Our Veterinarians

Dr. Gillian Dobson

Dr. Gillian Dobson founded Elm Creek Equine in 2016. Dr. Dobson is an equine veterinarian with special interest in lameness, reproduction and dentistry. She has furthered her veterinary training with an additional two years of study in veterinary acupuncture and veterinary chiropractic. She graduated from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, receiving the prestigious Vandi Award for Excellence in Equine Care in 2013. She is a licensed veterinary acupuncturist through the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society as well as a licensed veterinary chiropractor through the International Veterinary Chiropractic Association

As a veterinary student, she was actively involved in the diagnosis and treatment of elite athletes, from initial diagnosis to following through surgery and into their rehabilitation care at a state-of-the-art rehabilitation center. During her final year of studies in veterinary medicine, she spent the winter in Florida and Texas, gaining more knowledge of the racing, hunter/jumper, reining, cutting and AQHA disciplines.

Besides her commitment to equine veterinary care, Dr. Dobson is a horse owner and rider. She has trained and competed in a variety of events including team penning, ranch roping, exercising Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racehorses, and hunter/jumper disciplines. She is currently an active competitor in the Manitoba Hunter Jumper Association shows with her thoroughbred mare, Exquisite.

Dr. Kirstie Oswald

Dr. Kirstie Oswald joined Elm Creek Equine in 2019. She is a graduate of the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and is interested in the areas of podiatry, sports medicine and reproduction. As a veterinary student, Dr. Oswald was awarded the AAEP Winner’s Circle Award as well as the Rose Voytilla Equine Award. She acted as the president of the college’s Student Chapter the American Association of Equine Practitioners, through which she was able to work on specialized podiatry and lameness cases from across Saskatchewan. She recently took a course focused on equine dentistry, and spent several weeks working with board-certified equine surgeons across Canada. Dr. Oswald’s future goals include furthering her education in lameness diagnostic and treatment techniques, such as joint and pelvic ultrasound examination, as well as regenerative medicine therapies like IRAP. Dr. Oswald was born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba. She grew up riding and competing in the area, primarily in western reining, and was actively involved in the CCRHA. In the years since, she has branched out into barrel racing, hunter/jumper, and dressage. Now, her focus lies on the care of our equine athletes, trying to ensure they are happy and healthy enough to join us in our competitive pursuits.

Dr. Chantel Dunlop

Dr. Chantel Dunlop grew up east of Winnipeg in a small rural town. She first got into horses when she was 10 years old and has continued to gain experience and grow in all areas of the industry. Dr. Dunlop initially spent a couple years grooming prior to getting into vet

school both at Assiniboia Downs Racetrack and as an FEI show jumping groom across North America. Dr. Dunlop obtained her Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Winnipeg and completed her Doctor of Veterinary Degree at the Western College of

Veterinarian Medicine in June of 2022. After graduating she completed a one year rotating equine internship at Moore Equine Veterinary Centre in Calgary, Alberta. Dr. Dunlop gained experience and knowledge in many areas including sports medicine, surgery, internal

medicine and neonatal care. Her main areas of interest are racetrack medicine, sports medicine and internal medicine. When not working or spending time with horses, her other hobbies include working out at the gym, playing sports, spending time outdoors and strumming on her guitar.

Support Staff

Kay-Leigh Dewitt

Brooke Vandersluis

Kay-Leigh is our office manager. She is the main voice behind all of our office communication and is also our inventory manager for our Elm Creek Hospital. We could go on and on about all the things she does to keep the schedules, the doctors, the inventory and the day to day operations running smoothly!

Outside of the office, Kay-Leigh enjoys riding her horses, Eragon and Tuesday, and spending time with her husband Harley and their two dogs.

Brooke Vandersluis

Brooke is our patient care manager at our Elm Creek facility. She manages the care of our long-term stay patients including repro and rehab boarders.

Outside of the clinic, Brooke spends time training horses and travelling to local barrel races.

Gracie Barnes

Gracie manages our office and hospital in Oakbank. She keeps our inventory stocked, our hospital patients happy and supports our in-clinic doctors during appointments.

Outside of the clinic, Gracie manages her own small business and spends time with her dogs Leo and Conway.

Abbi Atkinson

Gracie Barnes

Abbi is on staff at our Oakbank Clinic where she shares her time between helping Dr. Dunlop with cases and assisting in the office.

Abbi is currently studying in the pre-veterinary program at the University of Manitoba. She enjoys spending time with her family on their hobby farm where they have 4 horses, 5 dogs, a pig and a cat. She also completes in Eventing with her horse Casha.

Jessi Good

Jessi is our past office and reproductive centre manager. She currently assists part time in the office or in the clinic wherever an extra set of hands is needed.

Outside of the clinic she manages her family's small business and spends time with her husband and son on their new acreage with her three horses.

Emily Peadson

Emily is part of our evening and weekend clinic care team. She assists our patient care manager in providing top notch care to our reproductive, rehabilitation and hospital patients.

Abigail Parvais

Abbi is part of weekend care team. She ensures a continuity of quality care over the weekend days . When she isn't at work, she enjoys high school rodeo.