Dr. Foreman-Hesterberg is the director of the college’s Midwest Equine at Illinois practice.
Tell us about your background.
My dad is an equine veterinarian, my mom is a horse trainer, and I was on the back of a horse before I could walk… I was going to end up working with horses in some manner!
Growing up in the small town of St. Joseph, Illinois, about 15 minutes east of campus, I am a huge U. of I. fan. I grew up riding and competing in the United States Pony Club and the hunter/jumper industry.
I attended Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois, for my undergraduate degree. While there I was a part of the varsity track team (short sprints and javelin), as well as the club equestrian team competing in the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association.
I then attended the University of Illinois for veterinary school, where I solidified my interest in becoming an equine veterinarian.
After graduation I completed an internship year at Southern Equine Service in Aiken, South Carolina, where I gained a vast amount knowledge and skill in equine primary care, emergency care, reproductive care, diagnostic imaging, and sports medicine.
Following my internship, I was in private practice in central Indiana for almost two years. In 2019 I became certified in animal chiropractic and became an instructor in equine ambulatory medicine at the college.
How did you become interested in equine primary care?
It seems cliche, but I always knew I wanted to be a horse veterinarian. I have a vivid memory of my dad lifting me up to see my pony through the window of the surgery recovery stall after he—my pony at the time, named Rooster—had colic surgery. I wanted to be able to care for other people’s horses and ponies the way my dad and his colleagues cared for my pony.
Tell us about one of your favorite cases.
The one that most often comes to mind is a colleague’s draft mule. This mule has multi-joint osteoarthritis, including in his cervical facet joints. In June 2020 I started providing monthly chiropractic care to him, as well as annual to bi-annual intraarticular injections. The mule went from hardly being able to pick his head up over the fence line to cantering around the pasture. His comfort and strength under tack has greatly improved as well! The mule’s calm demeanor and kind personality also won me over quickly.
Another case I worked on recently with Tobias Ellis, CJF, who heads our farrier service, is a 15-year-old Quarter Horse gelding hat had been lame at the walk on and off for almost five years. The owner had sought veterinary and farrier care numerous times with little improvement in the
horse’s condition.
Tobias and I have worked on him jointly for the past two months, and at his most recent recheck, he was nearly trotting in hand with the owner into the clinic. The horse’s eyes were brighter, his mentality was improved, and his comfort level was drastically improved.
What are your special interests inside or outside of the clinic?
In the clinic/on the farm I thoroughly enjoy building a healthy relationship with my clients and patients. I have cared for some of my current patients for 6+ years and always look forward to seeing them and hearing about their success in competition or their comfortable lazy days, lounging in the pasture.
Outside the clinic I enjoy spending time with my husband and our two beautiful daughters, Charlotte and Casey. I also help manage the family horse farm, where my mother coaches two interscholastic teams and the U. of I. undergraduate hunt seat riding team.
I have my own horse, a 20-year-old off-the-track Thoroughbred gelding named Mac. I ride leisurely at home and occasionally compete in the low-level jumpers.
