Tilly is from Weston, Connecticut, but spent the last 5 years at a guest ranch in Wyoming, managing a herd of nearly 200 horses. Deciding to trade in the extreme cold for the extreme heat, Tilly recently moved to the area with her boyfriend, two dogs, two mustangs, and mule. Tilly is excited to be a part of the AE team and expand her equine knowledge

Leah was born in Ohio, growing up she had the opportunity to live in seven different states. Leah has been in Austin since 2017 and is very excited to be a part of the AE team! In her spare time, she likes to knit and crochet.

Coley Gold has loved horses for as long as she can remember. She grew up riding for fun on the beach in Northern California and ended up managing a barn and adopting an ex-racehorse in the Hudson Valley, New York. As soon as she arrived in Texas, she knew the first thing to do was to find her fellow horse-loving community so she feels incredibly lucky to be joining the AE team!
Her passions include all of the animals, hot yoga, natural horsemanship, the great outdoors, vintage and antiques, matcha everything, dancing to records, going to the cinema, running with her rescue pup Rosie, playing pool, pickleball, and Wingspan with her partner Josh, and the perfect trifecta: a good snack, a good hack, and a good read.

Jessica was born in Austin Tx and she graduated from Tarleton State University with a BS in Animal Science. Throughout college, Jessica competed within the Interscholastic Horse Show Association. She attended IHSA nationals twice and was the President during her senior year. She has been showing horses her whole life within the eventing and Hunter/jumper disciplines. Jessica currently has a Dutch mare named Remi and a QH mare named Olena. Jessica loves to be outdoors hiking or hanging by the lake (when she is not at horse shows that is)!

Krisa is a native Texan raised in Wimberley, the heart of the hill country. She has been a veterinary technician since 2019 and started off in a mixed practice, but wanted to follow a dream of working in an equine practice. Outside of work, you can find Krista adventuring outdoors and spending time with her dogs.

Dovie was born and raised in Bryan, Tx but moved to her true home, Austin, as soon as she could in 1997. She has worked in both human and small animal medicine and is excited to fully immerse herself into equine care. She and her fiancé, Billy, enjoy spending their time traveling and on the hunt for vintage treasures. Dovie enjoys bad reality tv, anything creepy, and time with her dog Roadie Roadhouse.

Adam was born in Brewster, New York and moved down to Texas in 2002. He is the only person in his family to ever have horses, and has been working with them for 10 years now! He received his bachelor's degree in animal science from Tarleton State University in 2020. In his free time, Adam loves to hike, hangout by the lake, or being outdoors in general.

Born and raised in Lafayette, Louisiana, Payton is a dedicated veterinary technician with a strong passion for animal care and wellness. She began her career in 2018, gaining valuable hands-on experience in both general practice and emergency medicine. In 2021, she relocated to Austin, Texas, where she continues to pursue her love for veterinary medicine and supporting pets and their families.
Outside of work, Payton enjoys being on the water, practicing yoga, and caring for her growing collection of indoor plants. At home, she shares life with two energetic dogs, Ivy and Kennedy, along with her sweet cat, Xander, who is always ready for a cuddle.

Dr. Michaela Rybolt hails from Whitmore Lake, Michigan, and earned both her bachelor’s degree and DVM from Oregon State University. Michaela’s professional interests include equine surgery, emergency medicine, and global service through the Christian Veterinary Mission. When she’s not working, she loves spending time with her Quarab mare (Jade), Heeler mix (Skid), and her mischievous orange cat (Hermione). She also enjoys board games with family, singing show tunes, and planning outdoor adventures. Michaela is thrilled to be joining the Austin Equine team and looks forward to experiencing all that Texas has to offer in the coming year.

Dr. Charlize Zuraek brings a lifelong passion for horses and equine medicine. Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, Charlize grew up riding reining horses alongside her mom and grandparents—horses have always been a cherished family tradition. She earned her undergraduate degree in Animal Science from the University of California, Davis, and her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Western University of Health Sciences in Southern California. During veterinary school, she served as president of Western’s student chapter of the American Association of Equine Practitioners and was recognized with the Clinical Excellence Award in Large Animal Internal Medicine. Charlize is especially interested in equine general practice and emergency medicine. Outside of work, she’s recently taken up rollerblading and is enjoying the ride!

