Meet the Team
Dr. Ashley Alward
DVM, DACVIM, CVA
- Specialist – Equine Internal Medicine. Certified Veterinary Acupuncture
- Owner – Southwest Equine
- Focus – Internal Medicine, Problem Solving, Poor Performance, Dentistry, Acupuncture
Dr. Alward is Board Certified in Equine Internal Medicine and Certified in Veterinary Acupuncture. She is a problem solver and focuses on complex conditions that need her experience and expertise. She puts every effort into helping sick horses become healthy and home to their families, but if that is not possible, she strives to ease their passing with compassion and dignity. She has a keen interest in horses with poor performance (maybe not lame, but just not right!) and horses with neck and back problems.
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Dr. Alward specializes in treating complex medical conditions and solving difficult puzzles. She is passionate about dental care and sees a lot of horses for and with dental specialists. She is certified in veterinary acupuncture and uses acupuncture extensively to complement conventional medical treatments and provide a better outcome for our patients.
Originally from California, Dr. Alward had a pony and horses from a young age and can’t remember a time when she didn’t want to be an equine veterinarian. She grew up on an Arabian/Half-Arabian breeding farm and spent her formative years riding and showing Arabians competitively throughout the USA and Canada. She has lived on both coasts, the Midwest and the Pacific Northwest but calls Arizona her true home. She joined Southwest Equine as an associate veterinarian in 2005 and can’t imagine working anywhere else. She purchased Southwest Equine in 2014 and is currently the sole practice owner.
Dr. Alward works hard but also believes in seeing the world and experiencing other cultures. She is either in town, 100% focused on Southwest Equine, or traveling with Jeff, her very tolerant partner of over 15 years who brings chai tea lattes and dinner to SWEH when she doesn’t show up at home. They enjoy SCUBA diving and underwater photography, snowboarding, and being active outdoors. They have three much loved cats and one horse (Bailey- Dr. Alward waited three long years for him to be born- a buckskin colt from her favorite mare and stallion on her parent’s breeding farm. Bailey is now 23 years old… where does the time go?).
Education:
- Johns Hopkins University – Bachelor of Arts, Molecular Biology (1997)
- Kansas State University – Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (2001)
- Washington State University – Intern, Large Animal Medicine and Surgery (2001-2002)
- North Carolina State University – Residency, Equine Internal Medicine (2002-2005)
- International Veterinary Acupuncture Society (IVAS) – Veterinary Acupuncture (2022-2023)
Dr. Alexia Ferrante
DVM
- Reproduction
- General Practice
Dr. Ferrante is enthusiastic about many aspects of equine health care, but her true passion is reproduction (AI, embryo transfers) and all things foal related. When she isn’t making babies or taking care of babies, she enjoys dentistry, general wellness care, helping emergencies and providing safe anesthesia for our equine patients. She has a keen eye for lameness and is excellent at pre-purchase examinations!
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Dr. Ferrante is originally from Turin, Italy but loves the Sonoran Desert! She received her veterinary degree from the University of Turin (Italy) with a focus on equine reproduction. Her research projects involved dairy donkeys (very popular in Europe!) and she developed a soft spot for the sweet (and stubborn) animals. When Dr. Alexia was a vet student she did a study-abroad rotation at Southwest Equine with Dr. Alward, and they got along famously (despite Alexia’s very poor English skills at the time!). After graduating from veterinary school Dr. Alexia moved from Italy to Scottsdale and worked as a veterinary assistant at Scottsdale Equine Reproduction Center (Dr. Longworth) and Southwest Equine while studying to take her certifying examination for foreign veterinary graduates (ECFVG). She passed her exam handily and became an associate veterinarian at Southwest Equine in January 2023.
Outside the clinic, Dr. Alexia is an avid adventurer. She enjoys hiking, snowboarding and SCUBA diving, often accompanied by her husband Tommy. She and Tommy have two Jack Russells (Eeve and Rikku) and Bones the rescue mutt. Dr. Alexia has rescued Remi the spoiled pony (who is learning how to pull a cart) and Floyd the one-eyed colt (whose life she has saved too many times to count… what a problem child!)
Education:
- University of Turin (Italy)- Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (2016)
- Education Commission for Veterinary Foreign Graduates (ECFVG)- (2022)
Dr. Leeroy Lente
DVM
- Lameness
- General Practice
- Emergency Care
Dr. Leeroy Lente was born and raised in New Mexico, where he developed a deep-rooted connection to the agricultural industry. Growing up around large animals, he gained extensive experience with beef cattle and Quarter Horses. His passion for veterinary medicine was inspired by the hardworking individuals he encountered at community cattle ranges and livestock auctions, where his family grazed and sold cattle. Witnessing the importance of the human-animal bond from an early age, Dr. Leeroy committed himself to a career dedicated to preserving and strengthening that connection.
