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Preventive Care Wellness care helps keep your horse healthy. Our preventive services can be provided at your location or at one of our outpatient clinics. If you don't already have a primary care veterinarian , we have many to choose from on our team . As a part of our goal to keep horses happy and healthy, we recommend annual wellness and oral exams, along with keeping up-to-date with vaccines and deworming. Additionally, equine insurance plans, colic programs and competition organizations may require proof of preventive care protocols. Annual Wellness Exam A wellness exam includes checking all major functioning systems for early detection of diseases that could be detrimental to your horse’s future health. Annual Oral Exam An oral examination should be performed at least once yearly to assess health of the teeth and mouth. This doesn't necessarily mean that the horse will be due for dental floating and equilibration, but the best way to know when they will be due again is to perform an oral exam annually. Learn more about our Dentistry Services... Vaccination Regular vaccination against preventable and often life-threatening diseases is important not only for your own horse's health, but also for the health of any other horses with which your horse may come into contact and herd outbreak mitigation. We can help you determine the appropriate vaccination schedule for your horse, based on environment, age, activities, travel plans and any pre-existing health conditions. Our vaccines are guaranteed by the manufacturer. Deworming and Fecal Egg Count Deworming can help protect your horse from issues that may be related to strongyles (internal parasites), like colic, weight loss and diarrhea. Regular fecal egg counts (FECs) can be useful for identifying those horses that shed more or less strongyle eggs and therefore may need more or less aggressive deworming protocols. We recommend providing a fresh manure sample to your veterinarian at your annual wellness exam, so that we can perform a fecal egg count to determine the optimal protocol for your horse. Remember to provide us with information on your showing schedule and FEI passport status, so that we can help you keep your horse current for any USEF or FEI vaccine requirements for competition. > Find more information about vaccination and deworming in the Resources section of our website...

Victoria Howe BVMS Primary Clinic: Salinas Victoria grew up in Carmel, California. She started riding at an early age and competed in the sport of three-day eventing while growing up. Victoria’s love of horses turned into a passion for veterinary medicine. Dr. Howe attended Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, completing her Animal Science degree in 2015. After that, her plans took her to veterinary school in Scotland, where she was awarded her Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery (BVMS) from the University of Glasgow. Victoria absolutely loved her time in the United Kingdom, but was thrilled to be back in California to complete her internship at Steinbeck Peninsula Equine Clinics, after which she joined our team as a staff veterinarian in 2021. Her professional interests include equine surgery, reproduction and sports medicine. In her free time, Victoria loves going to the beach, riding her horse Missy, and hiking. Back to Veterinarians... >

Diagnostic Imaging Our diagnostic imaging technology and expertise is among the finest available in Northern California: Nuclear Scintigraphy (Bone Scan): Particularly useful for horses with multiple limb lameness, subtle lameness or lameness of the proximal limb, back or pelvis, this very sensitive technique can often diagnose diseases not visible with other imaging methods. Learn more... CT (Computed Tomography): Used primarily to detect changes in bone or soft tissue that may be difficult to detect on traditional radiographs. CT can provide a great amount of information useful in the diagnosis and treatment of equine leg and foot lameness including evaluation of soft tissue injuries such as ligament tears and cartilage lesions, as well as micro fractures in bone. It is also beneficial for evaluating equine head injuries such as skull fractures, sinus and dental problems, bone cysts and bone infections. Learn more... Digital Radiography (X-ray): Mobile units are available for imaging lower limbs and hooves in the field. For abdominal, thoracic and other studies such as shoulders, hips, stifles, back and neck, our outpatient clinics and hospitals have larger equipment. Myelography can be performed to assess the spinal cord, and venography to examine blood flow. ​ Ultrasound: Used in orthopedics to identify the cause of heat or filling associated with soft-tissue problems such as muscle, tendon, and ligament injuries, ultrasound may be used to locate optimal joint injection sites or guide surgical procedures. In internal medicine, ultrasound is used to locate masses or abscess pockets and identify drainage tracts from infection or foreign objects. Cardiac ultrasound, or echocardiography, can help in the diagnosis and treatment of blood flow issues. Endoscopy: Using a long, flexible endoscope/camera passed via the nose, endoscopy can be used to assess the respiratory tract or stomach. Gastroscopy is the only way to accurately diagnose gastric ulcers in horses. Ulcers are extremely common and can cause colic, weight loss, poor performance, and other symptoms. Gastroscopy may also be used to diagnose tumors, impactions, and other issues. Different types of endoscopes are used to examine other internal organs (e.g., uterus or urinary bladder), or to examine the upper airway for diseases or disorders that may affect breathing and performance. Our equipment includes a special pediatric endoscope for use in foals. Laparoscopy: Laparoscopic-assisted surgery may be used for ovariectomy, cryptorchid testical removal or abdominal exploratory procedures. Radiography Ultrasound > Find more information about diagnostics in the Resources section of our website...

