Cornell Ruffian Equine Specialists

10/29/2026

❤️ CLIENT UPDATE: Charlie Brown ❤️

10 months post-enucleation!

“Since having his painful eye removed, Charlie has truly come back to himself. Seeing him return to riding so happy, comfortable and confident has been incredibly emotional and has shown us just how much his eye had been affecting him. He feels better than ever under saddle and watching him thrive again means everything. We are so grateful to the wonderful team at Cornell Ruffian Equine Specialists, everyone at our home barn, and the friends who supported Charlie along the way.”

Thank you to Charlie’s owner, Suzanna Composto, for sharing this wonderful update with us! We are so happy to see Charlie feeling comfortable, confident, and enjoying life under saddle again. Wishing him many more happy miles ahead! 🥰🐴❤️

09/29/2026

Join us for an upcoming equine webinar with Ken Estes, Jr., MPS, on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, from 6–7 PM ET.

Is My Horse Getting What It Needs? From Eyeball to Evidence in Feeding, Condition, and the Everyday Work of Horse Management

Learn how to take a more informed approach to equine nutrition, forage analysis, and body condition scoring. Ken will share practical tools, real-world case studies, and strategies to help horse owners and managers make more informed decisions about their horses' care.

Registration is required to receive the Zoom link.

Register here: https://cornell.zoom.us/webinar/register/2417900294203/WN_8OA8kP5QSpehyRb2vUWHtA #/registration

09/29/2026

We’re officially underway with our Equine Safety Study!

Over the next two years, our team will combine advanced imaging, lameness exams, biometric sensors, and blood biomarkers to study fetlock lameness and soundness in Thoroughbred racehorses.

Stay tuned as we continue to share updates from the study!

09/23/2026

Today, the world is a little darker...

On 9/21/26, we heard the tragic news that a beloved veterinarian took her life.

Cierra graduated from Texas A&M this past May, and joined an equine internship in Ocala, Florida. 4 short months...

Cierra was a friend. She was brilliant. She truly was "one of a kind." Our families are close. We showed horses together.

I post this today, to remind everyone to be KIND. Leadership is such an integral role.

is a group committed to supporting mental health of veterinarians. It stands for "Not One More Vet." It was created because the su***de rate in our profession is at an all time high. The pressures we endure on the daily are often unfathomable to many. The choices we have to make, the sleepless nights thinking "what if," the heart break.
We are only human at the end of the day. But, I promise, we do our best.

Today, someone lost a child. A child whose dream was to do nothing more than to help. A dream she devoted her entire life to.

We have to remember to support each other. To be kind. To be compassionate. Cierra was all of these things and more.

Today, we mourn the loss of such a beautiful soul. Today, we take a moment and think about the impact we make on others. Today, we take the day to remember Cierra.

To my clients and friends, THANK YOU. Thank you for the continued support. The support for balance of a wife / mom / veterinarian. God has blessed me with a village that supports me as a person first, and that is so rare in our profession these days.

Cierra, watch over all of my patients in heaven. I promise to forever be an advocate for good leadership and good mentorship.

09/10/2026

We’re so excited to welcome Dr. David Cox to the Cornell Ruffian Equine Specialists team!

Originally from Scotland, David brings an international background in equine medicine, having worked with horses across the United Kingdom, Australia, and the United States. His experience includes extensive work with racehorses in South Australia, a stud season in the Hunter Valley, and advanced training in large animal surgery at the University of Georgia. David’s clinical interests include equine surgery, lameness, orthopedic surgery, and upper airway surgery. His research in equine synovial sepsis and orthopedic disease has also been recognized with a 2026 Veterinary Orthopedic Society Bloomberg Award.

🐴 If you are interested in scheduling with Dr. Cox, please call or email the office at 516-488-4510 or [email protected]

09/04/2026

Happy Labor Day Weekend! 🇺🇸🐴

Our business office will be closed Monday, September 7th. As always, our team is here 24/7 for emergencies. Call 516-488-4510, press 4, and you’ll be connected with our live answering service, who will contact one of our veterinarians.

Overview of Cornell Rufian Equine Specialists (video with transcript)

07/31/2026

✨ Meet the Intern: Dr. Artemis Sapountzi!

We're excited to welcome Dr. Artemis Sapountzi to the Cornell Ruffian Equine Specialists team!

📍 Hometown: Long Island, New York
🎓 Veterinary School: Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine
🏥 Previous Training: Large Animal Practitioner in Western Canada & Vermont; Track Veterinarian for Harness & Thoroughbred Racing
🩺 Clinical Interests: Preventive Care, Lameness Evaluation & Performance Optimization
🌟 Outside the Hospital: Traveling, exploring new destinations, and hiking with her dog.

💙 Please join us in giving Dr. Sapountzi a warm welcome to the CRES team!

07/30/2026

✨ Meet the Intern: Dr. Savannah Metheny!

We're thrilled to welcome Dr. Savannah Metheny to the Cornell Ruffian Equine Specialists team!

📍 Background: Grew up in the Hunter/Jumper industry
🎓 Veterinary School: Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine (2024)
🏥 Previous Training: Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital & Musculoskeletal Research Fellowship at Penn Vet's New Bolton Center
🩺 Clinical Interests: Large Animal Surgery & Equine Orthopedics
🌟 Outside the Hospital: Competing in USEF hunter/jumper events, running, and spending time with family and friends.

💙 Please join us in giving Dr. Metheny a warm welcome to the CRES team!

07/29/2026

✨ Meet the Intern: Dr. Sofía Gamba!

We're excited to welcome Dr. Sofía Gamba to the Cornell Ruffian Equine Specialists team!

📍 Hometown: Bogotá, Colombia
🎓 Veterinary School: National University of Colombia
🏥 Previous Training: Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital & Cornell University Ambulatory Internship
🩺 Clinical Interests: Equine Sports Medicine, Internal Medicine & Diagnostic Imaging
🌟 Outside the Hospital: Practicing yoga and pilates, watching Formula One and soccer, and hiking.

💙 Please join us in giving Dr. Gamba a warm welcome to the CRES team!

07/28/2026

✨ Meet the Intern: Dr. Ashlyn Morris!

We're excited to welcome Dr. Ashlyn Morris to the Cornell Ruffian Equine Specialists team!

📍 Hometown: Rural Oklahoma
🎓 Veterinary School: Oklahoma State University (B.S. & DVM)
🏥 Previous Training: Equine Internship at Pioneer Equine Hospital
🩺 Clinical Interests: Equine Ophthalmology, Surgery & Performance Medicine
🌟 Outside the Hospital: Traveling, reading, attending concerts, spending time with her dog, and enjoying the outdoors—especially at the lake or the beach.

💙 Please join us in giving Dr. Morris a warm welcome to the CRES team!