Our values
- Working together as a supportive team
- Enjoying our work
- Innovation and development of individuals and the practice
- Good horsemanship
- Sustainability
- Excellent communication within the practice and with our clients
- Empathy, respect, trust, compassion and humility
Meet the team
We have a team of 4 veterinary surgeons, led by our senior vet Jim Dukes. All of our vets are dedicated equine vets, and they stay up to date with the latest innovations and legislation in the veterinary world by attending CPD events on a regular basis.
To support our veterinary team we have 3 members of admin staff who will be your first point of call
Jim Dukes
Equine Vet and Managing director
Jim set up the practice in 2002. He grew up with horses, completed in all disciplines in pony club before spending several years playing polo. His highpoint was playing with Howard Hipwood, the best ever English polo player. Outside of work he loves foraging for mushrooms, fishing and deer stalking. He breeds sport horses and loves the challenge of training horses.
LINDA CRUICKSHANK
Office manager
Linda has worked at Dukes Equine Vets since 2005. She had a short sabbatical in 2022 and returned to the practice in the role of Office Manager. Linda’s main role is invoicing and book-keeping, but she also oversees the administration team and carries out general office duties. In her spare time, Linda enjoys going to live music events, learning to play ukelele,
gardening, reading, and going for walks in the countryside.
JANE JEFFRIES
Yard manager
Jane has worked for Dukes Equine Vets since spring 2010 as the practice yard manager. Her work at the practice ranges from helping our vets and visiting veterinary specialists, to
everyday maintenance. Jane is originally from Lincolnshire, and has lived in Scotland for the past 30 years. She grew up on a farm and has ridden for most of her life, hunting, eventing
up to Intermediate level and lately mainly dressage and showing. When not working at Dukes Vets, Jane rides her own horses and teaching individual clients and local pony clubs.
MACIEJ POSŁUSZNY
Equine Vet
Maciej Posłuszny earned his veterinary degree from the Warsaw University of Life Sciences in Poland in 2010. He began his career at Equine Hospital Sluzewiec in Warsaw, where he worked as a veterinary surgeon until 2017, gaining extensive experience in equine medicine and surgery. He then moved to the UK, working with Dukes Veterinary Practice in Aboyne, Scotland, and later at Bourton Vale Equine Clinic in England. Since 2019, Maciej has been a valued member of Dukes Equine Vets, where he continues to provide expert care for horses with a focus on equine health, diagnostics, and treatment. In his free time, he enjoys the vast open spaces of the Cairngorms, exploring the area on foot, by bike, by kayak, and, whenever possible, on skis.
ALICE STRANG STEEL
Equine Vet
Alice joined the practice in 2018, having graduated from Cambridge University and done a lot of her placements as a student with Jim. Since then, she has developed a particular interest in medicine and reproduction. In 2023 Alice completed 2 years of studying for a Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice (CertAVP). Outside of work, Alice has her own horses for dressage training and has recently been competing in an ultramarathon and Hyrox functional fitness competitions.
TRACEY CROSSLAND
Administrator and credit control
Tracey has been working for Dukes Equine Vets since 2019 and has also been a client for over 10 years. Married to Ian and mum to Niamh, Chloe and Karagh. Tracey has 2 horses at home, but doesn’t ride herself, instead she is the bill payer, top groom and chief poop picker upper to the 2 of her daughters that do ride. You may have seen her out and about on the BE circuit, and at Bennachie Pony Club.
LESLEY GRANT
Groom
Lesley has worked at Dukes Equine Vets since 2020. Lesley is responsible for looking after in patients and all the resident horses. She assists with procedures and with the stud work
and ensures that the yard is kept clean and tidy. In her spare time Lesley is never far away from her Collie Royston, and she spends a lot of time working with sheep. Lesley also has a
horse called Belle, and she is hoping to get back out competing this year.
ANNA SZKUTNIK
Equine Vet
Anna graduated from Warsaw University in 2010 and has been working in the UK since 2015. Her professional focus lies around the horse’s head, particularly in Equine Dentistry and head surgery. Anna is continually developing her knowledge and skills, and in 2021 after 3 years of studying Anna completed a Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice in
Equine Dentistry. After a short spell for maternity leave, Anna joined Dukes Equine Vets in August 2022. She is thoroughly enjoying life and work in beautiful Aberdeenshire. When not
at work, Anna spends time outdoors with family going hiking, running or orienteering.
LUCY BAILEY
Office Administration
Lucy has been a client of Dukes Equine Vets for 21 years and then joined the office team in August 2022. Lucy was born into a life with horses. She came up through the pony club, competing in all disciplines and finally attaining her A test. She then went to West Oxon Technical College where she trained with race horses and achieved a Certificate in the management of TB horses in 1988. Since then, she has worked with TB yearlings in Australia and run 2 riding schools and a livery yard. In 1986 she began the first of 3 seasons at Balmoral trekking centre, where she learned to drive the queens highland ponies. During these years she has racked up 50 years experience of breaking, schooling and rehabilitating horses.
EILIDH GARRETT
Groom
Eilidh joined our team in June 2024. Alongside working part-time at Dukes, Eilidh is currently a student studying a Bsc Honnors in Equine Science and Management at SRUC Oatridge. When she is not working at the vets or studying, she can be found with her flock of pedigree Ryeland sheep, riding horses or drawing equine portraits in her free time.
EMMA MICHIE
Groom
Emma has been around horses her whole life, and she started riding 7 years ago. She is now producing her own pony Sunny who she re-backed when she got him at 7. Emma does a bit of everything with Sunny – competing, schooling, hacking, fun rides and much more. She was in pony club for 4 years where she worked up to c+ badge level. Emma studied at Horseback UK, where she gained multiple qualifications. During the Horseback UK course she came to do work experience at Dukes Equine Vets, and has been working with us in the yard part-time since then.
Facilities / Equipment
We have an array of mobile equipment which includes an X-ray machine, gastroscope, endoscope, tendon scanner, pregnancy scanner, dental camera, shockwave machine, ECG macine, and abdominal scanner. At our clinic in Aboyne we have facilities to carry out lameness examinations, diagnostic procedures, minor surgery, and breeding work. A visit to the clinic will save you having to pay a visit charge, and we will have access to more equipment if needed. We have 2 sets of stocks, which will ensure that all examinations and procedures are carried out safely.
Pricelist
Below are a selection of our charges. All prices are inclusive of VAT. Please note that all invoices paid within 15 days of the issue date will receive a prompt payment bonus of 10% of the invoice amount, which will be included in your next invoice.
