STAFF – Weatherford Equine

TEAM

WEATHERFORD EQUINE TEAM

JEFFREY FOLAND DVM

DVM, MS, Diplomate ACVS

DVM : Kansas State University, 1987
Internship: Alamo Pintado Equine Medical Center, Santa Ynez, CA, 1987-1988
Residency: Colorado State University, 1989-1992
Master of Science in Surgery: Colorado State University, 1992
Diplomate American College of Veterinary Surgeons, 1994

Professional interests: Colic surgery, orthopedic surgery, lameness diagnosis and treatment.

Dr. Foland was raised on a cattle ranch in Southeastern Wyoming. He attended college at the University of Wyoming and then earned his veterinary degree from Kansas State University.He completed an internship in the Santa Ynez Valley at the prestigious Alamo Pintado Equine Medical Center where he remained on staff for an additional year. Dr. Foland was accepted to the surgery residency at Colorado State University where he trained under the expertise of Dr. Wayne McIlwraith. Dr. Foland completed many break-through research projects including: the carpal chip model of osteoarthritis, analysis of the outcome of stifle OCD treated by arthroscopy, the effects of corticosteroids on arthritis and how horses recover after tendon injuries. After residency, Dr. Foland joined Dr. Jerry Black at Pioneer Equine Hospital in California as a staff surgeon. In 1995, he moved to Texas and established himself as a surgeon and lameness diagnostician. Dr. Foland joined with Drs. Ritthaler and Hebbert to establish Weatherford Equine and currently serves as surgeon and partner in the practice. Jeff raises cutting horses with his wife Jennifer and also enjoys hunting and border collie training in his spare time. Jeff and Jennifer have three wonderful kids: Jordann, Jennah and Jarrett.

JUSTIN RITTHALER DVM

DVM, MS, Diplomate ACVS

DVM: Colorado State University, 1999

Professional interests: Advanced reproduction and lameness diagnosis/treatment

Dr. Ritthaler was raised in Wyoming as the son of a mixed animal veterinarian. He attended college at University of Wyoming and then completed his veterinary degree at Colorado State University. Dr. Ritthaler then joined Dr. Foland in the Weatherford area where he developed his expertise in treating performance horse issues and advanced equine reproductive techniques. Dr. Ritthaler and Dr. Foland joined Dr. Hebbert to create the hospital, and are now the three managing partners of Weatherford Equine. Justin is proudly married to Dr. Heidi Ritthaler and has three beautiful daughters Regan, Alex, and Kelsey. He enjoys golfing and hunting with friends, but as spare time is limited, he admits spending time with his little girls is his greatest joy.

HEATH QUALLS DVM

DVM, MS, Diplomate ACVIM-LA

DVM : Oklahoma State University, 2005
Internship: Weatherford Equine Medical Center, 2005-2006
Residency: Oklahoma State University, 2006-2009
FELLOWSHIP: Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, 2010
Master of Science in Veterinary Biomedical Sciences: Oklahoma State University, 2012

Professional Interests: Neonatology, Gastroenterology, Ultrasonography, Neurology, Acupuncture

Dr. Heath Qualls grew up on a registered Angus cattle ranch in Southern Oklahoma. He attended college at Oklahoma State University, where he took undergraduate courses and earned his degree in veterinary medicine in 2005. He then moved to Texas for an internship at Weatherford Equine. Dr. Qualls was then accepted to a residency at Oklahoma State University where he achieved board certification in Large Animal Internal Medicine. His master degree was obtained upon the completion of research studying the efficacy of common gastrointestinal protectants on equine cantharidin toxicosis (blister beetles). After residency, Dr. Qualls completed a fellowship at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute in Lexington, Kentucky where he worked on the Thoroughbred industry’s finest athletes in the intensive care unit for adults and neonates. He then joined an ambulatory practice in Rangiora, New Zealand. In New Zealand, he assisted in general equine practice and provided consultation on difficult internal medicine cases to veterinarians on the South island. Upon return to the United States, he served as a senior clinician and instructor of equine internal medicine at Washington State University.

Dr. Qualls returned to Weatherford Equine as Head of the Medicine Department. He attends to emergencies and critically ill adults and neonates in the hospital. ﾠ Heath enjoys playing basketball, Crossfit, mission trips with church, and training for triathlons and running competitions. He is proudly married to Meghan Qualls, DVM, CVA, ICVA. They have two wonderful children, Tyson and Charlotte.

GABE YOUNG DVM

DVM

DVM : Iowa State University, 2010
Internship: Weatherford Equine Medical Center, 2010-2011

Professional Interests: Advanced Reproduction (oocyte aspiration, embryo transfer, epididymal sperm harvest), general practice.

Dr. Young was raised on a farm in southern Iowa. He attended both undergraduate and veterinary school at Iowa State University and then joined Weatherford Equine for his internship. Following his internship Dr. Young moved to Lexington, KY where he worked as an associate veterinarian for Equine Medical Associates, PSC. Here he served some of the finest thoroughbred horse farms in the world focusing on reproduction, sales, dentistry, and general practice. Gabe is proudly married to Ann Young, DVM, and has four great kids Levi, Luke, Lila, and Liam. He enjoys spending time with his family and when the time allows also enjoys woodworking and fishing.

He returned to Weatherford Equine with a strong interest in advanced reproduction and has been instrumental in helping build one of the busiest oocyte aspiration services in the country. In addition to oocyte aspirations he stays busy with all other aspects equine veterinary medicine including general practice, dentistry, and lameness.