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His passion for cattle led him to pursue a Master of Science in Ruminant Nutrition at Colorado State University. During his master’s degree, Dr. Leeroy worked as an apprentice farrier, gaining hands-on experience with guest ranches and feedlots in the region. His fascination with equine lameness and therapeutic shoeing grew during this time, leading him to seek additional training in sports medicine during veterinary school. Thanks to the mentorship of esteemed professors at CSU, he discovered a passion for equine sports medicine and recognized the growing need for veterinarians specializing in this field. This passion ultimately led him to Scottsdale, Arizona, where he now practices as an equine veterinarian.
Now practicing as an equine veterinarian in Scottsdale, Arizona, Dr. Leeroy focuses on sports medicine, lameness, and overall performance health. He is passionate about helping horses perform at their best through comprehensive diagnostics, rehabilitation strategies, and cutting-edge treatments. His background in both ruminant nutrition and equine medicine allows him to take a well-rounded approach to animal health, ensuring optimal care for his patients.
Outside of his veterinary career, Dr. Leeroy is an avid runner. Since completing his first marathon in 2015, he has continued to challenge himself by participating in races of increasing difficulty. His determination pushed him to complete an ultramarathon in the Rocky Mountains, conquering nearly 18,000 feet of elevation gain. His next goal is to take on an ultramarathon in the Arizona desert, further pushing his limits and embracing new challenges.
Education:
- Fort Lewis College, Durango, CO- Bachelors of Science (2000)
- Colorado State University, Ft. Collins, CO- Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (2024)
Veterinary Assistants
Kim Oest
Kim was raised in Colorado but moved to Arizona in 2007 because she hates being cold. She received her bachelor’s degree in Equine Science from Colorado State University. Kim had many years of experience as a breeding farm manager and veterinary assistant prior to becoming an official part of the Southwest Equine Team in 2019. Kim keeps the barn, technical staff and laboratory running efficiently and is often in the front office helping Cindy.
Kim loves draft horses and has a small herd of “special needs” Gypsy Horses, Shires and Drums. When she isn’t at SWEH she is either at the Scottsdale Police Department taking care of their mounted patrol horses or running her non-profit equine sanctuary for neurologic and metabolic horses. In her (limited) free time Kim attends church, loves live music and enjoys spending time with friends.
Kortney Kragenbring
Kortney is originally from Grand Junction, CO but relocated to Arizona in 2020. She joined the Southwest Equine team in 2021. She loves learning about equine health and is exceptionally good at keeping the doctors running efficiently!
Kortney rides Barrel Racers, so if she isn’t working she is usually taking care of or competing with her own horses. She loves almost anything outdoors: camping, fishing, taking the RZR out, you name it. She enjoys spending quality time with her faithful dog, Kingslee.
Hailey Schmidt
Hailey is originally from Coeur D’Alene, Idaho. When she was 5 years old her older sister got a mare named Ladybug and Hailey became a horse-lover for life! She worked in equine reproduction prior to joining the Southwest Equine Team as one of our invaluable technicians helping the doctors and providing hands-on care for the horses.
Outside of work she is a mom to the coolest little boy in the world and spends time with her own horses and dogs… she is in the barn A LOT between her job and her personal passion. She has competed in “Mustang Tip Challenges”: taking mustangs from wild to mild and it truly shows in her patience and horse-handling skills. Horses and the horse community keep her happy and fulfilled and she feels so fortunate to be able to love her job!
Office Staff
Cindy Hutchings
Cindy is our amazing office manager, who has the unenviable task of trying to keep us all in line, on time and stocked with supplies! Cindy is originally from St. Louis but has lived in Scottsdale since she was 10 years old. She grew up with horses and showed Arabian and Half-Arabians as both a junior and amateur rider.
Cindy earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Northern Arizona University. She worked in a pediatric medicine practice in Scottsdale prior to joining the team at Southwest Equine Veterinary in 2001. Cindy’s compassion and organization have led our team for many years, and we would be lost without her. She is passionate about making sure our patients get the best care and that our clients get the emotional support they need during trying times. She also loves to sneak extra feed and treats to our resident mare, Beryl.
In her free time Cindy enjoys hiking, baking, riding horses and spending time with animals of all shapes and sizes. She dreams of going to an Elephant sanctuary someday!
