With over 30 years veterinary experience, Mike attended Rathkeale College in Masterton New Zealand and qualified from Massey University in 1987. Mike worked in a mixed practice in Wellington, New Zealand for 3 years before travelling through Nepal, Thailand, India, China, and Malaysia arriving in the UK in 1991.

Mike worked in equine and some mixed practices for 2 years before traveling through Africa for 6 months. He then returned to the UK and worked in Equine practice for 3 years, including a considerable amount of time in Russia demonstrating Western Equine Practices to post Soviet Russia.

In 1999, Mike joined Murray Shotter and they set up Shotter & Byers Equine Veterinary Services in Cranleigh, Surrey.  Mike has developed a keen interest in Horseracing and Eventing in the South East of England.​