Ellen Staples, DVM

Dr. Staples is a Gainesville, FL native and graduate of the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine. After graduation in 2020, she completed an internship with Equine Medical Center of Ocala where she focused on lameness diagnosis and management, and emergency medicine.

Dr. Staples established herself as a leader in the field of equine podiatry by becoming the country’s second female Certified Journeyman Farrier and veterinarian. She began her farrier training in 2013 by attending Kentucky Horseshoeing School followed by a year-long apprenticeship with the school. It was here that developed her skills as a fabricator of handmade horse shoes, becoming proficient with steel, aluminum, and modern materials. Before enrolling in veterinary school, she spent six months shoeing horses for Virginia Tech’s College of Veterinary Medicine Hospital and honing her therapeutic farriery skills further under the guidance of their talented farrier-DVM team.

Throughout veterinary school, she ran her own farrier business, working on performance horses as well as horses struggling with the unique environmental challenges that horses face living in North Central Florida. The wet environment paired with lush grass provided the opportunity to work on many horses struggling with poor hoof quality secondary to laminitis, white line disease, and other ailments of the hoof. For three years she also served as a board member of the Florida State Farrier’s Association. With this organization she formed great relationships with many talented farriers throughout the Sunshine State.

In her free time Dr. Staples enjoys hiking, backpacking, and spending time with her family and beloved pets. She currently lives in Micanopy, FL and hopes to one day enjoy riding a horse of her own! (Source)