Staff Profile | Joanna Smyth
![](https://waikatostud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/LR-720x540.jpg)
She has treated the Queen’s foals and was a finalist in the Young Farmers National dance competition – meet Joanna Smyth, Waikato Stud’s new Assistant Vet.
Q What is your role at Waikato Stud?
A I am the Assistant Vet.
Q Tell us a bit about your background with horses and how you got to where you are now?
A I grew up on a farm in England and have always had horses. After vet school, I worked in a farm and equine practice for 3 years before spending two years doing an internship in an equine hospital in Newmarket.
Q Where are you from and what bought you to New Zealand?
A I have lived in the UK all my life before coming here – NZ is somewhere I’ve always wanted to work and I like foals and stud work so coming for a season sounded like a good plan.
Q What would you say is the greatest achievement in your career to date?
A Probably when the Queen came to visit one her sick foals at the hospital – and it survived.
Q What is something that not many people know about you?
A I went to the Young Farmers National Dance Finals where we danced a routine to ‘Uptown Funk’.
Q What would you consider to be your greatest achievement?
A Making my sister’s multiple tiered-wedding cake from scratch.
Q What aspect of your personality adds the most value to the world?
A I’m quite optimistic and laid back so I’m pretty calm in a crisis.
![](https://waikatostud.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/WhatsApp-Image-2024-07-02-at-11.58.37-AM-354x253.jpeg)
Ardrossan 2YO Too Slick
The Ciaron Maher-trained Jazzclub looks a youngster to follow with confidence following his victory at the first time of asking at Seymour on Tuesday afternoon. The son of Ardrossan overcame a wide run to score …
Read More![](https://waikatostud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Savabeel-WS-720x540-2-354x253.jpg)
Alcabeel off to flying start
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Alcabeel made the perfect start to his career at Newcastle on Saturday. The son of Savabeel was triumphant on debut over 1400 metres in the hands of Jean Van …
Read More