Jen Paterson RVT
Jen Paterson is a registered veterinary technician (RVT) and has been at San Luis Rey Equine Hospital since 2002.
Jen is an animal lover, growing up around horses, they have always been a big influence in her life. She started out competing at small horse shows, to showing on the jumper circuit, and currently team ropes with her horse Elliott. When she is not working or riding horses, she enjoys exploring the outdoors with her dog Billie Jean.
Jen first came across SLREH through the foal sitting program and has been here ever since.
Jen's specialty is imaging, especially radiology, nuclear scintigraphy and CT, although she is involved in all aspects of the hospital. She was also involved in the development of myelographic techniques with Dr. Grant for neurological cases.
She has been dedicated to SLREH and its patients as her own family. She continues to strive to broaden her knowledge and skills to provide the best possible service to all of our clients and patients.
Westly Oberman
Westly Oberman grew up in California spending all his free time working with and riding horses at a cross-country ranch. His passion for horses led him to pursue a a degree in Equine Science at Colorado State University. While at Colorado State University, he had the opportunity to take an internship as a veterinary technician at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute in Lexington, Kentucky, where he learned how amazing the medical side of the equine industry is. Westly enjoys building his horse knowledge every day, whether it be while working as vet tech at SLREH, or while training on weekends.
Courtney Kindig
Courtney is a North San Diego County native. She began riding and competing on the Hunter/Jumper circuit when she was nine. Throughout her junior years her family owned a hunter/jumper/dressage equestrian center where Courtney worked as a working student under numerous trainers to expand her education on the sport.
Growing up Courtney had animals of all shape and sizes. She decided to turn her passion and love for animals into a career and worked as a small animal technician for 5 years before making her transition into large animal medicine.
When she is not working you will find her training with her jumpers, Calypso and Zack and spending time with her other fur children consisting of 8 dogs, 3 cats, and 5 horses.
Hannah Delbridge
Hannah grew up on her grandfathers ranch on Arizona and loved animals so much she chose to work at an Equine Hospital in Prescott, AZ as a "barn girl" and was promoted to Veterinary Technician while still in high school! Hannah came to California with her military spouse and has an overall goal to obtain a bachelors of science degree and continue working in the equine field.
Kayla James
Kayla is a life long animal lover starting with livestock in 4-H and FFA. She graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in 2015 after pursuing dairy and equine classes. Her favorite part was the time she spent with the Quarter Horse and Foaling Enterprise. In her free time she enjoys riding her horses and doing sports with her dogs.
Kara Hicks
Kara grew up riding and competing in 4-H and continued onto barrel racing circuits and also in high school rodeo competitions. During high school she worked at a privately owned dressage facility as barn staff.
Kara attended Michigan State University where she graduated from their horse management program and also with an associates degree in Agriculture Technologies.
Kara expanded her knowledge by working under several trainers at multiple dressage barns in Florida. She then got a job working as an equine veterinary technician where she traveled the country following the Arabian horse circuit.
In her free time she spends time with her animals consisting of a dog, a cat, 2 rats and a bearded dragon.
Samantha Depperman
Samantha Depperman grew up in South Florida working as a show groom and with local shelter dogs. She has spent the past five years working as a veterinary technician at an equine hospital in Florida before moving to California. She is an experienced hyperbaric technician trained to operate high-pressure chambers. She is motivated to expand her knowledge and understanding further through continuing education and is a member of the Anesthesia Society of the American Association of Equine Veterinary Technicians. Her special interests include surgery, anesthesia, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
While not at work Samantha enjoys spending time outdoors, surfing, rock climbing, and hiking.
