Staff

Meet Our Vets

	H.G. (Bill) Barnes, DVM, MS Dr. Barnes realized his dream of becoming a veterinary surgeon after having worked with animals, large and small, since childhood. Following undergraduate studies in sculpture and animal nutrition at Hampshire college, Dr. Barnes pursued his passion of racing sled dogs in Interior Alaska. In the early 1990s, Dr. Barnes left Alaska to attend veterinary school at Colorado State University. His interest in surgery led him to complete an internship and surgical residency at Washington State University. Upon completion of his residency and a master's program there in 1994, "Doc" moved to Saratoga Springs with his family to begin his career as an equine veterinarian and surgeon. In 2000, the Barnes family opened Saratoga Equine Veterinary Service at Henning Road. Dr. Barnes' clinical interests are arthoscopic surgery, surgery of the upper airway, tendons, lameness examinations, and reproductive evaluation.
	Axel F. Sondhof, DVM, MS Dr. Sondhof is a 1993 graduate from Munich Veterinary School, Germany. Prior to graduation he spent a year at Cambridge University, England. Dr. Sondhof completed a Large Animal Internship at Washington State University in 1994 and then a residency in Equine Medicine and Surgery at Iowa State University. Before joining Saratoga Equine Veterinary Service in 2000, Dr. Sondhof worked as a clinical Instructor at the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences at Iowa State University and received a Masters degree in Equine Surgery from the same university. Dr. Sondhof’s clinical interests are soft-tissue surgery (e.g. colic’s, wounds, tendons), lameness evaluation, joint-infections and foals. He trained and competed in the dressage and hunter-jumper circle in Germany and the U.S.
	Sandy Tatarynw, DVM Dr. Tatarynw graduated from Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2004. Since childhood, Dr. Tatarynw's life has involved horses. She grew up riding hunter-jumpers in New Jersey and received her undergraduate degree in Large Animal Science from Delaware College in Pennsylvania. After working for several summers as an equine veterinary technician, Dr. Tatarynw pursued her desire to practice medicine and attended veterinary school. Following veterinary school Dr. Tatarynw completed an internship in equine medicine at Saratoga Equine and has become an integral part of the medical team. Dr. Tatarynw's primary medical duties include farm calls, emergencies and anesthesia administration.
	Mary McDowell, DVM Intern Saratoga Equine Veterinary Service welcomes Dr. Mary McDowell. Dr. McDowell returns to Saratoga Equine Veterinary Service after receiving her DVM from the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine in 2008. Some of our clients may remember Dr. McDowell from her time with us as an extern last summer. Dr. McDowell completed her undergraduate studies in zoology at the University of New Hampshire after working as an electronics technician in the Navy, a job that took her to Hawaii, Alaska, and the Far East. At Saratoga Equine, Dr. McDowell joins the veterinary team with her primary clinical interests in reproductive medicine and ambulatory care. Dr. McDowell enjoys all aspects of horsemanship. She has experience trail riding, and hopes to continue to advance as a dressage rider. Additionally, Dr. McDowell has dedicated her time to working with handicapped riders in specialized programs. Welcome to Saratoga Equine, Dr. McDowell!
	Kathy Van Pelt Office Manager
	Krysten Office Assistant
	Technicians Our very valuable support staff from left to right: Chuck, barn manager and vet assistant, Michele, veterinary technician, and Kathy, certified veterinary techniician