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Dr. Nathalie Coté DMV, DVSc, Dipl ACVS
Dr. Nathalie Coté graduated from the University of Montreal in 1988. She then completed her residency in large animal surgery at the University of Guelph in 1993, obtaining diplomate status in 1997. She was a faculty surgeon at Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph until 2003 when she decided to join private practice. In 2006, Dr. Coté opened her own practice with Dr. Marc Desjardins in Campbellville. Nathalie continues to be involved in lecturing and teaches V-STEP, a program that trains foreign veterinarians.

 
Dr. Marc Desjardins DMV, DVSc, Dipl ACVS & ECVS
Dr. Marc Desjardins obtained his DMV degree from the University of Montreal in 1985 and stayed to complete his internship in equine medicine, surgery and reproduction. He completed his residency in surgery and obtained his DVSc degree from the Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph in 1989. After leaving the OVC, he moved to Charlottetown, PEI, where he practiced and taught large animal surgey for 6 years at Atlantic Veterinary College. In 1996, Dr. Desjardins moved to London, Ontario, to establish an equine surgical referral practice in Ilderton. In 2006, he moved to Campbellville, Ontario, where he and Dr. Coté co-founded Milton Equine Hospital. For leisure, Marc enjoys sports (squash, swimming, hockey, skiing, horseback riding) and domestic endeavors (cooking, home renovations, antique refinishing). 		 

Dr. Chris Alford is originally from Missouri and obtained his degree in Veterinary Medicine at the University of Missouri in 2006. After leaving Missouri, he completed a one-year surgical internship at the Hagyard Equine Medical Institute in Lexington, Kentucky. Following leaving Kentucky in 2007, he began and completed a three-year residency in equine surgery with a concurrent master's degree at Auburn University in Alabama. Chris enjoys both soft tissue and orthopedic surgery and has research interests in colic surgery and laparoscopy, as well as wounds and trauma. In his free time, Chris enjoys skiing, traveling, and spending time with his family. He also enjoys leather and woodworking projects. Chris moved to Ontario to join the surgical team at Milton Equine Hospital in August of 2010.

  

Dr. Orlaith Cleary graduated with a veterinary degree from University College Dublin, Ireland, in June 2003. She then completed a Large Animal Medicine and Surgery internship at the University of Georgia, followed by an Equine Medicine and Surgery internship at the Equine Medical Center of Ocala, Florida. In the summer of 2005 she lectured at the College of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin and traveled to observe equine surgery in Sweden. She then worked as a resident veterinarian at Adena Springs South in Williston, Florida, until July 2006. In July 2009, she completed a 3-year residency in Large Animal Surgery at the University of Florida in Gainesville with surgical externships in private practices in Florida, Kentucky, and New Jersey. This was followed by a clinical instructorship at the University of Florida. She moved to Ontario to join the team at Milton Equine Hospital in July 2010.
Her special interests are in advanced imaging (MRI, CT, scintigraphy), as well as all aspects of soft tissue and orthopedic surgery.

 

Alberto Sabbatino was born in Santiago, Chile. During his college years he did two externships at EQUICAR (equine police hospital) riding school. It was there where he developed his passion for horses. He graduated as a veterinarian at Universidad Mayor, Chile, on 2007. In 2008 he worked as a veterinary assistant at EQUICAR, completing a six-month training program. In 2009 Alberto travelled to North America and begun his first internship in equine medicine and surgery at the Myhre Equine Clinic in the U. S. before moving to Canada to join the Milton Equine Hospital in 2010. Alberto enjoys practicing sports such as sailing (2007 yellow IMS National Champion), soccer and fishing, as well as any other outdoor activities.

