Fireworks and Anxiety
It’s that time of the year again when the fizz pop bang of fireworks can be a source of joy for many humans, but a source of fear and anxiety
23 October 2025
Keep up to date with the latest news at Vets North!
We’re proudly sponsoring this year’s Helensville A&P Show — a cherished celebration of rural life, farming, animals and community spirit in West Auckland. This years A&P theme is the Year of the Horse and we are excited to announce for the first time we will run a speaker series during the event with an equine focus.
The A&P Show is a highlight of the local calendar, featuring livestock competitions, equestrian events, agricultural displays, home crafts and activities for the whole whānau. It’s a day where friends, neighbours and visitors come together to celebrate everything rural and connected to animal care — and we’re thrilled to be part of it.
As part of our involvement, we’re hosting an informative Speaker Series throughout the event. Each talk is around 30 minutes and will cover practical and interesting topics ranging from equine first aid and equine health to lifestyle block management. Come along to our site, learn something new and chat with our team about your animal care questions.
Here’s the schedule (each talk is 30 minutes):
| Time | Speaker | Topic |
|---|---|---|
| 10.00 am | Rivers Cook | Equine First Aid |
| 11.00 am | Jess Slattery | Cushing’s and Laminitis |
| 12.00 pm | James L’Amie | Lifestyle Block 101 |
| 2.30 pm | Mark Young | Equine Lameness |
If you have horses our equine talks should not be missed, with vet care always evolving you are bound to learn something new.
Do you have a lifestyle block or are you simply curious, James is our lifestyle guru and will be able to cover all your questions.
We’re also running a colouring-in competition for kids, with entries to be completed and dropped into any Vets North clinic ahead of show day. Simply download, print and colour in.
The Helensville A&P Show is much more than a display of animals — it’s a true community day out. Expect:
🐴 Equestrian competitions & displays – bigger then ever with this year horse theme
🐑 Livestock classes and judging – come and see sheep, goats, pigs, cows, alpacas and more!
🐕 Pet dog competitions & the highly anticipated Terrier Race
🎨 Exhibitions of crafts, baking and horticulture
🍔 Local food stalls, entertainment and activities for kids
Our team will be on hand throughout the day to meet you, answer questions and share insights on caring for your animals and managing your lifestyle block.
Bring your family, bring your questions, and don’t miss the Speaker Series in our site.
We will also have fun things to do and prizes to be won with games like Guess the Poo!
We’re looking forward to seeing you at the Helensville Showgrounds on Saturday 28th February for a fun, educational and community-filled day.
See you there!
It’s that time of the year again when the fizz pop bang of fireworks can be a source of joy for many humans, but a source of fear and anxiety
Last year, our equine vet Sophie bred her mare — a calm, good-natured horse she knew would make a wonderful mum. The early scans went smoothly…until a surprising moment 16