Our Equine Care Team
Exceptional Care for Exceptional Athletes
Conejo Valley Equine has been providing outstanding ambulatory care to our equine partners since 1958. Dr. Robert M. Miller, a renowned horse behaviorist and author, founded Conejo Valley Veterinary Hospital as the first veterinary hospital in the Conejo Valley. Dr. Richard Stevens has carried on his outstanding legacy since 1991.
Conejo Valley Equine Rehabilitation and Sports Conditioning is the latest expansion of our ambulatory practice. We are delighted to offer full service care, rehabilitation and conditioning to our equine partners at the beautiful Legacy Ranch in Somis, CA. We are only veterinary led and supervised facility within Ventura County.
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Our dedicated team of professionals has a vast array of experience and expertise. Our technology and our team approach set us apart. We welcome working with our other veterinary professionals as part of your horse's rehabilitation and conditioning team. Therefore rehabilitation plans can be prescribed by your veterinarian or designed by our veterinarians with your veterinarian's guidance. Each rehabilitation or conditioning program is tailored to your horse's exact needs and will be altered based on weekly evaluations by your horse's team.
Technical Team
Your horse is in excellent hands while in our care. Our primary care team all have grooming experience at the FEI level. They have impeccable attention to detail and take great pride in providing individual care to every horse.
Our Veterinarians
Horses are the center of our careers and our passion.
Dr. Carin Zeller
Veterinarian
Dr. Carin Zeller completed her veterinary degree at the University of California-Davis in 2016. She served as a veterinarian in the United States Army for 5 years, taking care of the Military Working Dogs and Horses. Her final assignment was taking care of the 70 horses who carry service members to their final resting place in Arlington National Cemetery. She gained certification in equine rehabilitation through the University of Tennessee.
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Dr. Zeller enjoys riding, running, weight lifting and spending time with her family, which includes her husband, Tyler and two dogs, Annie and Jessie.
Dr. Richard Stevens
Veterinarian, Owner
Dr. Richard Stevens graduated from Colorado State University in 1981. He joined Conejo Valley Veterinary Hospital that same year as an intern and never left. He became a partner in 1991, and sole owner of the equine practice in 2011.
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Dr. Stevens fostered a love and passion for Sports Medicine throughout his career and became certified in equine rehabilitation through the University of Tennessee.
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His wife Cydney is an avid dressage rider. Dr. Stevens always has a yellow Labrador puppy-in-training at his side. In his spare time he enjoys skiing, and farming.
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Dr. Merle DerVartanian
Veterinarian
Dr. Merle received her Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Georgia. She completed her internship at Chino Valley Equine Hospital. She joined Conejo Valley Equine immediately following and has been an integral part of our practice since!
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Dr. Merle's professional interests include ophthalmology, internal medicine, wound management, lameness, and geriatric care.
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Dr. Merle enjoys running, cycling and hiking. She enjoys spending time with her horses and dog Emmy!
Dr. Kristen Brown
Veterinarian
Dr. Brown completed both her undergraduate and veterinary education at the University of California, Davis. Following graduation she did a one year internship at B.W. Furlong and Associates, an equine hospital in New Jersey. She gained certification in equine acupuncture from the Chi Institute of Traditional Chinese Veterinary medicine. Following her internship Dr. Brown returned to Northern California for 2 years, working at an ambulatory equine practice in Chico before joining the staff at Conejo Valley Equine.
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Kristen enjoys riding, hiking, and exploring with her dog Sansa. She loves all aspects of veterinary medicine, but especially enjoys emergency medicine and lameness cases, as well as developing long term relationships with her patients.
Dr. Hayley Rasmussen-Ball
Veterinarian
Dr. Hayley Rasmussen-Ball earned her Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Nevada, Reno in the same town where she grew up. She completed her veterinary degree at Washington State University. Following veterinary school, Dr. Hayley completed a yearlong internship at Alamo Pintado Equine Medical Center in Los Olivos, California and subsequently stayed with the hospital to complete a fellowship in Internal Medicine.
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Hayley enjoys all aspects of being an equine veterinarian but is particularly interested in internal medicine, nutrition, and neonatal care.
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Hayley and her husband Brian love spending time with their two kids and their animals. They enjoy trail running, hiking, and exploring the West Coast.