  
Mattie McMaster grew up in Lonsdale, Ontario, and moved to Nova Scotia in 2004 to pursue a post-secondary education at the Nova Scotia Agricultural College in Truro, Nova Scotia. She obtained her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree at the Atlantic Veterinary College in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island in May, 2010. Following vet school, Mattie spent one year as an equine surgery intern at the Hagyard Equine Medical Institute in Lexington, Kentucky before coming to the Milton Equine Hospital. Her goal is to pursue a large animal surgical residency with a specific interest in equine surgery and sports medicine. In her spare time, Mattie enjoys competitive trail riding, rowing, kayaking and spending time with her cat, Mathilda and dog, Maggie.  
Maria Clara Sardoy was born in the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina but grew up around horses in a farm in Cordoba, Argentina where she became passionate of them. At the age of 15 she took her first horse breaking and training course. During her veterinary school, she performed externships with private practitioners and breeding farms. She also worked in the Theriogenology department from the University of Buenos Aires as an assistant and researcher. In 2007, Maria Clare graduated from University of Buenos Aires, Argentina, and worked briefly as a private practitioner then moved to North America in 2008 for further training in equine reproduction at Kansas State University. In 2011, she completed a rotatory internship in equine surgery, medicine and field service as well as a Masters in Clinical Sciences at Kansas State University. She opted to broaden her surgical knowledge and experience by performing a second internship at Milton Equine Hospital. Spare time is a synonym of time spent around horses whenever possible.  

Pol Abril Casellas was born in the city of Barcelona, Catalonia.  At the age of 11, he started to get involved in the horse’s world. He did some dressage, jumping and trail riding, however, his main interest was in the endurance races. He competed in 80, 120, 160 and 200 km races. In 2009, Pol obtained his veterinary degree at the “Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona”.  Post-graduation, Pol worked as a veterinarian in the field of endurance races.  Pol spent some time around Canada and USA doing some externship at various universities and in some private practices, before becoming part of the Milton Equine Hospital staff. His goal is to pursue a large animal surgery residency with specific interest in equine surgery and lameness. Pol enjoys practicing sports such as soccer, and also misses greatly spending time with his 5 horses, endurance racing as well as his 3 dogs: Kena, Mel and Jara.

  

Shannon Devonport is a soon-to-be registered veterinarian who graduated from the University of Guelph, Ridgetown Campus, Ontario. She has spent many years being involved with horses and her passion is barrel racing. She owns and competes with an 11-year-old American Quarter horse named Eddie.
She has also worked at a dog boarding kennel for five years, and she loves to snowboard when given the opportunity.

  
Nicole Laughton graduated from University of Guelph, Ridgetown Campus, Ontario in the summer of 2008 with her Veterinarian Technician Degree. She has been around horses since she was 8 years old and currently owns a 4 year old Thoroughbred gelding named Boomer, whom she competes with. Previously, she worked in the small animal industry at a dog kennel and a small Animal Veterinary Clinic. All her spare time is spent at the barn.    

Trudi Rhynold was born in England and came to Ontario when she was one year old. She has been involved with horses since she was 14 years of age. Trudi has worked at Milton Equine Hospital since it opened in 2006. Her hobbies include reading and riding.
Laura Kenzie has loved horses her whole life, has been riding since she was 8, and groomed Standardbreds through high school and college. She has been the very proud owner of Danny, her much loved, saucy, chestnut thoroughbred/arabian, for over 10 years. She is also half-owner of Rainbow, a rescued pony, and her surprise filly Diva. Laura joined the team at Milton Equine in July 2009 and is starting her undergraduate studies at the University of Guelph, hoping to attend vet school in the future.  

Nancy Catteau was born in the United States and moved to Canada in February 2006. She has two grown sons who are attending University in Florida. Nancy's hobbies include motorcycle riding, handcrafts, vegetarian cooking and gardening. She has been with Milton Equine since June 2007.

  
Claire Lépinay was born in Quebec, 6th child of a large French family (but not last!) moved to Ontario in 1980 to further her English language skills. Claire pursued her education in the field of accounting, and after a few years in a Guelph chartered accounting firm, she decided to open her own practice. Claire successfully raised 2 sons, 2 horses and a few dogs and cats along the way. Her love of animals, combined with a love of accounting and strong organization skills inspired her to join Milton Equine Hospital as Office Manager. The balance of both private practice and the busy, yet challenging, demands of the hospital, are without a doubt a perfect combination for a person such as Claire!