
Meet The Team

President
Vern Dryden CJF, DVM
Dr. Dryden grew up on a working cattle ranch in Southeast Arizona. His love for horses was identified early as he worked with his father and brothers on the family cattle operation. Dr. Dryden graduated at the top of his class from Oklahoma State Farrier School in 1998. Having received full academic scholarship to the University of Arizona, he graduated as the outstanding senior of the year in Veterinary Science and Microbiology.
Dr. Dryden then attended Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine. He provided farrier services for the veterinary teaching hospital until graduation in 2007. That spring Vern accepted a one year internship at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital in surgery and podiatry. He was then offered an Associate veterinary position and in 2013, became a partner. In the fall of 2015 Vern decided it was time to start his own business where he could focus more time on each case.
He and Cappy own, breed and show American Quarter Horses and serves as the show veterinarian at many NRHA shows. Vern is dedicated to the wellbeing of his patients, and his family.

CEO, CFO
Cappy Dryden
Cappy had a very successful career in the hunter and jumper industry as a junior and an amateur from 1987 until 2014. She traveled on the international jumper circuit for many years. As a jumper rider she competed in several Grand Prixs and as a hunter rider she competed successfully in the International Derby competitions on her amateur owner hunters.
In 2014 her passion for the western world increased and she began concentrating solely on her reining competition and reining breeding business while traveling the reining circuit.

Practice Manager
Nicole Tomlinson
Nicole joined us in July 2019. She has grown up in the equine industry.

Intern
Jessie Parsons DVM
Jessie joined us in June 2023. She graduated from Lincoln Memorial University, College of Veterinary Medicine. She owns and shows reining horses.