Kirsten Tillotson, DVM, MS, DACVIM

    Dr. Tillotson received her Bachelor's degree in Microbiology from the California State University of Northridge in 1991 and graduated with honors from Colorado State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and Biological Sciences in 1998.  She then completed an internship at Alamo Pintado Equine Medical Center in Los Olivos, California. In 2002, she completed an ACVIM approved residency in equine internal medicine at Colorado State University.

In 2004, Dr. Tillotson became Board-certified in the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM). 

    The ACVIM is an international certifying organization for veterinary specialists in large animal internal medicine, cardiology, oncology and neurology.  It  has more than 2,000 active members, called ACVIM Diplomates, who are Board-certified Veterinary Specialists.  In addition to completing undergraduate training and four years of veterinary school, Board-certified Veterinary Specialists are similar to their human medical counterparts in that they have completed an internship and residency in their specialized field (an additional 3-5 years training). In addition to this extensive training, a Board-certified Veterinary Specialist must pass rigorous examinations to achieve Board certification from the ACVIM. Specialists bring a greater understanding in the area of internal medicine, cardiology, oncology, or neurology, and have a greater knowledge of the unusual, the uncommon, or rare in both large and small animals. In addition, a Specialist may have diagnostic equipment not generally used by your family veterinarian. 

    During her specialty training, Dr. Tillotson completed a clinical master’s degree program focusing on infectious disease, specifically clostridial enterocolitis in neonatal foals.  She has over 20 presentations and articles and is published in major scientific journals including the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, Equine Veterinary Education, Veterinary Pathology, and the Journal of Equine Veterinary Science.  She has also completed CSU’s course in Veterinary Acupuncture, as well as the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society’s certification exam.  Some of her professional awards include the Cecil B DeMille Scholarship, the AVMA Auxillary Award, and membership in the Phi Zeta Honor Society.

    Dr. Kirsten Tillotson grew up in Southern California showing hunters and jumpers.  She and her husband, John Kiefer, have settled in Roxboro, North Carolina at Willow Creek Farm along with their 3 dogs, Hunky Dori and Sexi Lexi, Annabelle, 2 cats, Whoopie and Harley, and their three horses, Willowhead, Lily, and Hermione.

Melissa Kelson

    Melissa, a native of the UK, officially began her career during summer breaks from college at the Glyn Sylen Farm in Carmarthenshire, where she took daily care of broodmares, youngstock and older competition horses. Following graduation in 1998 from DeMontfort University in Lincolnshire with a BS in Equine Science, Melissa took a position as a stud assistant with Broadstone Stud in Oxfordshire, then Colne Stud in Essex, specializing in the oversight of breeding, birthing

and training of national level show ponies specifically raised for European competition in dressage, show jumping and eventing. Enrolling in the University of Wales in October 1999, Melissa finished with a MS degree in Equine Science just two years later and began managing the Marros Riding Centre in Carmarthenshire. At Marros, she supervised the daily care of more than 50 horses, trained young horses for use by the public and instructed beginner through advanced riders in preparation for competition.

    The highlight of Melissa'a career, however, came in December 2003 when she arrived in the United States to work as a Groom for Olympic Equestrian and Gold-Medalist McLain Ward. During her tenure with Ward, Melissa served as the traveling groom attending top level international shows on the Samsung Superleague tour as well as the Olympic and World Cup qualifying circuits. She took daily care of all of Ward’s competition horses, including his renowned Belgian Warmblood, Sapphire, assessed and administered their routine veterinary procedures, and maintained all equipment and paperwork while overseeing their international transportation. After three years working in barns all over the world, Melissa left Ward to settle down in New York, working as the barn manager for Thornbrook Farms in Mt. Kisco, caring for retired, breeding and competition horses until leaving for Chapel Hill, NC in May 2010.

    Melissa is a certified Equine Sports Massage Therapist and a member of the International Association of Animal Massage Therapists. She spends her free time competing in triathlons and running marathons across the country.

Ashley Richardson

    Ashley works at Willow Creek Farm keeping the barn immaculate.  She graduated from Bartlett Yancey High school in 2010, and is now attending Piedmont Community College to pursue a career in nursing.  Ashley has a horse of her own, "Stonewall”.  Ashley continues to impress everyone with her organizational and managerial skills.

We are very happy to report that Ashley recently announced her engagement, we wish her and Josh every happiness as they embark on their life together.

Megan Meeler

    Megan is a wonderful new addition to Willow Creek Farm. She is homeschooled and plays on a local volleyball team as a middle hitter.  Megan has 5 dogs, 1 guinea pig, 5 rabbits and 1 cat.  She aspires to be a veterinarian.  Megan has done a great job learning the responsibilities of working with horses.

    Megan recently won an award for a picture she painted for the North Carolina Career Development Association.  Check out the news section to see her award winning artwork!

Megan Cacchio

    Megan is a graduate of Duke University and recently relocated to Mobile, Alabama with her husband Pat and her cocker spaniel Penny Lane. She competes in the Amateur Owner Jumper divisions with her two horses, Chester and Gretta. Megan previously worked as Dr. Tillotson’s assistant and now maintains the website.  She has a special interest in rehabilitation of the injured horse and the use of physical therapy to help maximize athletic performance.  Check out Megan's website at www.mkmgroup.org

Jo Gormley

    Jo formerly worked at Tillotson Equine as a veterinary assistant, as well as working on website design and web maintenance.  Look for Jo and her new horse "In Stilettos" aka Trixie, competing in the Adult Jumpers!