Micaela is from Belton, TX and recently moved to Austin after graduating from Texas State University where she joined our team. Micaela has a passion for horses as she grew up riding dressage and jumping. In her free time she likes to scrapbook her state parks and life adventures. Micaela is excited to be working at Austin Equine and comes from a background from both small and large animal practices.

Dr. Sarah White was born and raised in Round Rock, Texas. She was pretty terrible at most sports growing up, but horseback riding was something she really enjoyed and decided to dedicate her life to becoming a horse vet. She went to Texas A&M University for both her undergraduate degree and her veterinary school and was thoroughly indoctrinated to bleed maroon and "saw 'em off" at every chance. Although she doesn't like horror movies, she fell in love with doing equine surgery and dedicated an additional 5 years of her life after veterinary school doing additional training in Oklahoma and Wisconsin to complete two internships and a Large Animal Surgery Residency program.

She could not stand the long, dark, cold, miserable winters of Wisconsin and quickly came back to the unending sunshine of Texas. Most of Sarah's family lives in England and she loves to visit them when she can. She is absolutely a crazy cat lady: although she CURRENTLY only has one orange cat she has plans to acquire several more. She still has the first horse she ever bought, Magnum, who is living the joy of a retired life. She lives with her boyfriend, David, who is also a veterinarian, and his dog Cooper (who is a cat in a dog's body). Sarah and David try to talk about things other than veterinary medicine when they're at home together but fail often. Her hobbies include reading, working out, kayaking, and long walks outside (when it isn't 150 degrees). She would love to start riding again now that she is finished with her surgery residency and enjoys watching her patients and clients succeed and thrive with healthy lifestyles.

Adrienne was born in Granbury, TX, but raised here in Austin. She grew up as a first generation horse girl riding in the hunter/jumpers for 10 years and then switched to barrel racing. She now starts colts and enjoys training. Adrienne has managed several barns in the area and has experience as a small animal Veterinary Technician. She is excited to be in a place where both worlds collide! Outside of work and horses, Adrienne enjoys hiking, camping, and seeing live music.

Alayna was born in Arizona and spent several years in Nebraska before making Texas her home. She brings valuable experience from both equine and mixed animal practices, along with a background in managing a large horse breeding and training ranch. Alayna is excited to bring her skills and passion to the Austin Equine team. Outside of work, she enjoys barrel racing, paddle boarding, and catching live music whenever she can.

Alyssa Zuniga was born in Austin Tx and has moved back and forth from Houston and Round Rock, she recently moved to Granger Tx and loves being more rural. Alyssa rode horses at a very young age and took a break as she got older, she is looking forward to having horses back in her life and caring for these amazing animals. She is completing the ACC Veterinary Technician Program and will receive an Associate Degree as a Licensed Veterinary Technician. Alyssa loves all kinds of animals big and small and her hobbies include hunting, fishing, working on project trucks, gardening, baking, and small farm homesteading. She is always willing to learn something new and is excited to join the AE Team!

Dr. Holly Martin was raised in the beautiful Coeur d' Alene, Idaho. And yes, she does love potatoes. She completed her DVM at Colorado State University then ventured south to experience life as a baked potato in the Texas heat whilst working as an intern at the beloved Austin Equine Hospital. Although she fell in love with the Hill Country, she ventured north to gain specialty training in large animal internal medicine at the University of Wisconsin-Madison upon completing her internship. There she experienced the life-altering magical delight of the Wisconsin cheese curd. However delectable those deep fried curds were, even they weren't enough to keep her up in America's Dairyland and she moved across the country, yet again, to rejoin the team at Austin Equine Hospital. Holly was raised riding AQHA performance horses and her and her husband (a genuine human person with a shared aspiration to visit Hobbiton) own a small herd of Gelbvieh cattle. She enjoys cooking, eating potatoes (boil 'em, mash 'em, stick 'em in a stew!), dancing, reading the all-hallowed works of J.K. Rowling, and spending time with her husband and son.

Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, Danika has been an animal lover for as long as she can remember—if it had fur, feathers, or even extra legs, chances are she tried to bring it home. From chickens and bunnies to frogs and dogs, animals have always been at the heart of her life. Although she didn’t grow up with horses, she seized every opportunity to be around them, and the time she spent with her horse, Kermit, remains one of her most treasured memories.
Animal advocacy is Danika’s true passion. After five years working in small animal veterinary care, she’s now living her dream in the equine world. She’s called the Austin area home for the past 11 years, where she lives with her Austin-native husband, Landon, and their spirited Labrador, Leia, who keeps life exciting and full of joy.
When she’s not working, you’ll likely find Danika outdoors with a book in hand and Leia by her side—unless she’s happily curled up at home with her phone on silent. A proud nerd at heart, she’s always up for a good Lord of the Rings or Star Wars conversation—just say the word!

Raegan grew up in the charming towns of Victoria-Blanco, Texas, where her love for ranch life began. From her first blue roan, Callidus, she surrounded herself with the beauty of nature and the bond between humans and animals. Currently, she lives on an Arabian horse rescue ranch where she cares for these incredible animals and witnesses their resilience and recovery every day. Raegan enjoys spending time with her family, hunting for the most elaborate antiques or finding the most unique rocks at the River. When she is not on the search, you can find her reading in the sun with her cats Tuna and Miso.

Dr. O'Gan comes from the Big Horn Mountain country of northern Wyoming. He received his DVM from Texas A&M in 2003. Dr. O'Gan started Austin Equine in 2004, seeing a need for a focused sport horse practice in Austin's growing show horse community. His areas of special interest include lameness, musculoskeletal ultrasound, neck and back pain, stem cell therapy, and the equine foot. Dr. O'Gan lives in central Austin with his superhuman wife, Ellen Jefferson, and when away from the hospital he enjoys playing music, building and racing vintage motorcycles, cycling (building/riding), building musical instruments, and Sheridan leather carving. Also a few more things, but now we're boring you.

Dr. Evans is a native Austinite who did his undergraduate work and Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine at Texas A&M University. Dr. Evans became a partner at Austin Equine in 2005 and his veterinary interest is equine dentistry. Dr. Evans and his wife have two children, both girls, and they are all better than he deserves. In addition to being a horse veterinarian, Matt is a writer, stand up comedian and oil painter.

Dr. JoLynn Joyce is a native of Huntsville, Texas. She attended Texas A&M University where she earned both her Bachelor and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degrees. Following veterinary school, Dr. Joyce completed an equine internship at Waller Equine Hospital and then went on to Colorado State University to complete a surgical residency. She became board certified by the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2009. She was happy to return to the great state of Texas and make Austin Equine her home. Her areas of interest include lameness and surgery. She and her husband live in the area and enjoy live music, outdoors and spending time with family.

Dr. Taylor grew up in Cave Creek, Arizona with a menagerie of pets in her backyard including goats, chickens, donkeys, and of course horses. She showed Quarter horses in all-around and reining which brought her to compete on the NCEA equestrian team at Kansas State University. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in Biology before moving to southern California to attend Western University of Health Sciences for her Veterinary degree. Her favorite non-horse activities include running, rock climbing, trying new restaurants, and live music. She is excited to become a Texan and explore Austin with her husband.

Meet Austin Equine's mascots, DJ and Lucy Our doctors first saw DJ just days after his birth for a lameness evaluation (he was born without a navicular bone in his left foot), and was later given to us in hopes that we could give him the continued treatment he needs for this rare condition (he is sound and doing well). Though we all quickly bonded with DJ, he was lonely without a donkey friend so his breeder sent us Lucy to be his companion. Yes, we got a donkey for our donkey. DJ and Lucy spend their days greeting patients in the barn, observing lameness exams, and eating Dr. Evans' landscaping. They're very friendly and love to follow people around in hopes of a good scratching.

Gabby, a lifelong Austin, TX native, has always had a deep passion for horses. Growing up riding western for fun, she later ventured into the world of hunters and has since dabbled in eventing. Over the years, Gabby has worked with a variety of horses, gaining valuable experience along the way, and is excited to continue expanding her career in the equestrian world. In her free time, she enjoys riding her horse Cooper, hiking, and cooking.

Tatiana was born and raised in the Ukraine. In 2013, she graduated from the University of Finance and Accounting in Dnipropetrovsks, Ukraine. After completing her degree, she moved to the United States and ended up in Austin Tx in 2017. Tatiana did not grow up around horses, but she has always been a very social person and loves to explore new things. Joining Austin Equine Hospital has allowed her to learn more about these wonderful creatures.

