Our Team
Dr. Peter Heidmann
Dr. Peter Heidmann grew up in New England and learned horsemanship from old time horsemen. Dr. Heidmann is a Board-Certified Expert in Large Animal Internal Medicine (UC Davis, 2005), with special emphasis on respiratory and neurologic conditions as well as treatment and prevention of infectious diseases. In addition to his core internal medicine interests, Dr. Heidmann has extensive experience evaluating and treating performance and lameness problems. he performs specialty evaluations and ultrasound examinations for many types of equine athletes, both nationwide and internationally.
Dr. Heidmann has served as an expert witness in many legal, welfare, and insurance cases. Has has twice served as the Head of Internal Medicine for Pan-American games, an Olympic Qualifying event –first in Guadalajara, Mexico (2011), and again in Lima, Peru (2019). He participated as one of the founding veterinarians of MSU’s Bioregions program to Mongolia in 2014 (www.bioregions.org). He is Adjunct Faculty at WSU School of Veterinary Medicine in Pullman, and Affiliated Faculty at Montana State University, Bozeman.
Dr. Heidmann is the founder, Hospital Director and Head of Internal Medicine at Montana Equine. He also works in Wellington Florida during the Winter Equestrian Festival, and serves as the Head of Internal Medicine at Palm Beach Equine Clinic.
He enjoys speaking to small groups and larger formal seminars. Please call or email Peter to arrange bookings for your group or meeting.
Dr. Al Flint
Dr. Al Flint is a 4th generation Montanan born and raised in the Flathead Valley. Growing up, he explored the Bob Marshall Wilderness on horseback during both Summers and Winters. He completed a Masters degree in Reproductive Physiology and a Ph.D. in Cellular and Molecular Biology at Colorado State University prior to entering the College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Flint is the head of Equine Surgery and has been providing surgical services for 8 years at Montana Equine. He brings passion, experience and expertise to his work. Dr Flint’s professional interests include equine sports medicine, surgery, and reproduction. Dr Flint focuses on maximizing patient outcome using western medicine and complementary alterrnatives. When not at work, Dr. Flint enjoys riding, hiking or skiing Montana’s backcountry and time with his daughter.
Dr. Casey Cooper
Dr. Casey Cooper was raised on his families’ horse ranch on the California/Arizona border of the desert. During high school, Dr. Cooper spent his summers with elite performance horse trainers in Scottsdale, Arizona. These valuable mentorships prepared Dr. Cooper to show his reining horses competitively in youth and amateur AQHA and NRHA events across the country. Dr. Cooper attended Colorado State University and earned a bachelor’s degree in Biology and a Master’s degree in Bio-Medical sciences. Dr. Cooper completed the DVM program at CSU in May 2015 and joined Montana Equine as an intern in 2015. After completing his internship, Dr. Cooper stayed on as an Associate Veterinarian. As an ambulatory vet he travels across southwestern Montana and northwestern Wyoming. In 2021 he became a partner in the Bozeman Montana Equine location.
Dr. Cooper enjoys focusing on lameness cases as much as anything implementing regenerative medicine and biological pharmaceuticals when possible. In conjunction with his interest in diagnosing and treating equine lameness, he has an extensive background with podiatry and enjoys working with farriers to complement treatments. Dr. Cooper has also taken several advanced courses in dentistry and tooth extraction.
Dr. Shannon Moreaux grew up on a ranch with an abundance of farm animals and wildlife. He migrated through Oklahoma and the Rocky Mountains working on ranches, shoeing horses and steadily pursuing a lifelong dream of becoming a veterinarian. Dr. Moreaux was a professional farrier before earning a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree at Oklahoma State University. After graduating veterinary school Dr. Moreaux settled in Bozeman, MT with his wife, Dr. Cindy Moreaux. After practicing veterinary medicine in the Gallatin Valley for a decade Dr. Moreaux joined the faculty at Montana State University as the Director of the Equine Science Program and the Montana Extension Equine Specialist. Dr. Moreaux mentored undergraduate and graduate students and published multidisciplinary research. His areas of research have included behavior, nutrition, metabolism, metabolic and infectious diseases of horses. Dr. Moreaux earned the rank of tenured Associate Professor and won several teaching and leadership awards during his time at MSU. Dr. Moreaux returned to full-time veterinary practice in 2019 and has worked on horses around the world but is very happy to be back “home” in Montana. Dr. Moreaux’s professional passions are healing animals and educating people about animal health and welfare. His special veterinary interests are metabolic diseases, podiatry, preventive medicine, and nutrition.
