VETERINARIANS
Our DVMs
Troy Herthel, DVM, Dip. ACVS-LA
Born and raised in Los Olivos, California, Troy obtained his undergraduate degree in Animal Science and Agricultural Business from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. He then earned his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine at Oklahoma State College of Veterinary Medicine. Following graduation, Dr. Herthel completed a year-long internship at Weatherford Equine Medical Center in Weatherford, Texas, focusing primarily on lameness, surgery and reproduction in western performance horses. Dr. Herthel returned to Alamo Pintado, where he completed a surgical residency program and became certified as a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons. He is the youngest son of Alamo Pintado founders, Dr. Doug and Mrs. Sue Herthel. Dr. Troy Herthel lives in Los Olivos with his wife, Jacie, and daughters, Crosby and Piper.
Ed Hamer, DVM
Born in Yerington, Nevada, Dr. Hamer attended the University of Nevada at Reno, where he earned his undergraduate degree. He completed his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine at The Ohio State University, coming to Alamo Pintado Equine Medical Center as an intern the following year. Along with treating patients on clinic grounds, Dr. Hamer provides excellent ambulatory veterinary care to the farms and ranches throughout the Santa Ynez Valley, as well as expertise in reproduction and fertility.
Lisa Teske, DVM
Born in Omaha, Nebraska, Dr. Teske moved to Fort Collins to attend Colorado State University as an undergraduate student in agricultural business. After completing her degree, she remained at CSU to participate in the veterinary program. Accomplishing her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Teske then moved to Alamo Pintado Equine Medical Center where she took part in the internship program. Today, Dr. Teske remains a staff veterinarian, providing ambulatory field services, as well as an expertise in equine acupuncture. Dr. Teske is an accomplished dressage rider.
Greg Parks, DVM
Born in Washington, DC, Dr. Parks moved to California to attend the University of California at Santa Cruz. He went on to The Ohio State University for his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Parks participated in our internship program in 1988 and has since stayed on as a staff veterinarian. Dr. Parks has significant expertise in equine reproduction and fertility, and spends significant time in the field, providing veterinary services to clients throughout California's Central Coast. He now lives in Los Olivos with his wife and two children.
Erin Byrne, DVM, Dip. ACVIM
From her hometown of Sunol, CA, Dr. Byrne moved to Davis to complete her undergraduate degree at the University of California, where she continued on to achieve her DVM degree four years later. Following her veterinary education, she moved to College Station, Texas, to participate in the internship program at Texas A&M University, where she remained as a resident in large animal internal medicine. After successfully completing the strenuous board accreditation process, Dr. Byrne became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, and brings her expertise in internal medicine to the patients of Alamo Pintado Equine.
Tyler Stevenson, DVM
Dr. Stevenson is originally from the Central Coast of California, and was inspired to pursue veterinary medicine after watching and working with his father, and equine veterinarian. He completed his undergraduate degree at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and went on to earn a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from the University of California at Davis, where he was recognized by the faculty for his work in the equine clinic and also for his excellence in large animal surgery. Dr. Stevenson then completed an internship at Brock Veterinary Clinic in West Texas, followed by a year under the tutelage of Dr. Joe Carter at Oklahoma Equine, focused on lameness and sports medicine. In his spare time Dr. Stevenson enjoys riding, fly fishing and playing the guitar.
Wade Walker, DVM, Dip. ACVS-LA
Wade is a 3rd generation veterinarian from La Canada Flintridge, California. He achieved both his undergraduate degree in Biological Sciences (2007) and his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine at Colorado State University (2011) with honors. During this time he was employed as a research assistant at the Equine Orthopaedic Research Center. Dr. Walker completed an Internship at Arizona Equine Medical and Surgical Centre followed by a Large Animal Surgery Residency at Cornell University in 2015. Wade gained further experience as a staff surgeon at both San Luis Rey Equine Hospital in Bonsall, California and Chaparral Veterinary Medical Center in Cave Creek, AZ prior to joining the team at Alamo Pintado.
