Kayla was born and raised in Calgary, Alberta, where she spent time riding in multiple disciplines. During her summers, she spent her time working on a horse and cattle ranch, leading and organizing a summer riding camp, along with general ranch and herd management. Working at the ranch, she fell in love with her palomino, Casper and mini pony, Chewy. 

    

Basketball brought Kayla to the University of Victoria for her undergraduate degree, where she played for the University of Victoria Vikes basketball program while completing a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology with a minor in Neuropsychology. She returned home to Calgary to complete her degree in Veterinary Medicine at the University of Calgary. Dr. Dykstra is also certified in Equine Acupuncture and has earned her CERPV (Certification in Equine Rehabilitation and Performance Horse Medicine), an advanced credential reflecting evidence-based, integrative approaches to improving equine soundness, recovery, and athletic performance. Through this program, Dr. Dystra has deepened her expertise in areas such as: 

   

• Rehabilitation protocols for injury recovery

   

• Performance optimization for sport horses

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• Pain management and mobility improvement

   

Dr. Dykstra’s professional interests also include equine reproduction — her favorite time of year is foaling season! 

   

Kayla is involved in 3-Day Eventing, enjoying the sport both as a competitor and as an on-site veterinarian for shows. When she is not doing horse-related activities, she enjoys hiking and exploring the coastline with her dog, Jac, and spending time with her “significant other,” Mike. ​