Your Horse Deserves The Best

At Southwest Equine Veterinary your horse’s health and well-being are our top priorities.

A chestnut horse and its young foal stand closely together against a clear blue sky - Southwest Equine Veterinary

Southwest Equine Veterinary

At Southwest Equine Veterinary our vision is clear- to ensure a standard of care that goes above and beyond expectations. We are advocates for your horse and will give our honest assessment of the problem, therapeutic options, and our most realistic prognosis for short and long-term health or soundness.

The Southwest Equine Veterinary Team is committed to providing exceptional care. We are a small, privately-owned practice. We pride ourselves on a commitment to “quality over quantity” in every aspect of our practice. This guiding principle permeates our approach to equine healthcare, shaping the experience we provide for both horses and their owners. We take the time to listen to both you and your horse as we believe that small details matter.

We believe that equine veterinary care is truly a team effort and strive to forge strong partnerships with you, your regular veterinarian (even if it isn’t us), and other veterinary referral centers to ensure that your horse gets the very best of care.

Our Services at Southwest Equine Veterinary

Internal Medicine

Dr. Alward specializes in internal medicine and infectious diseases. She has over 20 years of experience in identifying and treating complex medical conditions. She really loves a good puzzle and it takes a lot to stump her… but it does occasionally happen!

Dentistry

Our veterinarians are particularly passionate about routine and interventional dental care. Dr. Carter has attended the Academy of Equine Dentistry and provides the majority of our routine dental services. We partner with internationally renowned dental surgeon Dr. Travis Henry to bring the very best in interventional dental care to the horses of Arizona, Nevada, and Southern California.

Reproduction and Neonatal Care

Dr. Ferrante and Dr. Alward love foals!!! Making babies, healthy babies, sick babies… they are the dream team with it comes to reproduction (Dr. Ferrante) and neonatal care (Dr. Ferrante and Dr. Alward).

Emergency Care

Whether it be a colic, laceration, or other unexpected event, our veterinarians are available 24 hours a day to provide emergency care for your horse.

Poor-performance and Soundness Exams

Southwest Equine is passionate about helping athletes perform at their best. Our veterinarians look at the whole picture to find those troublesome areas of pain that can be missed on routine lameness exams. We place extra emphasis on the head, neck and spine and their relationship to overall performance. We also perform comprehensive pre-purchase examinations and routine soundness examinations.

Wellness / Preventive Care

We provide on-the-farm routine care for all horses. Vaccination, health examinations, de-worming programs, hormonal analysis, and nutritional consultations. We believe that preventing your horse from becoming ill is the best medicine we can provide.

Diagnostic Imaging

Our diagnostic imaging equipment provides exceptional quality and clarity of images. From completely wireless digital radiology (no electrical outlet required!) to portable video endoscopy our team can provide excellence in imaging on your farm.

Clinical Laboratory

Southwest Equine has an extensive in-house diagnostic laboratory to provide results within minutes. Routine bloodwork (CBC/Chemistry), Hormonal Analysis (ACTH/Insulin), and PCR analysis (Strangles, Salmonella, EHV-1) can all be run in our laboratory.

Surgery

While our new surgery center is under construction we will not be providing surgery under general anesthesia (colic, arthroscopy, etc). We do offer limited elective and routine surgeries (castrations, standing enucleations, etc). Please call for details.

Our Services at Southwest Equine Veterinary

Internal Medicine

Dr. Alward specializes in internal medicine and infectious diseases. She has over 20 years of experience in identifying and treating complex medical conditions. She really loves a good puzzle and it takes a lot to stump her… but it does occasionally happen!

Dentistry

Our veterinarians are particularly passionate about routine and interventional dental care. Dr. Carter has attended the Academy of Equine Dentistry and provides the majority of our routine dental services. We partner with internationally renowned dental surgeon Dr. Travis Henry to bring the very best in interventional dental care to the horses of Arizona, Nevada, and Southern California.

Reproduction and Neonatal Care

Dr. Ferrante and Dr. Alward love foals!!! Making babies, healthy babies, sick babies… they are the dream team with it comes to reproduction (Dr. Ferrante) and neonatal care (Dr. Ferrante and Dr. Alward).

Emergency Care

Whether it be a colic, laceration, or other unexpected event, our veterinarians are available 24 hours a day to provide emergency care for your horse.

Poor-performance and Soundness Exams

Southwest Equine is passionate about helping athletes perform at their best. Our veterinarians look at the whole picture to find those troublesome areas of pain that can be missed on routine lameness exams. We place extra emphasis on the head, neck and spine and their relationship to overall performance. We also perform comprehensive pre-purchase examinations and routine soundness examinations.

Wellness / Preventive Care

We provide on-the-farm routine care for all horses. Vaccination, health examinations, de-worming programs, hormonal analysis, and nutritional consultations. We believe that preventing your horse from becoming ill is the best medicine we can provide.

Diagnostic Imaging

Our diagnostic imaging equipment provides exceptional quality and clarity of images. From completely wireless digital radiology (no electrical outlet required!) to portable video endoscopy our team can provide excellence in imaging on your farm.