Dr. KT Steward is an ACVS board certified Equine Surgeon- Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons (Large Animal). She is passionate about helping equine athletes maximize their performance potential. Her professional interests include lameness, minimally invasive surgery (arthroscopy and laparoscopy), airway surgery, and emergency surgery. She has multiple research publications in both orthopedics and equine gastroenterology.
Dr. Steward grew up in a diverse setting, moving with her family from California to Missouri to Texas to Florida. Her first riding ‘competition’ was on her third birthday, riding leadline in a saddle seat horse show on an old Saddlebred named Bourbon. From there, she competed on the hunter/jumper circuit and went on to earn her Bachelor’s degree in English Equestrian Studies while riding for the IHSA team at the University of Findlay in Ohio. She then headed back to Florida where she attended the College of Veterinary Medicine at UF. Following graduation, Dr. Steward completed three referral hospital internships at Peterson Smith Equine Hospital (Ocala, FL), New Bolton Center (University of Pennsylvania), and Colorado State University. She then completed a three year Residency in Equine Surgery at Colorado State University while also earning her Master’s degree in Clinical Sciences.
When not at work, Dr. Steward is still an avid horseback rider and enjoys developing young horses in the jumper ring. Outside of her equestrian endeavors, Dr. Steward enjoys gardening, fly-fishing, hiking, and skiing. She also has mad skills on the saxophone and loves to spend time at home in Three Forks with her fiancé, two dogs, and two cats.
Dr. Emily Green grew up in Bozeman, MT. She has been riding horses her entire life, ranging from trail riding, packing, cattle work, western showing with 4-H, and collegiate polo. She attended Cornell University for her undergraduate degree in Animal Science. At Cornell, Dr. Green worked for an equine reproduction and immunology research center and played polo. She then took a year off and worked as a wrangler on a guest ranch in Paradise Valley, and in the winter calved for a ranch in central Montana. Dr. Green attended Oregon State University for veterinary school. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her dog Sage, riding, hiking, reading, photography, and leatherworking.
Megan Rae Triplett
Practice Manager
Megan has been in the Three Forks area since her family moved here in 1981 from Fort Collins, Colorado. Living on a small farm there was always at least one horse that needed attention, and as a kid that was typically where you could find her. Megan joined the Montana Equine team in 2013 as the office manager where she got to know so many of our awesome clients and patients, in 2016 she took over as the Practice Manager for all of Montana Equine’s locations. In her spare time Megan enjoys spending time with her 3 children to include traveling to Arizona to see her oldest daughter and granddaughter as much as possible, riding horses, side by sides, friends and family, traveling to new places, and enjoying this beautiful state we live in by getting out and doing as many outdoor activities as possible.
Desirae Raffety
Financial Administrator
Desirae was born in Bozeman, Montana and spent her childhood years growing up in the Three Forks area. She moved with her family to Northern Minnesota for high school and two years of college.
In 1998 she moved back to Montana where she finished her bachelor’s degree at MSU in Business with a Marketing emphasis. She married her husband Justin, and they have two daughters, Taylor and Sarah. They have lived on Justin’s families ranch outside Willow Creek since their oldest daughter Taylor was 2 years old.
While raising their children Desirae has had multiple accounting positions both local as well as remote to be there for her children as much as possible. Her oldest daughter Taylor is a Sophomore at Montana Tech in Butte studying OSH and the youngest Sarah is a Sophomore at Three Forks High School. She has been a competitive gymnast at Lone Mountain in Bozeman since the second grade which has allowed their family the opportunity to travel together all over the United States for her competitions.
