Dr Olivia James – The Clinician Behind The Equine Practice Company
BVSc (Hons) MANZCVS (Eq Dentistry) CMAVA DICEVO DAVDC (Equine)
Founder, The Equine Practice Company
Dr. Olivia James is an internationally recognised equine veterinary dental specialist, educator, and founder, with more than two decades of experience across mixed and equine-only veterinary practice.
She is widely respected for her leadership in advancing equine dentistry, postgraduate veterinary education, and sustainable veterinary careers worldwide.
Professional Background
Dr. Olivia James graduated with honours from the University of Sydney in 2003, beginning her career in mixed animal practice in Dubbo, New South Wales.
She later transitioned into equine-only practice, ultimately founding, growing, and successfully selling her own full-service equine veterinary clinic in the Southern Tablelands of NSW.
That experience – spanning associate practice, business ownership, clinical leadership, and eventual exit – continues to inform her practical, business-aware approach to veterinary education.
Current Clinical Practice
Dr. Olivia James currently practises as a referral-only equine dental specialist, providing advanced equine dentistry, oral and maxillofacial surgery, and complex dental case management for horses referred by primary care veterinarians.
She consults across Australia and the Asia-Pacific region, working directly with veterinary clinics to support advanced diagnostics, surgical interventions, and complex treatment planning.
Her clinical work focuses on cases requiring specialist-level assessment, procedural expertise, and long-term functional outcomes.
Specialist Credentials & Accreditation
Dr. Olivia James’ early and enduring passion for equine dentistry led her to pursue extensive postgraduate specialist training. She holds advanced qualifications awarded through formal examination and peer review, including:
- Membership by Examination in Equine Dentistry – Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists
- Diplomate – International College of Equine Veterinary Odontologists (ICEVO)
- Diplomate – American Veterinary Dental College (Equine)
She is currently one of only two registered specialists in equine veterinary dentistry practising in Australia, a milestone that reflects both clinical excellence and sustained professional contribution.
A Career Built the Hard Way (and Proud of It)
Like many equine veterinarians, Dr. James’ career was built through lived experience rather than shortcuts. She has worked every stage of the veterinary pathway:
- student and new graduate
- associate veterinarian
- practice owner
- specialist clinician
- educator and mentor
- and ultimately, practice sale and transition
The founder of The Equine Practice Company understands the realities of equine practice because she has lived them – long hours, professional isolation, decision fatigue, financial pressure, and the responsibility of clinical decision-making without a safety net.
This perspective underpins everything she teaches.
Leadership & Professional Service
Alongside her clinical work, Dr. Olivia James has held numerous leadership, advisory, and service roles in support of veterinary standards, education, and welfare, including:
- President, Dental Chapter – Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists
- Committee Member – American Veterinary Dental College Education Subcommittee
- Committee Member – American Veterinary Dental College Education Maintenance of Credentials
- President & Committee Member – Australian Veterinary Association (ACT Division)
- Committee Member – Australian Veterinary Association (SEQ Branch)
- Volunteer Veterinarian – Animal Aid Abroad (Indonesia)
- Veterinary Consultant – RSPCA ACT (equine welfare, neglect, and abuse cases)
She is an active member of the Australian Veterinary Association, Equine Veterinarians Australia, and the American Association of Equine Practitioners, and currently contributes to postgraduate education and dentistry-focused committees supporting clinical standards and training.
The Moment That Changed Everything
The seed for The Equine Practice Company was planted during an international volunteer mission in Indonesia, where a local veterinarian asked Dr. James for help accessing further education.
That moment highlighted a systemic problem: high-quality equine veterinary education was not equally accessible – and the veterinarians who needed it most were often the least supported.
This was not about education for its own sake. It was about providing practical, immediately applicable skills to veterinarians working at the coalface, so they could improve patient care, confidence, and outcomes without burning out.
A Practical Philosophy of Education
Dr. Olivia James’ approach to education is unapologetically practical.
She teaches the way she wished she had been taught – during the years she balanced textbooks on shelves while performing procedures, or relied on colleagues talking her through unfamiliar cases over the phone.
Her philosophy is simple:
Learn today. Apply tomorrow.
Rather than prioritising perfectionism or theory-heavy abstraction, her teaching focuses on:
- clear clinical frameworks
- decision-making confidence
- realistic case management
- ethical, evidence-based practice
- and sustainable veterinary careers
Why Equine Dentistry?
Equine dentistry holds a special place in Dr. Olivia James’ career. An early case involving a mare with advanced periodontal disease reinforced the profound impact skilled dentistry can have on both horses and their owners.
That experience cemented her commitment not only to specialising, but to teaching other veterinarians how to deliver the same level of care with confidence.
Dr. James consistently emphasises that routine floating alone represents only a small component of comprehensive equine dental care, with diagnosis, function, and long-term oral health forming the foundation of modern equine dentistry.
Building a Global Community of Experts
Through The Equine Practice Company, Dr. James has united more than 260 equine specialists and veterinarians worldwide (such as Dr. Sue Dyson and Professor Dennis Brooks) around a shared mission: raising the standard of equine veterinary care globally.
To date, she has:
- trained and mentored more than 2,800 veterinarians
- developed flagship programs in advanced equine dentistry and practice development
- created on-demand education designed to fit real clinical lives
- built a supportive professional community for equine veterinarians at every career stage
All while balancing life as a clinician, educator, business owner, and parent.
Education That Serves the Profession
Dr. Olivia James believes that better education leads to:
- better medicine
- healthier horses
- more confident veterinarians
- and more sustainable careers
The Equine Practice Company exists because, for a long time, this type of practical, accessible education simply did not exist.
Today, it continues to evolve – driven by collaboration, feedback, and the belief that veterinarians deserve clarity, support, and professional fulfilment.
“At the end of the day, we are all here for the love of the horse – and every one of us has wished, at some point, that we could be a better vet. My work exists to make that easier.”
– Dr. Olivia James, CEO/Founder