Heather grew up on a small cattle ranch in West Texas. She was active in 4H for 10 years. She participated in raising and showing steers, pigs, goats, and horses. Heather graduated from Monahans High School and then attended Tyler Junior College before joining Austin Equine

Stephanie was born and raised in Brussels, Belgium. After earning a degree in Photography and living in Australia and Canada, she moved to Austin Texas in 2009 with her husband Kevin. Her hobbies include re-finishing furniture, photography, microbrews, and spending time outside with her two dogs Jenny and Sara, and Polish rabbits George and Penny. She is currently working on a degree in Veterinary Technology. A long-time horse lover and animal advocate, Stephanie is excited about being a part of the AE team.

Born in Santa Rosa, California, Jessica and her family moved to Texas when she was 3. Horses have always been her first love. Riding for fun and competing in western events throughout her childhood and teen years, including qualifying for the Texas High School Rodeo State Finals, strengthened her passion for these amazing creatures. Jessica completed her Bachelors degree at Texas State University and completed her Certified Veterinary Practice Manager certification through VHMA. Jessica's favorite activities in her free time are riding her horse Smokey, traveling, hiking, and trying out new restaurants with her husband, and relaxing with their dogs Ophelia, Henry and Hazel.

Dr. Morgan Hilton grew up in Copper Canyon, TX and started riding in hunter/jumpers at age 8 before switching to eventing around age 13. She graduated from Abilene Christian University with a bachelors in Animal Science and received her veterinary degree from the Royal Veterinary College in London. Training horses, playing board games, and spending time with friends and family are a few of her favorite things. She is looking forward to being back in Texas, exploring the Austin area with her husband, and getting back into eventing again.

Dr. Sam Eifert is from the sunshine state itself, Florida. She attended the University of Florida where she graduated with an undergrad degree in Animal Sciences and again with her DVM (double gator!). Horses have always been her first love but during vet school she also fell deeply in love with cattle. In her free time Sam likes cooking, watching sports, and hanging out with her friends and family. She is excited to be a part of the Austin Equine crew!

Claire is a native Chicagoan who recently graduated with her B.S. in Biology from the University of Texas at Austin. She has always had a passion working with animals and obtained her CVA (Certified Veterinary Assistant) certification last year through small animal technician work. Her long term goals include attending veterinary school sometime in the future. For now, Claire is excited to be a part of the Austin Equine team, where she is able to learn, grow, and better develop her knowledge of and passion for horses. In her spare time, Claire enjoys paddle boarding, hiking, exploring new restaurants in Austin, and spending time with her dog, Oakley, and her cat, Nala.

Hayley was born in Corpus Christi, TX where she lived until moving to San Marcos to attend Texas State University. Here Hayley received her Bachelor's degree in Animal Science and rode for the TXST Equestrian Team. Hayley grew up showing quarter horses before switching to hunter/jumpers and buying her horse Augustus. Her hobbies include riding, spending time with her two dogs, and exploring new restaurants and outdoor spaces around Austin.

Dovie was born and raised in Bryan, Texas but moved to her true home, Austin, as soon as she could in 1997. She has worked in both human and small animal medicine and is excited to fully immerse herself into equine care. She and her boyfriend, Billy, recently bought their first home together and enjoy spending their time on the hunt for vintage treasures to fill their new space. Dovie enjoys bad reality tv, anything creepy, and time with her dog, a Boston/Frenchie named Von Zipper.

Olivia grew up in Michigan after her dad retired from the Army. She graduated in 2016 with her B.S. in Biology and spent several years as a Barn Manager. After surviving the North for almost 20 years, she relocated to Austin in 2019. It was here that she stumbled into small animal practice. She spent the last year as a small animal surgery technician before joining Austin Equine Hospital. She has been a proud owner of a chestnut Thoroughbred mare for over a decade (oof).

Charlie grew up in Northern California, outside of San Francisco. She relocated to Austin in 2019 and worked as an English riding trainer before joining the Austin Equine team. Charlie is pursuing her degree in Equine Science at Post University, and aspires to be an equine veterinarian herself. Outside of work Charlie enjoys hiking with her dog named Oliver, riding horses, and spending time with her boyfriend exploring new restaurants.