Desirae enjoys running and has participated in a half marathon as well as many other road and trail races. Trail races being her favorite, as she enjoys the local views and the beauty of being in the mountains. She was able to achieve a much-desired goal of hiking Hollow Top Mountain in the Tobacco Roots with her husband this past summer.
Brittany Emens
Customer Service Representative
Brittany grew up in California both on the Central Coast as well as Northern Sacramento Valley. She has had a love of horses since High School. After a road trip of a lifetime, in 2013 to Montana, she and her husband Mike decided it was the place for them. Aside from chasing her 4 kids around FFA, 4H, and various sports; she also LOVES Real Estate and is a licensed agent. In her spare time she loves to travel and explore both Montana and beyond as well as spending time in the kitchen during the winter and the outdoors during the summer. Let her know a favorite Montana spot to explore when you chat with her!
Audria Bloch
Customer Service Representative
Audria is a Montana native from Thompson Falls and has called Three Forks her home for over 10 years. She and her husband Dan have 2 children that leaves them with an empty nest. When time allows, she enjoys family, outdoor activities including elk hunting, camping, riding her horse in the back country, cooking and gardening. Her extended family also requires plenty of attention which includes 5 horses, several cows, 3 labs and 4 cats. Life is good!
Keila Dubikin
Customer Service Representative
Keila was born in Brazil but has been calling America home for a while now. Three Forks has been her home for 5 years now. When Keila was younger, she used to ride horses all the time with her mom’s best friend but as she moved away to the states, she lost that connection and hasn’t been around them much but is happy to be around them again. Keila just recently joined the Montana equine team as a customer service representative. When Keila has free time, she loves to hike, soak in hot springs, fish, and visit her friends and family that live in different states. Life has definitely been an adventure but a good one!
Kaydee Eppler
Administrative Assistant
A native of southern California, Kaydee grew up all over the western United States – Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Oklahoma, and Arizona have all been home at some point in her life. She was blessed to have been born into a family with a long history of horsemanship; breeding, training, showing, ranching, racing, and rodeo had heavy influences on her upbringing. Kaydee first joined the Montana Equine crew in 2016 and spent two years as a receptionist in the Three Forks clinic before moving back to Arizona. She’s thrilled to have been able to rejoin the team as a remote member of the office staff! Kaydee was certified as an Equine Massage Therapist in 2008, and she enjoys training and conditioning both her own and outside horses in her free time. She and her boyfriend, Billy, share their home with eight horses, three dogs, and one cat. You can often find them exploring the outdoors or hitting the occasional team roping or barrel race.
Chloe Quinlan
Inventory & Laboratory Service Assistant
Chloe is a North-Eastern Montana Native who is currently enrolled in a Veterinary Technology program. She’s had 8+ years of experience in veterinary medicine where she had developed a passion for medicine, necropsies, and critical care. She uses her years of knowledge to help streamline our inventory and laboratory processes. Outside of work she enjoys singing karaoke, spending time with friends and family, and being active in her church.
Shawni Hansen
Licensed Veterinary Technician
Shawni Hansen grew up in Twin Bridges, MT. She attended Northwest College in Powell, Wyoming were she graduated with an Associates in Animal Science. Upon graduation Shawni attended Eastern Wyoming College in Torrington, Wyoming obtaining her certificate and later certification as a Veterinary Technician. For pleasure, Shawni is an avid hunter, and enjoys spending time with her family and animals.
Derric Jankowski
Licensed Veterinary Technician
Derric grew up in the town of Schoharie, New York. From a young age, he has always had a love for horses and a passion for all aspects of western riding. Derric went to SUNY Canton and received his Associates degree in Veterinary Technology; this led him to further his education, where he continued in Equine Rehabilitation. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time in the saddle, being outdoors, and continuously finding new places to explore.