Consulting Veterinarians
Travis Henry
DVM, DAVDC, DAVDC-Eq
- Specialist – Equine Dentistry and Oral Surgery
Dr. Travis Henry is Board Certified in Veterinary Dentistry and specializes in complex problems in the equine oral cavity and paranasal sinuses. Dr. Henry is originally from Michigan and has a storied past as an equine general practitioner before deciding that there had to be a better way of extracting horse teeth than “punching” them out. He shifted his focus from general practice to dentistry and oral surgery, and is one of very few dual-Board Certified Veterinary Dental Specialists for small animals and horses. He is a pioneer in minimally invasive equine dental extraction techniques and has trained equine veterinarians and dental specialists all over the world in how to extract teeth safely and efficiently from the standing sedated horse.
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Dr. Henry is the founder of Midwest Veterinary Dental Services. He travels from Wisconsin to Southwest Equine and Peterson Smith (Ocala, FL) to provide specialist dental services for horses. Dr. Henry performs standing dental extractions, periodontal treatments, endodontic restoration, maxillary and mandibular fracture repairs, oral-nasal or oral-sinus fistula treatments and standing sinus surgery at Southwest Equine.
Please have your veterinarian email the oral exam and radiographs to Southwest Equine (info@swequinevet.com) or you may contact our office at (480) 998-9460 to schedule a consultation appointment. Once we have the preliminary consultation complete, your horse will be put on the list of horses that need to see a dental specialist.
Jessica Hunt
DVM, DAVDC-Eq
- Specialist – Equine Dentistry and Oral Surgery
Dr. Jessica Hunt is Board Certified in Veterinary Dentistry and specializes in complex problems in the equine oral cavity and paranasal sinuses. Dr. Hunt is originally from Wisconsin and earned her veterinary degree from the University of Minnesota.
After graduation, Dr. Hunt spent a year at Southwest Equine receiving advanced training in equine internal medicine and general practice with Dr. Alward. She returned to Wisconsin to complete her 3-year equine dental residency with Dr. Rice and Dr. Henry at Midwest Veterinary Dental Services.
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Dr. Hunt currently performs most of the equine dental surgical services at MVDS as Dr. Henry has shifted his focus to providing more small animal dental specialty services. Dr. Hunt performs the same equine dental procedures as Dr. Henry: standing dental extractions, periodontal treatments, endodontic restoration, maxillary and mandibular fracture repairs, oral-nasal or oral-sinus fistula treatments and standing sinus surgery.
Please have your veterinarian email the oral exam and radiographs to Southwest Equine (info@swequinevet.com) or you may contact our office at (480) 998-9460 to schedule a consultation appointment. Once we have the preliminary consultation complete, your horse will be put on the list of horses that need to see a dental specialist.
We will schedule the appointment when we have the dates the dental specialist is coming to Arizona. We know it can be a bit of a wait to see them, but we truly believe that an experienced oral surgeon is the best person to take care of your horse’s advanced dental needs.
Joanna Norman
DVM, DACVO
- Specialist – Veterinary Ophthalmology
Dr. Joanna Norman is Board Certified in Veterinary Ophthalmology and specializes in complex diseases of the eye (equine and small animal). Dr. Norman is a member of the Eye Care for Animals Team in Arizona and a proud horse “mom”, so she understands the unique challenges that can come with treating painful ocular diseases in the horse.
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The veterinarians at Southwest Equine are highly skilled at managing equine ophthalmic conditions, but sometimes we need someone who is truly the expert… so we call Dr. Norman! She sees appointments at Southwest Equine, Chaparral Animal Hospital, Cave Creek Equine and Durango Equine on an as-needed basis. Appointments for horses are limited and are at an equine veterinary hospital only; she does not see horses on the farm / at home.
To request an appointment with Dr. Norman, please call Eye Care for Animals directly at: (623) 321-3326
James Foley
DVM
- Elective Surgery
Dr. Jamie Foley graduated from Iowa State University in 1985 and started his veterinary career at Southwest Equine Veterinary with Dr. Clay Posey. He was an associate veterinarian at Southwest Equine from 1985 until 1993, performing many, many colic surgeries and tackling intensive medical and surgical cases.
In 1993 Dr. Foley decided that he needed to spend less time in surgery and more time with his young family so he left Southwest Equine to begin his own equine ambulatory practice in Scottsdale.
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Even though he has his own veterinary practice, Dr. Foley has always remained an integral member of the Southwest Equine team. He performs many of our elective surgeries (enucleations, cryptorchids, umbilical hernia repairs, etc) and is a sounding board as the voice of experience… there isn’t much Dr. Foley hasn’t seen or done in his nearly 40-year veterinary career, but he still loves learning!