Back to News/Events... August 30, 2019: Clinic News We've Merged! According to Peninsula Equine Founder Dr. Russ Peterson, whose vision launched this endeavor, “It’s a natural step to make our affiliation official. The merger maximizes our outstanding staff, equipment and facilities, offering more seamless access to the excellence that can save a horse’s life in an emergency, extend a career, or optimize an animal’s health and wellbeing.” ​ The current veterinary staff will continue to be at your disposal in the Bay Area — from San Francisco to Monterey — 24/7/365. Our combined team of 55 includes board-certified specialists and general practitioners who are available for critical interventions, diagnostic consultations, evaluations and/or primary care. Our specialists offer expertise in Internal Medicine, Surgery, Diagnostic Imaging, Equine Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, Lameness, Epidemiology, Nutrition, Reproduction, Dentistry, Chiropractic, Acupuncture and more. ​ We know that personality fit, communication style and trust are all important factors in selecting the right equine healthcare providers. With the size and diversity of our combined staff, we can offer clients unprecedented choice, whether it’s for one of our primary care practitioners, or a specialist to collaborate with a referring veterinarian with whom they already have an ongoing relationship. ​ The Steinbeck Equine Regional Hospital and Outpatient Clinic in Salinas and the Peninsula Equine Medical Center in Menlo Park will remain open, with state-of-the-art surgical suites staffed round-the-clock. Advanced sports medicine surgical procedures including arthroscopy, regenerative medicine and soft tissue surgery. Our facilities are equipped with the latest medical imaging technology including x-ray, ultrasound, CT, endoscopy and nuclear scintigraphy. Mobile units also carry leading-edge equipment that facilitates examinations and procedures in the field or at the barn. ​ We look forward to continuing to serve your needs. Peninsula Equine Medical Center and Steinbeck Country Equine Clinic have worked together for a long time. In fact, we’ve collaborated and performed surgery together for more than a decade. And now we are very excited to announce that we’ve merged! We’re all thrilled to have the opportunity to continue to work together, and to now be able to make it even easier for you — owners, trainers and referring veterinarians — to get the equine medical and surgical support you need. According to Sasha Eastman (foreground) and Enzo and Dani Peterson, the Steinbeck Equine and Peninsula Equine "Labs" are now fully integrated! >

Venita Naidoo Back to Veterinary/Pharmacy Staff... Veterinary Assistant Primary Location: Menlo Park ​ Venita was born in Germany. Although she spent her formative years here in Redwood City with her mom Monika, her dad Raj, and sister Tanisha, she learned to speak fluent German. Venita started riding at the age of 10, and her early experiences were in the Western world, with reining. She got into horse training at 13, serving for several years as Joan McLaren’s working student. When Venita attended Feather River College, she took her passion and all that she had already learned about horses with her, competing in rodeo, as well as participating in a yearling training program. When she took a semester on reproduction, she cared for her professor’s pregnant mare, seeing her all the way to full term and a very healthy baby colt! Venita’s decision to pursue a career as an equine veterinary assistant stemmed from her desire to gain a better understanding of how best to help her own horses and gain more knowledge of the equine industry. It was also stimulated by experiences like helping Dr. Mackenzie Adams (formerly with Steinbeck Peninsula Equine Clinics) care for one of the lesson horses at Webb Ranch who had a bad case of thrush. Venita recalls “how cool it was” to be able to assist with scraping out the dead areas of the horse’s foot. Now riding English, Venita has competed in 1st through 2nd level Dressage and is currently schooling her 18-hand Oldenburg gelding Jay (his show name is LeMieux) for 3rd level, getting ready to go out for that bronze medal. She and her sister also have a chestnut Thoroughbred gelding named Manny (his show name is Armani’s World) who they debuted at his first Dressage event and have continued to successfully show through 1st level. Venita and her husband Brandon have two trained hunting dogs: Mikey, a black Lab mix, and Buggy, a chocolate Lab who was a wedding gift and is a seasoned duck dog. When Venita is not working or at the barn with her horses, she and her husband and their “fur kids” enjoy fishing, camping, and hiking. They also love to work out, as well as spend time with family. >

Beach Riders Dr. Russ Peterson Dr. Laramie Winfield Beach Riders 1/8 Providing world-class equine health care Respectfully partnering with referring DVMs

Ashley Hartwig Back to Veterinary/Pharmacy Staff... RVT Primary Location: Salinas ​ Ashley grew up in Hollister, CA. She joined the SCEC team in 2015 and became a registered veterinary technician the following year. Her professional interests include anesthesia, emergency and critical care. In her spare time she enjoys riding her horses and spending time outdoors. • 2015 joined SCEC • 2016 – Carrington College – Graduated from the Veterinary Technician Program • 2013-2015 – Tri County Veterinary Hospital – Technician • 2010-2015 – Hollister Veterinary Clinic – Technician >