Clinical Laboratory

Southwest Equine has an extensive in-house diagnostic laboratory to provide results within minutes. Routine bloodwork (CBC/Chemistry), Hormonal Analysis (ACTH/Insulin), and PCR analysis (Strangles, Salmonella, EHV-1) can all be run in our laboratory.

Surgery

While our new surgery center is under construction we will not be providing surgery under general anesthesia (colic, arthroscopy, etc). We do offer limited elective and routine surgeries (castrations, standing enucleations, etc). Please call for details.

A young foal rests its head on a large white teddy bear with a red bow, lying on a bed of wood shavings - Southwest Equine Veterinary

Why Choose Southwest Equine Veterinary?

Details Matter

We conduct thorough equine examinations of each horse. We look beyond the surface to uncover hidden issues and provide a comprehensive understanding of your horse’s overall well-being. We prioritize understanding the unique needs of each equine companion, taking the time to listen, assess and craft a personized care plan that goes beyond routine procedures.

Teamwork

We truly believe in a team-oriented approach. We collaborate amongst our veterinarians within the practice and in other practices both locally and around the world to ensure we are offering the best and most effective care. We strive to stay ahead of the curve on new therapies and technology while also remaining well-versed in traditional proven treatments. We believe the more tools we have in our arsenal, the more options we have for each individual horse, client, and budget.

Word-of-Mouth Reputation

Our reputation is built on trust and recommendations. We don’t rely on traditional marketing but pride ourselves on word-of-mouth referrals. We believe that honesty, integrity, quality veterinary care, and open communication are the keys to a successful veterinary practice.

Excellence in Dentistry

Gone are the days of just filing down points. We use the proper equipment necessary to examine every tooth and are proactive in our approach to dentistry. Our collaboration with world-class dental specialists and our commitment to excellence ensures your horse receives the best possible dental care in the region. We offer fillings, root canals, periodontal treatments, and standing extractions performed by Board Certified Dental Specialists.

Experience and Expertise

Southwest Equine was established in 1985 and has been providing veterinary services for Arizona’s horses for nearly 40 years. Dr. Alward has been at Southwest since 2005 (where has the time gone?) and has been leading the team since 2012. As a Board Certified Equine Internal Medicine Specialist, she ensures that the Southwest Equine Veterinary Team adheres to the highest standards of ethics and medical care. Our team enlists the support of other Veterinary Specialists in Dentistry, Surgery, and Ophthalmology to ensure that your horse has access to gold-standard treatment.

Meet Our Expert Team

Dr. Ashley Alward, DVM, DACVIM, CVA, smiles while standing in front of a sign with flowers in the foreground - Southwest Equine Veterinary

Dr. Ashley Alward

As a Board-Certified Internal Medicine Specialist, Dr. Alward thrives on complex cases. She performs second and third-opinion examinations for complicated medical problems, dental conditions, and poor athletic performance.

Dr. Alexia Ferrante, DVM, smiles while standing next to a horse with a halter, in an outdoor setting with a building and trees in the background - Southwest Equine Veterinary

Dr. Alexia Ferrante

Dr. Ferrante loves ovaries! She has a seasonal focus on reproduction and neonatal care (January-June). During the off-season, Dr. Ferrante can be found both providing ambulatory services (wellness exams, soundness exams, pre-purchase exams), emergency care, and managing horses that require more intensive medical treatment.

Dr. Elizabeth Carter, DVM, poses outdoors with a brown horse wearing a teal halter, smiling against a backdrop of desert vegetation and a cloudy sky - Southwest Equine Veterinary

Dr. Elizabeth Carter

Dr. Carter loves dentistry! She has had extensive dental education in veterinary school, at the Academy of Equine Dentistry, and with Dr. Henry (Equine Dental Specialist). When she isn’t performing oral exams and floats, she enjoys general practice, wellness care, and providing emergency services.

Dr. Leeroy Lente, DVM, stands beside a palomino horse in an outdoor setting, smiling while resting his hand on the horse's back. The background features lush greenery and a rustic wall - Southwest Equine Veterinary

Dr. Leeroy Lente

Dr. Lente particularly enjoys lameness, emergencies, and general practice. He loves being in the field helping horses and educating clients.

Happy Horse Testimonials

“
Amazing!!!!! Very friendly, professional and down to earth!! They came out on a Sunday when my boy started to colic, they were there within minutes and got him feeling better. I’m so thankful for them!!!
Sonja M

“
Took care of our baby girl for a major surgery she had a few years back! Fantastic and caring staff. Highly recommend.
Nick H

“
My horse had an emergency over the weekend (of course) and I needed any vet to come out when I couldn't reach mine. Dr. Alexia was incredibly helpful, kind, caring, and went above and beyond for my horse. Her care impressed me so much that I've switched my horse to her practice.
Amanda N

“
Everyone at Southwest Equine Veterinary is wonderful. I am very impressed with the professionalism from all the staff. My horse received the best treatment and such great compassion from everyone associated with the hospital.
Barbara S

“
I feel very lucky to live close enough to have access to the veterinarians at this incredible facility. The team works closely together and their combined knowledge, enthusiasm, and continued education in current topics is of great benefit to their equine patients and their owners.
Sara G