With a decade of experience as a board-certified surgeon, Dr. Walker’s practice encompasses a wide range of offerings including, surgery, complex lameness, advanced imaging (MRI, CT, and Nuclear Imaging), and regenerative therapies (PRP, stem cells, exosomes) His surgical interests include orthopedic surgery, upper respiratory, sinus surgery and dental extractions, standing laparoscopy, oncologic surgery with electrochemotherapy, and abdominal surgery.
Katy Dern, DVM, Dip. ACVS-LA
Katy grew up in Colorado, Montana, and Washington. After completing her undergraduate studies at Washington State University, she earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Colorado State University. She went on to complete internships at Peterson and Smith Equine Hospital and Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital, followed by an Equine Surgery Residency at The Ohio State University. During her residency, she also completed a master’s degree focused on the effects of digital hypothermia on laminitis.
After residency, Katy returned to Rood & Riddle, first practicing at their Saratoga Springs, NY location before transitioning to the Lexington, KY hospital.
In her move to the Central Coast Katy brings with her extensive experience in orthopedics, upper airway surgery, laparoscopy, and emergency and critical care. Outside of work she enjoys backpacking and the outdoors. She and her husband, Eric, are excited to return to the West Coast and are looking forward to becoming part of the Alamo Pintado community.
Carolina Lopez, DVM, Dip. ACVIM
Born and raised in Bogota, Colombia, Carolina Lopez grew up riding jumpers and dressage horses. She went on to earn her Veterinary degree at La Salle University in Colombia and pursue her interest in equine internal medicine and ophthalmology. A former Alamo Pintado Equine intern, Carolina has returned to serve our patients after earning her master's degree and completing her residency. With a special interest in teaching, Dr.Lopez looks forward to mentoring interns and externs classes at Alamo Pintado and to providing clients with thoughtful continuing education. In her spare time Carolina enjoys any outdoor sport, especially cycling and hiking with the company of her beloved miniature American Shepherd, Feliz.
Mariah Kerr, DVM
Dr. Mariah Kerr started riding horses at the age of five. She was part of the Arizona High School Rodeo Association and National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association. She received her BS in Agribusiness from Arizona State University. She received her DVM from Colorado State University. Dr. Kerr has a special interest in podiatry and has previously been published on the topic with a second publication currently in the works. She has also spoken nationally on the subject, delivering a talk on “Evaluating and Balancing the Distal Limb Using Specific Anatomical and Radiographic Parameters” at the national conference of the American Association of Equine Practitioners. She loves spending time at the gym and applying her knowledge of physiology to her profession.
A Heritage of Leadership
Veterinary Interns
Maria Casado, DVM
Originally born in Madrid but raised in Sevilla, María began riding horses at the age of five. It was during those early years, after watching a veterinarian treat a horse at her riding club, that she knew she wanted to dedicate her life to equine medicine. After moving back to Madrid at age 13, she continued developing her equestrian skills across different disciplines, including eventing and show jumping. She earned her veterinary degree from the Universidad Alfonso X el Sabio in Madrid. Currently, her primary areas of interest are surgery and internal medicine, and she expects her year as an intern at Alamo Pintado to allow her to delve deeper into both disciplines and help define her future professional path. Maria is thrilled to be part of the team and to make the absolute most of this clinical experience.
Caitlin Gaffney, DVM
Coming Soon
Sophie Jackson, DVM
Dr. Sophie Jackson originally hails from the suburbs of Chicago, where she grew up riding hunter-jumpers and foxhunting. Her lifelong love of horses was inherited from her mother who was an excellent horsewoman and was instrumental in Sophie’s riding career and pursuit of veterinary medicine. Dr. Jackson earned her bachelor’s in animal and veterinary science from Clemson University, where she also competed for the university’s hunt seat equestrian team. Following her time at Clemson, she earned her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Tennessee, but she will always be a tigers fan. Dr. Jackson’s clinical interests include emergency medicine and orthopedic surgery. She also enjoys collaborating with farriers on foot abnormalities and angular limb deformity correction. Following her intern year at Alamo Pintado, Dr. Jackson plans to pursue equine surgery residency. She is excited to be a part of the Alamo Pintado team this year and learn from the exceptional veterinarians on staff!
