Staff
Dr. Don Ryker
"I have been a practicing equine veterinarian in the North Oakland County area for the past 13 years. I have owned my own practice for the past 8 years. My practice consists of all breeds and types of horses. Approximately 35% of the practice is reproduction, the majority of which are breeding farms. My wife and I breed, raise and race a small stable of Thoroughbreds. My wife is a hunter/jumper trainer and after racing she re-trains my horses for second careers in and around Oakland County.
"I have always been involved in the politics of the horse world. I am past president of the Michigan Equine Practitioners Association, president of the Michigan Professional Horseman’s Association, secretary of the Michigan Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association. I also sit on the board of the national Professional Horseman’s Association and a member of the Michigan Horse Council and the Oakland County Farm Bureau. I sit on the Equine Advisory Committee for the state veterinarian, Dr. Chaddock and on the Equine Committee of the Michigan Farm Bureau.
"I have worked diligently to help
unite the various factions of the horse industry in pressing the Liability and
Racing laws. Now the biggest problems facing our organization are those of
internal strife and conflict. We don’t have time for petty conflict. If I’m
elected I vow to leave my personal agenda at the door and work for what is best
of the organization."
Email:
drryker@drryker.com
Dr. Ken Gertsen
DVM, MS, Diplomat American Board of
Veterinary Practitioners, Equine Specialty.
Dr. Gertsen is a University of California, Davis,
graduate. After graduating he was at Michigan State University as an instructor
in the clinic while getting his Master’s degree in Large Animal Surgery and
Medicine. He worked at the Thoroughbred race tracks in Detroit until they
closed in 1998. He joined Dr. Ryker’s practice in 1999 and has been here
since. Dr. Gertsen has been involved in teaching Veterinary Technician
curriculums at Macomb and Baker Community Colleges. He became Board Certified
by the ABVP, Equine Specialty in 1997. Dr. Gertsen is interested in surgery,
lameness work-ups and respiratory problems of the horse. He is married to Diana
who works at the Novi Public Library and has three grown children and four
grandchildren.
Jody Barron
Jody Barron joined Dr. Ryker’s practice in 1993. Jody and her husband Bobby have a Thoroughbred farm in Ortonville. Jody manages the farm in her “spare” time and has two children, Lindsey and Alec. Bobby trains racehorses at various racetracks in the Midwest and East.
Cheri Fisher
Cherie is a lifelong resident of Oakland County, Michigan. She has been a horse owner for 18 years. She has two children, 2 cats, one dog, and four horses!. Cherie has been with Dr. Ryker & Assoc. since December of 2001.
Email:
cheri@drryker.com
Kathy Pfister
Kathy Pfister joined Dr. Ryker’s practice in November 2003. Prior to that Kathy had been working as an
administrative receptionist for several years. Kathy and her husband, David,
have a farm in Ortonville where they raise and show Paso Finos.
Email: kathy@drryker.com
Celia Ryker
Email:
celia@drryker.com
Celia Ryker has owned Hadley Hill Farm since 1978. She has trained
Hunter/Jumpers and taught students since 1968. She recently stopped coaching
students at horse shows to devote more time to managing the farm for husband Don’s
growing practice.