell and Enda Currid
LOCATION: 11 Winsor Ave., Scituate
TYPE OF BUSINESS: Equine veterinary clinic
EMPLOYEES: 16
YEAR ESTABLISHED: 2008 (under current name)
ANNUAL SALES: WND