In 2022, Dr. Abby Mattaeus founded Teton Equine, a mobile veterinary practice. The practice is especially unique to the area where there are no other mobile veterinary practices for the care of horses.
From an early age, Abby knew she was destined to work with and take care of horses.
“Even before I was around horses, I knew in my heart that I wanted to ride and take care of horses,” Abby said.
At the age of nine, Abby had finally convinced her mom to let her take horseback riding lessons.
“My mom says I used to pester her about taking horseback riding lessons,” she recalls. “She finally gave in and she said, ‘If only I had known how much of a crazy horse girl you would be.’”
Abby’s passion for horses began well before she ever came into contact with one and that passion has only grown since. During her high school years, a horse of her own had been diagnosed with colic and spent two weeks in the hospital. With little knowledge on the medical side of things, Abby felt scared and helpless.
“I remember from then on out I wanted to become a veterinarian and not only help animals, but understand any of the problems my own animals might have,” she said.
Abby grew up in Washington where she received her undergraduate degrees in both psychology and biology. The first time she attended college, she received her psychology degree and was told she needed a 4.0 GPA to attend veterinary school. Just shy of a 4.0 GPA, Abby was still determined to get into veterinary school so she went back and got her second degree in biology.
“The vet school I applied for called me in for an interview and they said, ‘Your grades and experience are great but what are you going to do if we don’t let you in this time around?’” Abby said. “I told them I will keep applying every year until they let me in.”
Abby was accepted into Washington State University, but the hard-work had only just begun.
After graduating, Abby was accepted for an internship program at the Idaho Equine Hospital in Boise, where they only accept two students out of the entire US each year. “I learned a ton and we saw so many different cases each day,” she said. Abby spent a year working there then moved to Idaho Falls and began working at Willow Creek Animal Hospital.
Abby worked there for 4 years when she realized there was such a need for a mobile equine vet in the area.
“I couldn't stand the thought of a horse laying down and suffering because we were too busy with other animals,” she said. “We had to tell them to get the horse up and get them to the hospital, otherwise we can’t help.”
More often than not, these horse owners didn’t have any options because unlike dogs, they’re unable to pick a horse up and put them in the car.
“I decided I am going to do my part to prevent this as much as possible,” Abby said. She then founded the mobile vet to care for horses on the go.
Teton Equine provides a wide range of services from emergencies to dental care to reproductive care to some surgical procedures to maintenance and lameness exams. The mobile vet is well-rounded and equipped to care for horses without adding additional stress to the horse and its owner.
“This way I have everything I need with me and the animal is less stressed when they don’t need to be hauled to the clinic,” Abby said.
The mobile vet is a unique addition to the community here because up until now, there hasn’t been one.
“I wanted to specialize and provide the highest care possible to the horses in the area because we don’t have anyone that does,” she said.
Horse owners will now be able to take a breath knowing that there is a veterinarian in the area who is able to come to them in case of an emergency or if they are unable to bring the horse to the vet.
“It’s one of the best feelings in the world to have someone tell me that they are so grateful and that their animal went from living a low quality life to a high quality one,” Abby said.
For more information or to contact Dr. Abby Matthaeus, head to www.tetonequine.com.