Lucia Redruello Romero, DVM
Lucía grew up in the countryside near Madrid surrounded by animals from an early age. Her passion for horses began when she started riding and quickly realized she wanted her future to revolve around them. What began as a childhood hobby soon grew into a lifelong passion and inspired her to pursue a career in equine veterinary medicine.
She earned her veterinary degree from Universidad Alfonso X el Sabio in Madrid in 2024. Throughout her veterinary training, she gained experience working in the field alongside different ambulatory equine veterinarians, developing a broader and equally important perspective. She subsequently completed an Equine Clinical Internship at the same institution’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital, where she received training in a variety of disciplines, including internal medicine, emergency care, surgery, and diagnostic imaging. This experience helped her identify equine surgery as her primary professional objective. Lucía is excited to continue developing her surgical skills and expanding her knowledge in all areas during her internship. She looks forward to learning from a different veterinary system, growing both professionally and personally, and being part of the exceptional team of veterinarians and staff at Alamo Pintado.
Florencia Saravia, DVM
Florencia is a veterinarian from Argentina whose passion for horses began at a very young age, inspired by her grandmother, a dedicated breeder of Arabian horses. Throughout her childhood and teenage years, she remained closely connected to horses, practicing show jumping and playing polo. She earned her veterinary degree from the University of Buenos Aires, focusing her studies on equine sports medicine and reproductive health. Following graduation, she worked at a leading polo horse embryo transfer center, where she gained extensive experience in foal care and reproductive management. In her free time, she enjoys outdoor activities, with hiking and camping among her favorite summer pastimes. Florencia is thrilled to join the internship program at Alamo Pintado, eager to learn from and share knowledge with its exceptional team of veterinarians.
Brynn Waley, DVM
Dr. Brynn Waley is from Austin, Texas, where she grew up showing hunter/jumpers and Eventing. It was through those experiences she discovered a passion for the care and performance of horses. She earned her Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Texas A&M University. Throughout vet school, she served as an officer for the Student Chapter of the American Association of Equine Practitioners and the Texas Equine Veterinary Association. With broad interests across equine medicine, Dr. Waley is especially drawn to sports medicine and surgery, aiming to pursue an equine surgery residency following her internship. Brynn is thrilled to join the internship program at Alamo Pintado, eager to learn from its exceptional team of veterinarians.
ANIMAL HEALTH TECHNICIANS
REHABILITATION TEAM
CLIENT SERVICE TEAM
FACILITIES TEAM
CONSULTING FARRIER
Pete Healey
A farrier for Alamo Pintado since 2002. Pete holds an APF-1 certificate with the International Association of Professional Farriers and he is a graduate of Dr. Redden’s Advanced Equine Podiatry Coarse. A contributing author for the ‘American Farriers Journal’, Pete has presented several clinics and has lectured at Noth Carolina State University, Auburn University and at the International Hoof Care Summit. Pete was a co-founder of the Equine Podiatry Education Foundation. During his tenure at Alamo, Pete has patented three measuring systems for the equine foot. He is the author of ‘Evaluating Radiographs for Equine Foot Management’ and he co-authored a paper with Dr. Mariah Kerr titled “How to Evaluate and Balance the Distal Limb Using Specific Anatomical and Radiographic Parameters”. His current work includes Equilibrium Radiograph Data™, an excel program that evaluates soft tissue, bone angles and mechanics of the foot and his new book ‘Pete Healey’s Foot of the Week: 100 Podiatry case studies’. Pete specializes in lameness and laminitis.
CLINIC OPERATIONS
Brendan Crowley
As Practice Manager at Alamo Pintado Equine Medical Center, Brendan oversees the day-to-day operations that keep the hospital running smoothly for both clients and staff. He brings 14 years of experience from Platinum Performance, where he managed operations and supply chain functions. Brendan holds a bachelor's degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and an MBA from the University of San Diego. He is drawn to the operational and logistical challenges of running a specialized equine medical practice, and he's committed to building systems that support excellent patient care. Brendan lives in Santa Ynez with his wife, Alicia, who grew up in the area, and their three children, Cian, Warren, and Carys.