Alyssa Matthews Back to Veterinary/Pharmacy Staff... Veterinary Technician Primary Location: Salinas ​ Alyssa was born and raised in the small town of Warren, PA. She attended college and graduate school on the east coast, then relocated to Monterey when her husband was stationed here. She rode hunter/jumpers growing up and always had an interest in biology, so working in the veterinary field seemed inevitable. She enjoys the daily variety working as a technician, going out on ambulatory calls and being in surgery. When she is not working Alyssa enjoys traveling, hiking, volunteering with wildlife rescues, and performing in musicals. • 2018 joined SCEC • 2016-2017 Sea Goddess Whale Watching, Naturalist • 2015-2016 Santa Lucia Preserve, Wrangler • 2015 East Carolina University, M.S. Biology • 2013 University at Buffalo, B.S. Biological Sciences >

McKenna Bowling Back to Veterinary/Pharmacy Staff... Veterinary Technician Primary Location: Salinas ​ Before joining Steinbeck Equine in September 2019, McKenna volunteered and then became an employee at a ranch in Prunedale where she taught horseback riding lessons and ran camps. She adopted her first horse, an Appaloosa mare named Chiquita, while working at the SPCA and now boards her in San Benancio. >

Surgery Specialists on our team of staff veterinarians include Diplomates of the American College of Veterinary Surgery (DACVS). The hospitals at both of our facilities — in Salinas and Menlo Park — are equipped with state-of-the-art surgical suites. Open 24/7 – 365 days/year, our hospitals provide round-the-clock care tailored to each patient's individual needs, with veterinarians onsite at all times. Our outpatient clinics are ideal for minimally-invasive procedures, providing added safety and equipment not available in the field. Outpatient surgeries include complex dental procedures, laser mass removals and other standing surgeries. Surgical patients are always sent home w ith complete post-surgical care instructions. Emergency Surgery A surgeon and anesthetist are always on-call for emergency surgery, from colic to fractures. Our in-house labs can provide results in minutes for critical cases, rather than the overnight waits typical when using outside labs. We understand that emergency situations can be extremely stressful. Our knowledgable and compassionate staff will do their utmost to help you make informed decisions. Elective Surgery Common elective procedures include upper airway surgery, mass removal, laparoscopy, urogenital surgery, castration (regular and cryptorchid), as well as many others. Minimally-invasive laparoscopic-assisted techniques may be employed for procedures such as ovariectomy, cryptorchid testical removal or abdominal exploratory surgery. When general anesthesia is required, horses are dropped off the day prior for a presurgical/anesthetic assessment, and are discharged to go home when they are ready. > Find more information about surgery in the Resources section of our website...

Stephanie Hibbits DVM, DACVS Primary Clinic: Salinas Stephanie was born and raised on her family’s cattle ranch in the foothills outside of Yosemite. She grew up riding ranch horses, doing some barrel racing, and team penning with her family. Growing up around animals, Stephanie decided she wanted to be a veterinarian at a young age, even after watching a veterinarian do a C-section on one of her dad’s cows when she was only 5-years old. Board certified in Veterinary Surgery, Stephanie’s professional interests are lameness, soft tissue and orthopedic surgery, as well as emergency/critical care medicine and surgery. ​ When not working, Steph can be found enjoying outdoor sports, such as snow and water skiing, cycling, and hiking with her husband Gregg and son Ronan, as well as being a sports mom to Ronan’s many athletic endeavors. ​ Background: 2013 joined SCEC ​ 2010-2013 Central/Southern California, relief surgery and ambulatory services at various equine practices ​ 2007-2010 Pioneer Equine Hospital, Oakdale, CA, Associate Surgeon ​ 2007-2008 UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, After-hours Emergency/Critical Care Surgeon ​ 2007 Board Certified in Large Animal Surgery with the American College of Veterinary Surgeons ​ 2006-2007 Peterson & Smith Equine Hospital, Ocala, FL, Staff Emergency & Critical Care Surgeon/Clinician ​ 2003-2006 Peterson & Smith Equine Hospital, Ocala, FL, Equine Surgical Residency ​ 2002-2003 Oregon State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Large Animal Surgery Fellowship ​ 2001-2002 Arizona Equine Medical & Surgical Centre, Equine Medicine & Surgery Internship ​ 2001 UC Davis, Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine ​ 1996 UC Davis, BS Biology Back to Veterinarians... >

Nicki Hansen Salinas Office Team Nicki was born and raised in Salinas. She started working at PenEq in 2018, after 20 years in the beauty industry. Everything seemed completely new, but she enjoys learning new things everyday, helping clients, and says that the very best part is making daily visits to our patients. Her “someday” goal is to actually get on a horse! Nicki's loves are her two boys, Casey and Aaron, her husband Pete, and her two dogs, Lola and Milly. Her favorite things in life to do are watching her son Aaron play football, spending summers on the lake waterskiing and wakeboarding, and being with good friends and family. Nicki also loves to bake and has a side business making custom sugar cookies. Back to Office Staff... >