Dr. Deidre Huff
Despite her apparent youth, the new owner of Edisto Equine brings a wealth of experience with her. Dr. Deidre Huff has over 10 years as a private practitioner on the Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred racetracks of Louisiana and Kentucky. She is proud to have served as an official state veterinarian for the Kentucky Derby and the Breeder’s Cup at historic Churchill Downs. She has also served on the circuit as both a competitor, official, and practitioner for western performance (pleasure, trail, speed events, and roping), dressage, jumping, and endurance throughout the southeast. She carries an international FEI ranking in the discipline of Endurance and has had the privilege to travel in the US and abroad as team veterinarian for USA Southeast Young Riders Endurance Team. She has completed externships at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Peterson and Smith Equine Hospital in Ocala, as well as having worked at lameness specialists, House and Jackson Equine Hospital in Essex, England. Some of you may remember her when she worked for Dr. Malark here at Edisto Equine from 2009-2011, an experience which provided her the model to start her own mobile equine practice in Kentucky.
Dr. Dee Dee, as she prefers to be called, is an Auburn University graduate who began her veterinary career in 2003, but her lifelong love for horses began much earlier. She grew up in western Kentucky farm country and got her first horse at age 9 (even though she was riding way before that). She learned how to ride on Saddlebreds, and with her first horse began running barrels and poles, then went on to western pleasure, showmanship, halter, dressage, and jumping before finally ending up a competitor in the sport of endurance. She currently splits her time between Edisto Equine Clinic and her other practice, Winterwood Equine Services.
In what little spare time she has, her favorite thing to do is ride her horse Izzy down a trail she hasn’t yet explored. Since the Lowcountry is such a diverse place she is hoping you will tell her about your favorite riding trails. She also enjoys rock climbing, diving, traveling, skiing, hiking, dancing, spending time with her dog Munchkin and her family, or just reading a good book.
Dr. Christopher Ernst
Upon graduation, he was accepted to a one year internship at Illinois Equine Hospital. During that time, he gained a wealth of information and extensive exposure to lameness, prepurchase examinations, and surgery. After his internship, Dr. Ernst worked with Dr. Fred Benker in Noblesville, IN. During this time, he developed an aptitude for equine reproduction.
Dr. Ernst enjoys all aspects of equine practice, but has developed a strong interest in lameness and regenerative medicine. In addition to belonging to various other organizations at Purdue, Dr. Ernst was the President of the student Chapter of the American Association of Equine Practitioners and continues to maintain his membership with the AAEP. Dr. Ernst is also a past president of the Indiana Association of Equine Practitioners.
In his non-professional time, Dr. Ernst enjoys skiing (snow and water), reading and active fun time with his wife Liz and their son Nathan. The Ernst family shares their home with K9 pal Lindsey and Hank the cat.
Dr. Katie Loewenstine
Dr. Loewenstine grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio where she began riding at a young age at her grandparents’ farm. She enjoyed riding and competing in eventing through the years with an Appaloosa, Chester and later a Connemara, Blarney.
Dr. Loewenstine attended Clemson University and graduated with a BS in Animal and Veterinary Science. She then attended Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine and earned her DVM. Dr. Katie went on to complete an internship at Brandon Equine Medical Center in sunny Florida where she engaged in many aspects of equine medicine including preventative care, dentistry, podiatry, ophthalmology, reproduction, colics, lameness, and other emergencies. Dr. Loewenstine’s desire to return to South Carolina brought her to Edisto Equine Clinic. In her free time, Dr. Katie enjoys riding Blarney, and spending time outdoors with friends, family, and her Great Dane.