Laura Willis

Laura Willis comes to Steinbeck Peninsula Equine Clinics all the way from Oakville, Ontario, Canada. She earned her BS in Animal Biology from the University of Guelph and her DVM from the Ontario Veterinary College.

Laura says that horses have always been a significant part of her life. Growing up, she loved watching the veterinarians who came out to the barn. She also came from a “healthcare family” (both of Laura’s parents are nurses), where dinner table conversations fostered her love for medicine. So it just made sense that she wanted to become a veterinarian. Laura is interested in pursuing a Residency in Large Animal Internal Medicine. In addition to horses, she hopes to work with a mix of species, from small ruminants to camelids.

While she has never owned her own horse, Laura has ridden since she was 8 years old. Her riding experienced encompassed a variety of disciplines: Hunter/Jumper, Dressage, and Western Horsemanship. While at the University of Guelph was a co-captain of the school’s IHSA Western Riding Team, which she reports was the highlight of her undergraduate experience!

On the very first day of her SPEC Internship, Laura adopted a kitten, which she named “Cali” (short for “California”). Cali should help Laura not be too homesick for her childhood pet, Jilly, a minature poodle she left back with her family in Canada.

When not working, Laura enjoys spending time outside and is eager to explore hiking in California, as well as cross-country skiing, golfing, and riding when she has the chance.