Facility
Our location is specifically chosen to offer high-quality comprehensive care for horses in a professionally equipped facility that focuses on both the physical and mental health of the horse. The facility (in Knesselare, East-Flanders) is easily accessible via two nearby motorways, the E40 and the E34. Situated in close proximity to nature, we create the all-important mental tranquility for the horse that guarantees optimal recovery and health (mens sana in corpore sano).
The facility offers the opportunity for thorough and high-quality examination in a safe and clean environment that is not possible at home. From motion analysis on hard and soft surfaces, in hand or ridden, to medical imaging (radiography, ultrasound, thermography, endoscopy, …), safe examination rooms for internal examinations, dental care, or certain medical/surgical treatments (palpation box), clean examination rooms for performing sterile and semi-sterile treatments, a recovery stable for procedures under general anesthesia, and more. All of this in a stress-free environment creating rest and optimal recovery.
Founder
Veterinarian Bart Halsberghe founded Global Equine Veterinary Consulting in 2018. As a dual-boarded specialist in total care (Dipl. ABVP (Equine Practice)) and sports medicine and rehabilitation for horses (Dipl. ECVSMR (Equine)), combined with various postgraduate courses and continuing education programs (orthopedics and imaging (ISELP Cert.), physiotherapy (CERT), acupuncture (cVMA), and chiropractic (cVSMT)), he wanted to bring the importance of true total care to life by not only combining primary veterinary care with specialist knowledge, but also offering classical and complementary/alternative medicine as a whole.
This unique combination is better known as physical medicine, and Bart Halsberghe is therefore one of the founders of this branch of veterinary medicine together with Dr. Allen Schoen.
Dr. Bart Halsberghe grew up among horses in Flanders, Belgium. He participated in dressage, jumping and eventing competitions from childhood to a young adult, and was particularly engaged in the training of young horses. He was also a competitive triathlete in his early twenties, eventually competing in one of the toughest one-day competitions in sports, "the Ironman".
Dr. Bart Halsberghe is a 2003 graduate from the University of Ghent, Belgium. Since then, he has focused his veterinary career on equine sports medicine and rehabilitation working with thoroughbred racehorses, trotters, sport horses and quarter horses in different countries. In 2018 he started his own practice "Global Equine Veterinary Consulting", providing worldwide (USA, China, Europe) veterinary services and consulting in the field of integrated equine sports medicine and rehabilitation (Equine Sports Physiatry), lameness, prepurchase examination and diagnostic imaging.
Prior to this, Dr. Halsberghe worked in a mixed animal practice in the UK (2004–2005) and pursued his equine career in the USA, first working in a thoroughbred racetrack practice (2005–2009), and later in an equine sports medicine clinic (2009–2018). He served as a clinical assistant professor at the Western University of Health Science, in California, USA, from 2014 till 2019, and has authored a book chapter and several peer-reviewed publications.
Dr. Halsberghe is a double board-certified equine specialist in Equine Practice (since 2017) and Equine Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation (since 2021). He is also a certified member of the international society of equine locomotor pathology (I.S.E.L.P.) and holds certifications in veterinary medical acupuncture, veterinary spinal manipulative therapy, equine rehabilitation and kinesio taping.
Passion-driven, he combines all this knowledge and experience to pioneer a new branch in veterinary medicine called 'equine sports physiatry', emphasizing the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical impairments or disabilities affecting predominantly, but not exclusively the brain, spinal cord, nerves, bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles, and fascia in the equine athlete.
In his spare time, when Dr. Bart is not thinking about horses, he enjoys the company of his lovely wife and two daughters.
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The Office
Lien Roobroeck has been our trusted person at the office for many years. With her extensive language skills and love for horses (veterinary assistant, former rider), she ensures tight scheduling and can lend a hand where needed during patient examinations and treatments.
Veterinary Colleagues
Internal Medicine and Exercise Physiology
If the initial examination reveals that a more thorough look is needed regarding the digestive system, lungs, heart, or muscles, your horse will be further examined by our colleague veterinarian Dominique de Clercq or Emmanuelle Van Erck.
Dentistry
If the initial examination reveals that there is a need for a more thorough look of the teeth and mouth (toothache, mouth ulcers, bit or rein contact problems, etc.), your horse will be further examined by our colleague veterinarian Olivier Buyssens.
Surgery
We always try to find a medical solution first, but if a surgical intervention is necessary, your horse will be assisted by the best specialists in the world. Depending on the problem, a surgeon tailored to your needs will be selected. For this, we work with freelance surgeons such as colleague veterinarian Jan-Hein Swagemaker, Carter Judy, Michel Hoegaerts, Jeroen Declercq, and others.
Medical Imaging
Currently, we do not have advanced imaging modalities such as MRI, CT, or scintigraphy at our facility. However, we work closely with medical centers in your area that provide these modalities. For correct image interpretation we rely on world renown radiologists Kurt Selberg and Myra Barrett.
Reproduction
Our colleague veterinarian Jorinde de Vries handles issues related to the reproductive system.