Jessica Patterson
Licensed Veterinary Technician & Inventory Manager
Jessica is a Licensed Veterinary Technician with a passion for equine medicine and intensive care. She was born and raised in a small town in central Missouri, riding horses and competing in local and 4-H/FFA shows. However, she fell in love with Montana the first time she visited family as a young child and knew this was where she belonged. After graduating from Crowder College in Neosho, Missouri, in 2014 with her Veterinary Technology degree she traveled to Oklahoma, Wyoming, and Colorado working in the equine industry. She finally made it to Montana in September of 2017. Her future goals are to become a Certified Veterinary Inventory Professional and obtain her VTS in Equine Veterinary Nursing. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her dog Renfri on walks and always looking for new places to explore.
Whitney Downs
Licensed Veterinary Technician
Born and raised in Norco, CA Whitney grew up loving horses and knew she wanted to do something within the veterinary field when she grew up. Whitney attended Cal Poly Pomona and received her Bachelor’s degree in Animal Health Science and became a licensed veterinary technologist with an emphasis in business management. Whitney worked at Foothill Equine as an ambulatory technologist for 4 1/2 years before deciding to uproot her life and make the move to Montana with her dog, Foxy. In her down time Whitney is an avid birder, hiker, and she love finding new places to explore on foot and in the saddle.
Grace Wight
Veterinary Assistant
Grace grew up in a small town in southern New Hampshire. She found a love for horses at a young age and has spent her life learning different aspects of the equine industry. From age 13 to 18 she trained horses and competed in eventing. For her high school senior project she adopted a 2 year old mustang and competed in the Youth & Yearling Mustang Makeover. She attended SUNY Morrisville where she has obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Equine Science with a double concentration in Rehabilitation & Western Training. While in school she gentled colts, learned to drive draft horses, spent a summer internship showing in reining and western pleasure, and spent her final semester here at Montana Equine learning the ins and outs of the medical field. She will be continuing her education to obtain her Vet Tech license. In her spare time, Grace likes to spend time with her mustang and explore big sky country as much as she can.
Christine Gluch
Veterinary Assistant
Christine moved to the beautiful state of Montana in 2014 where she started college at Montana State University. She graduated in 2018 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Animal Sciences, concentration in Equine Science. Her love and passion is evolved around horses. She loves helping patients, clients, and learning new things to broaden her knowledge. In her spare time, she enjoys riding her horses, Shady and Rocky, going hunting, fishing, and anything else that is surrounded by the outdoors, of course with her dog, Hoot. Christine is excited to be apart of Montana Equine and to be surrounded by an amazing team and patients!
Jessica Ruiz
Veterinary Assistant
Jessica Ruiz is from Kernville, CA and moved to Montana in 2024. She had lived and worked in Montana three separate times including at a bison ranch and Mountain Sky Guest Ranch. Jessica knew she needed to live in Montana from the first time she came here after college. Horses have always been a huge part of her life growing up whether it was trail riding, training, barrels, or packing in the high country with family and friends, she was excited for all of it! Jessica attended Santa Rosa JC in Northern California where she worked towards an AS in Equine Science and Agriculture Business. She received her Bachelors Degree in Equine and Ranch Management with a concentration in Equine Training from Feather River College. In her spare time, she loves to spend time with her dog, Cooper, hike, take road trips, soak in hot springs, and ride any chance she can. Jessica feels helping people and horses are her calling in life and is excited to be a part of the Montana Equine team!
Mckell Giese
Patient Caregiver
Mckell was born and raised in Flagstaff, Arizona, and have been involved with horses her entire life. Beginning in middle school Mckell became more involved with horses and started competing in hunter-jumpers and equitation and continued to this day. She was also a working student for her training barn for about 10 years. Outside of riding, Mckell was also playing volleyball at her high school. Currently, she has decided to study Equine sciences and is on the Pre-Vet track at MSU. In her free time, she loves to workout, hike, ride horses, and hang out with friends.