AMANDA PLUNKETT DVM

DVM, MS, Diplomate ACVS – LA

Master of Science: University of California, Davis, 2009-2010
DVM – University of California, Davis, 2014
Internship – Comstock Equine Hospital, 2014 – 2015
Residency – Oklahoma State University, 2015 – 2018

Professional Interests: Soft tissue and colic surgery, critical care, lameness & sports medicine, orthopedic surgery, laparoscopic surgery, upper airway surgery, and advanced wound care and synovial sepsis

Dr. Plunkett was raised on her family’s small Quarter Horse, sheep, and cattle ranch in Northern California, where she was also greatly involved in 4-H, showing livestock and western performance horses. She studied Animal Science at the University of California, Davis, where she also obtained her Master’s of Science in Animal Biology and continued there to earn her doctorate in veterinary medicine. She completed an internship at Comstock Equine Hospital in Reno, NV, prior to being accepted to and completing the equine surgery residency program at Oklahoma State University. Following residency, she returned to Northern Nevada and California as an associate veterinarian at Great Basin Equine Hospital. In 2021 Dr. Plunkett joined the team at Weatherford Equine Medical Center.

ANDREW WILLIS DVM

DVM, Diplomate, ACVIM – LA

DVM – Oklahoma State University, 2016
Internship – Weatherford Equine Medical Center, 2016 – 2017
Residency – University of California, Davis, 2017 – 2020

Professional Interests: Cardiology, gastroenterology, infectious diseases, neonatology/perinatology, neurology, ophthalmology, airway disorders, muscle disorders, poor performance evaluation, ultrasonography, and urology.

Dr. Willis was raised in Oklahoma. He attended Northwestern Oklahoma State University where he completed a Bachelor’s of Science in Agri-Business. Upon culmination of his undergraduate degree, he matriculated to Oklahoma State University, Center for Veterinary Health Sciences whereby he received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. He then completed his internship at Weatherford Equine Medical Center. Following internship, he completed a three-year residency training program at the University of California, Davis in large animal internal medicine (equine emphasis). During his residency program his research interests were primarily in infectious diseases. For this research, he was awarded the Outstanding Large Animal Research Study and Presentation at the Gerald V. Ling Veterinary Intern and Resident Research Symposium. After becoming a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, Dr. Willis went into private practice for a year before returning to Weathered Equine Medical Center. Dr. Willis remains active in the veterinary profession through presenting at national meetings, sitting on ACVIM committees, acting as a consultant for diagnostic companies, and participating in the Parker County Animals in Disaster Committee.

L GRADY COFIELD DVM, MS

DVM, MS

DVM – Auburn University, 2017
Internship – Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital, 2017 – 2018
Residency – Auburn University, 2018 – 2020

Professional Interests: Equine reproduction, lameness, and general medicine.

Dr. Grady Cofield grew up on a cow-calf farm in the hills of rural Western Kentucky in a family of mixed animal veterinarians. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science from Murray State University. Upon graduation from Auburn University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, he completed an equine internship at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, KY. He then returned to Auburn University to complete a residency in Theriogenology (Animal Reproduction).

He enjoys all aspects of veterinary medicine including equine reproduction, lameness & medicine. When Dr. Cofield is not working, he enjoys spending time outdoors with family and his lovely wife, Dr. Alex Cofield.

ALEXANDRA (FRANCIS) COFIELD DVM, MS

DVM, MS

Master of Science: Louisiana State University, 2016
DVM: Louisiana State University, 2021
Internship: Weatherford Equine Medical Center, 2021 – 2022

Professional Interests: Herd health management, mare reproduction, and neonatal care.

Dr. Alex Cofield grew up in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and received her Bachelor of Science in Animal Science & Technology from Louisiana State University. After spending time on a Thoroughbred breeding farm in central Kentucky she returned to Baton Rouge where she completed a Master of Science degree in Equine Reproductive Physiology before going on to complete her veterinary degree at Louisiana State University’s School of Veterinary Medicine. Upon completion of her degree she moved to Weatherford, Texas to complete an equine internship at Weatherford Equine Medical Center and stayed on as an associate veterinarian in June 2022. She enjoys all aspects of veterinary medicine, especially herd health management, reproduction, and neonatal care. In her free time Dr. Cofield enjoys reading, cooking with family, and spending time outdoors with her husband, Dr. Grady Cofield and their dogs.

JOSH GOFF DVM

DVM

DVM – Oklahoma State University, 2016
Internship – Oakridge Equine Hospital and Lazy E Ranch, 2016 – 2017

Dr. Goff grew up in northwest Oklahoma where he was raised on a small quarter horse operation and enjoyed training/roping on the weekends. He attended Oklahoma State University for his undergraduate and veterinary education. Afterwards, he completed a dual internship program with Oakridge Equine Hospital and the Lazy E Ranch in Edmond, Oklahoma. During internship, he met his amazing wife Shannon, who shares a passion in reproduction and works as a human embryologist. After internship, Dr. Goff moved to north Texas and continued working on horses at OE in Decatur, where he grew the reproduction division. Dr. Goff has had a passion for equine reproduction since his childhood, and that desire ultimately pushed him to advance his knowledge and join the Weatherford Equine team in January of 2023. From stallion collection and freezing to embryo flush and transfer, Dr. Goff is excited to help continue the legacy of Weatherford Equine and serve its clients not only in reproduction, but also general practice, lameness and emergency care. Josh and Shannon recently welcomed their daughter, Charley, into the world and enjoy spending as much time with friends and family as possible.