Meet the Veterinarians Equine Clinic at OakenCroft

Dr. F. Richard Lesser

F. Richard Lesser, DVM, has been an equine practitioner for 25 years, since graduating from Cornell University 's College of Veterinary Medicine in 1981. He and his wife, Marilyn Schmidt, DVM (Cornell 1978), formed The Equine Clinic at OakenCroft which is located in Ravena , New York . The clinic employs eight staff veterinarians, an intern and numerous support staff who provide ambulatory and in-house services to performance horses, broodmares, and pleasure horses alike.

Dr. Lesser is an active member of the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP). He recently served as the Chairman of the Equine Technicians Task Force and the Facilitator of the Practice Management Forum. He is currently a member of the Educational Program Committee, the Student Relations Committee and the chair of the National Commission on Veterinary Economic Issues (NCVEI) Task Force. He is a frequent speaker to veterinarians and veterinary students around the country on a variety of management issues facing equine practice.

Dr. Lesser became a member of the Zweig Committee in 2004. This committee allocates equine research money in New York State generated by the racing industry.

Dr. Lesser holds an adjunct position at SUNY Cobleskill where he teaches courses in equine health. He has recently served as an advisor to the Curriculum Committee at the NYS College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell.

Dr. Lesser is also the Chair of Veterinary Management Group VII, a group of 21 similar equine practices from around the country dedicated to the betterment of equine practice.

Rick has two sons, Craig (18) and Evan (21), and a daughter Taryn (13) who along with their dad enjoy a variety of horse disciplines including hunters, roping and trail riding. They are also kept busy at home with their farm (153 acres), skiing, 4-H and livestock shows (horses, sheep and chickens), Scouting, soccer, church and other school activities.

Dr. Amy Serk

Dr. Amy Serk grew up in Topeka, Kansas. She Attended Kansas State University for both her undergraduate and Veterinary studies. Amy joined ECO after graduating from veterinary school in 2001. Amy’s veterinary interests include medicine, dentistry and ophthalmology.

Amy has two cats, Bogie and Bella. She enjoys hiking the vast trails of the New York mountain ranges and spending time with family in Kansas. Amy makes numerous trips to popular Northeastern cities and tourist attractions with friends and family. Amy is an avid Kansas State Wildcat football fan.

Dr. Kristin Richwagen

Dr. Kristin Richwagen grew up in Marblehead, Massachusetts. Kristin did her undergraduate studies at Colby College where she earned her bachelors degree. She graduated from The University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine in ‘96 and went on to do an equine internship at The Ontario Veterinary College in Guelph, Ontario Canada. Kristin’s veterinary interests include medicine and reproduction.

Kristin has two dogs, Ghost and Kali, who you will probably see riding with her on calls. Kristin grew up competing in dressage and combined training. She owns three horses and enjoys trail riding and camping trips with her horses and dogs. Her newest addition is a young Morgan who she hopes will introduce her to the world of carriage driving.

Dr. Steve Naile

Dear ECO Clients and Friends:

I am writing this as an introduction of myself. First, I will not tell you when I graduated from veterinary school

other than that Pat McInteer may not have been born yet. After graduating from Purdue University I began in a

mixed practice. Even then I knew that the horse would be my primary interest. Although all aspects of

general equine veterinary care interest me, my main focus has become lameness and performance. I also enjoy

educating horse owners about how the continuing improvements in equine veterinary care improve their horse’s health.

Outside of Veterinary Medicine I enjoy supporting the activities of my kids; Robyn, Tracy, Zachray, Jessyka and

Gabrielle. All four girls have been and still are successful equine competitors. Two of the girls, Robyn and

Jessyka, have acquired national honors in their respective disciplines, barrel racing and dressage. Besides horse sports,

the “Fab 5” have been involved in a variety of activities from basketball to theater and music.

I am both excited and humbled to join the Equine Clinic at OakenCroft family; excited to be a part of the energy and

expertise that exists in the doctors and staff of ECO; humbled to join a practice that sets its sights on not just being

outstanding but excellent and, as Toyota says, is “moving forward”. What a tribute to the leadership of ECO’s

founders, Marilyn and Rick.

There are many of you that I will likely not meet face to face in my time at ECO. However, we are connected,

connected by the family built by years of hard work and dedication to the well being of the horse.

Dr. Tamara Dobbie

Dr. Tamara Dobbie was born and raised in Ontario, Canada. She graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph in 1995. Following graduation, she spent three years in mixed animal practice in central Ontario. Tamara completed a clinical residency in Large Animal Reproduction at New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania in 2000. Following the completion of her residency, Tamara spent an additional two years at New Bolton Center as an instructor in reproduction. Tamara spent one year as a resident veterinarian at a bovine embryo transfer and cloning company. Over the last four years, Tamara has been in equine practice in Pennsylvania doing general and reproductive medicine.

Tamara has been a Diplomate of the American College of Theriogenology since 2000. She currently sits on the Board of Directors for the Society for Theriogenology.

In her free time, Tamara enjoys cooking, horseback riding, fly fishing, kayaking and spending time with Kurt, her significant other, and Trooper, her Great Dane.

Dr. Ryan Penno

I am originally from Arnprior, Ontario, Canada. I graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada in 2003. From there, I completed a one-year internship in Equine Medicine and Surgery at Washington State University in Pullman, Washington. After completion, I proceeded to a five-practitioner private equine practice in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada for two years.

My veterinary interests include lameness and orthopedic conditions and chiropractics. In my spare time, my wife, Kristin, and I enjoy many outdoor activities including camping, hiking with our three dogs, biking, swimming, downhill skiing, and heading to lake country in Sunapee, New Hampshire.

Dr. Christine Cocquyt

Christine Cocquyt grew up near Rochester, NY where she rode and worked at a hunter barn. She graduated from Cornell University in 2001 with a BS Animal Science and a slight obsession with polo. From Ithaca, she headed west to attend Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine. She received her degree in 2005 after which she completed a year-long internship at Blue Ridge Equine Clinic in Virginia.

She is excited to be back in NYS and eager to be a part of the ECO family. Her clinical interests include reproduction and neonatal medicine. Be sure to say hello to her chocolate Lab, Slider, when they stop by your barn!

Dr. Jen Smith

Dr. Jennifer Smith grew up in Bainbridge, NY with her four siblings and parents. She completed a BS degree in chemistry and a BA degree in Spanish at Lycoming College in Williamsport, PA. Jen graduated from Cornell University in 2006 with her DVM degree, adn has now become a 3rd generation veterinarian. Jen's recreational interests involve attending NASCAR races and NFL games, reading, trail riding (even though she hasn't been on a horse since vet school started!), and harness racing. She and her Great Dane, Kramer, remain with ECO after having completed the internship and are enjoying redecorating their new house in Castleton. She joins Dr. Naile in primarily practicing in Columbian and Renssalaer counties in NY and Berkshire County in Massachusetts.