Tryon Equine Hospital is the only private specialty referral center serving North Carolina, Georgia and the South Carolina Upstate with four board certified surgeons and a board-certified internist. The hospital moved into a new, state-of-the-art facility in March 2015. The hospital is open 24/7 for emergency care. The hospital also provides services on the farm, via their ambulatory veterinarians. They are also the show veterinarians at the new Tryon International Equestrian Center.
Dr. Baskett received her surgical training at the University of Georgia. Dr. Baskett specializes in sport horse lameness and medicine. She is an FEI Event Veterinarian for Dressage & Three Day Eventing & is the selector veterinarian for the Canadian 3 day event team. She is certified in Veterinary Acupuncture by the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society. Her special interests include sport horse medicine & lameness, as well as conditioning and rehabilitation programs for all disciplines. Dr. Baskett enjoys eventing & jumper competitions with her own horses and her two daughters, Emma & Katie.
Bill Hay , DVM, DACVS
Dr. Hay received his surgical training at New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania. He was Chief of Staff at the University of Georgia Veterinary Hospital before joining Tryon Equine Hospital in 2000. His special interests include performance horse lameness evaluations, diagnostic imaging including ultrasound & MRI, regenerative medicine (Stem Cell), orthopedic surgery, airway surgery and general surgery.
Emilie Setlakwe , DVM, MS, DACVIM-LA
Dr. Emilie Setlakwe joined the Tryon Equine team in August 2015, following completion of a 3 year internal medicine residency at the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center. Prior to that, she performed a large animal internship in medicine and surgery at the University of Guelph and obtained a Masters degree from the University of Montreal in respiratory disease in horses. Dr. Setlakwe’s areas of interest include equine respiratory diseases, neurology, evaluation of poor performance, gastroenterology, neonatology and critical care. She has a passion for veterinary humanitarian work and recently returned from Nicaragua, where she provided veterinary care to working equids. Dr. Setlakwe also enjoys working on a variety of animal species, some of which include pet small ruminants (sheep and goats), camelids and pigs. Dr. Setlakwe has two Warmblood mares, Serenity and Savy, a beagle, Tank and a cat, Samuel. In her spare time, Dr. Setlakwe enjoys riding her horses and competing in three-day events and dressage. She also enjoys circus arts, particularly flying trapeze.
Meghan Breen , DVM, IVAS, IVCA
Dr. Meghan Breen is a graduate of Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine. She completed her clinical training at the Virginia Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine with a primary focus on equine medicine and surgery. Following graduation, she completed an internship with Virginia Equine Imaging, a specialty practice devoted to equine lameness and sports medicine. Dr. Breen spent the next few years traveling with the Hunter/Jumper 'A' circuit providing care to top level competition horses in Wellington, FL and the northeast. During that time she also completed acupuncture and spinal manipulation courses to offer a holistic approach to maintaining equine athletes for peak performance and soundness. She is a graduate of the Chi Institute and the Integrative Veterinary Medicine Institute as well as an FEI treating veterinarian.
Patrick Loftin , DVM, MS, DACVS
Dr. Patrick Loftin is a graduate of North Carolina State University and is a Specialist in Equine Lameness & Surgery. Dr. Patrick Loftin joined the Tryon Equine team in September 2016. Dr. Loftin grew up in the Charlotte Area, and is originally from Belmont, NC. He completed his undergraduate degree at North Carolina State University (NCSU). He completed an equine medicine and surgery internship as well as a research fellowship at Louisiana State University, during which time he conducted research on the feeding of supplements to horses with gastric ulcers. Dr. Loftin completed his surgical training and obtained his Masters degree at Kansas State University. Dr. Loftin has published several scientific journal articles, abstracts, and even wrote the chapter in an equine veterinary textbook. Dr. Loftin's professional interests include lameness and sports medicine, diagnostic imaging, soft tissue surgery and orthopedic surgery. In his free time, he enjoys pulling for the Wolfpack, biking, playing guitar and spending time with his wife, Megan, and son, Owen.
Phillip Jones , DVM, MS, DACVS
Dr. Phillip Jones is a graduate of The Ohio State University and is a specialist in Equine Lameness & Surgery. Dr. Phillip Jones completed an internship at Peterson and Smith Equine Hospital in Ocala, FL followed by a 3-year equine surgery residency program at Kansas State University. During his residency, Dr. Jones initiated a collaborative and extensive research endeavor evaluating a new therapeutic medication aimed at fighting endotoxemia and sepsis in both animals and humans. Upon graduating, Dr. Jones spent several years working at a referral hospital in Sapulpa, OK. He served as a veterinarian for the North American Sport Horse Association Stallion testing while working with the Wrangler Heartland Tour and Better Barrel Races circuits. In 2012, Dr. Jones was asked to join the surgical staff at Scone Equine Hospital, which is the largest equine referral hospital in Australia; serving an extensive range in clientele, from elite Olympian Performance Horses, pleasure horses, to newborns and retirees. During this time, he also served as the veterinarian for the National Finals for the Australian Bushman's Campdraft and Rodeo Association and the Australian Barrel Horse Association. November 2016, after spending 4 years living in Australia, Dr. Jones joined the team here at Tryon Equine Hospital. In addition to lameness and sports medicine, his surgical interests include endotoxemia, colic, soft tissue, upper airway, orthopedic, wound and reconstructive procedures.
Rachel Stellini , DVM
Dr. Rachel Stellini joined the Tryon Equine team in the summer of 2013 as an intern. She decided to stay on with us to further specialize in sport horse medicine and lameness. Dr. Stellini completed her certification in Equine Acupuncture in January 2017. Dr. Stellini is a graduate of Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine and completed her undergraduate degree at Clemson University. While attending her final year at Oklahoma State, Dr. Stellini received the Dr. C. Kip Doran Memorial Scholarship in recognition of proficiency in equine medicine and surgery. She grew up competing in hunter/jumpers and was also a member of the Clemson Equestrian Team. Currently she enjoys riding her mare, Cacharel, and spending time with her dog, Tank, and chinchilla, Ernie.
Rich Metcalf , DVM
After graduation Dr. Metcalf completed his internship & one year of a surgery residency. Dr. Metcalf has been with Tryon Equine Hospital since 2005 where he is focused on Field Services. From vaccines to dentistry to intense lamenesses and joint injections, Dr. Metcalf strives to take care of the whole horse. He also enjoys spinal manipulation, minor surgery, eyes/ophthalmology & emergency medicine. He currently spends Continuing Education at ISELP (International Society of Equine Locomotor Pathology) meeting & Ophthalmology conventions. Dr. Metcalf & his wife Suzanne have four children, Hunter, Smith, Carson & Tallis. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his family, golf, Hunter Paces with his daughter, & just being outside.
