Dr. Woodard grew up in Iowa, where she learned to ride before she could walk. Viewing the horse as a teacher, she took advantage of every opportunity to ride horses of every background, breed, and education level. She began working at a youth camp as a volunteer wrangler assistant at the age of twelve and by the end of eight years, was responsible for two strings of twenty horses, several hundred acres of trail maintenance, starting young horses and evaluating new string additions, and teaching basic English and Western lessons. She also enjoyed showing stock horses and mules through 4-H at the county and state level during high school.

Dr. Woodard attended William Woods University in Fulton, Missouri, where she studied Biology and Equestrian Science. Her primary concentration was Hunter/Jumper and was actively involved with show team management. While at WWU, she also gained experience in Arabian western performance, dressage, and performance horse judging. After discovering an interest in endurance nutrition and performance, she spent some time working for the Global Endurance Training Center in Moab, Utah. As part of a Mentor-Mentee project, she also planned and managed the first Special Olympics Equine Invitational in the State of Missouri. She worked a variety of jobs throughout her undergraduate experience, including tutoring, alumni relations, horse show grooming/braiding, and horse show photography.

Dr. Woodard is a 2013 graduate of the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine. While pursuing her veterinary education, she sought opportunities to work with many excellent equine practitioners around the country and enjoyed learning from leaders in the sports medicine, lameness, reproduction, and kinematic research fields. She also acted as Co-Captain of the Equine Intensive Care Unit and did equine kinematics research as a Merial Veterinary Research Program Scholar. Dr. Woodard was recognized for her dedication to pursuing excellence in equine medicine as a Race for Education Winner’s Circle Scholarship and Miller-Roth Equine Medicine Scholarship recipient. In 2017, she also attended the Options for Animals Chiropractic College and received certification through the International Veterinary Chiropractic Association.

Dr. Woodard’s primary interests are in working horses and equine sports medicine, particularly lameness, chiropractic care, and soft tissue injury rehabilitation. She joined Northwest Equine after five years of general ambulatory equine practice in the Desert Southwest and has been a member of the International Society for Equine Locomotor Pathology since 2014. While practicing in Arizona, she also acted as a board member and lecturer for the Southern Arizona Equine Health Care Symposium and provided care and education for the United States Border Patrol mounted units.

In her free time, Dr. Woodard enjoys ultra-distance trail running, teaching self-defense for women and children, hiking, cooking, and spending time with her partner and corgi.

Education

University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine

DVM, 2013

Certifications & Affiliations

• American Association of Equine Practitioners

• American Veterinary Medical Association

• International Society for Equine Locomotor Pathology

• International Veterinary Chiropractic Association