Courtney Blackmore
Patient Caregiver
Courtney was born and raised north of Atlanta, Georgia and had a strong love for animals from a very young age. During grade school, she competed in hunters, jumpers, and equitation across the southeast and was a member of the Interscholastic Equestrian Association for 5 years. When she wasn’t showing, she enjoyed schooling sale horses and grooming. She is currently a senior studying Organismal Biology on the Pre-Veterinary Track at Montana State University. In her free time, Courtney enjoys going to concerts with her friends, spending time with her two Labrador retrievers, and anything that involves horses and the mountains.
Grace Fifield
Patient Caregiver
Grace grew up in a small rural town in northern Illinois but spent her summers visiting her grandparents on their ranch in Three Forks where she learned to ride and developed her passion for horses. After graduating high school, Grace moved to Montana to further her education and her love for horses. In this pursuit, Grace decided to join the team at Montana Equine where she discovered a love of medicine. Grace is also a student at Gallatin College where she is looking exploring different medical career paths. In her free time Grace enjoys riding, hiking, or spending time with her cat, Pumpkin.
Erin Przybylski
Patient Caregiver
Erin is a pre-veterinary student at Montana State University studying Equine Science. She was born in northern Minnesota but has called Alaska home for the past 10 years. During summers in Alaska, she loved helping out at the local horseback tour business and competing in the annual competitive trail rides. Most of her free time is spent riding horses and hanging out with friends, as well as hiking, biking, and anything outdoors!
Nora Kusler
Patient Caregiver
Nora moved to Montana to studying conservation biology at MSU. While figuring out her next steps in life she joined the team at Montana Equine as a patient caregiver, working at Montana Equine has inspired her to move forward from undergrad into vet school. In her free time Nora likes hiking, fishing, backpacking, snowboarding, and reading a good book.
Dakota Abbey
Patient Caregiver
Dakota grew up in Dillon, MT and has always had a love for horses. She has been riding since she could walk and her love for horses has only grown. Before moving to Bozeman to attend Montana State University, she trained horses and mules for 8 years, along with working for her dad at his mixed animal veterinary practice. She also participated in FFA and 4H, competing in veterinary science, livestock judging, and has shown horses and multiple market species. She is excited to gain knowledge and experience at Montana Equine while continuing school to pursue a degree in veterinary medicine.
Jordyn Greene
Patient Caregiver
Jordyn grew up in Kalispell, MT. She has been riding horses her entire life, western showing through 4-h, barrel racing, and trail riding. Jordyn is attending Montana State University in Bozeman for her undergraduate degree in Animal Science and Agriculture Business. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, riding, having fun in the outdoors with her dog Rosco, hunting, fishing, and camping with friends and family.
Brooke Bright
Patient Caregiver
Brooke Bright is from Salida, CO. She has always had a love for animals which is what inspired her to study Animal Science at MSU. Brooke grew up riding horses and motorcycles with her family and continues to do so loving new trails in Montana alongside her puppy dog Surfo. Brooke hopes to continue her career in Animal Science, Montana Equine is her first professional step towards that goal.
Tina Niemitalo
Patient Caregiver
Tina grew up in North Carolina and has since lived in Washington, Oregon, and Hawaii. Tina moved to Montana last year and loves spending time in the mountains. She finds new hobbies everywhere she goes but her favorites are hiking, surfing, diving, and film photography. Tine loves spending time with her family and is the happiest in the sunshine.
Luka Khim
Patient Caregiver
Luka was born in Italy and grew up in Korea and Hawaii before moving to Montana to study Animal Science at MSU, where he’s on the IHSA team and competes at horse shows across Montana and Utah. He started working with horses shortly after high school which inspired him to join the team at Montana Equine. In his free time, he likes riding, hiking, and reading.
Savannah Emens
Barn Crew
Savannah is a Junior at Three Forks High School and is heavily involved in FFA and 4H, she shows steers and competes on the Vet Science team. After high school Savannah plans to attend college to pursue an Agricultural Business degree and start up an AI Business for cattle. Savannah has wanted to work at Montana Equine since she was little and is excited to be a part of the team.