Veterinarians
Alexandra Tracey, DVM, DACVS-LA
Dr. Alexandra Tracey, one of only a handful of practicing board certified large animal surgeons (DACVS-LA) in South Carolina, has been dedicated to horses since her first riding lesson many years ago. She has competed in eventing, dressage, western pleasure, barrel racing, and polo over her years as a horsewoman.
Veterinary medicine and surgery are more than a job or a career for Dr. Tracey... They are a calling and she commits much of her life to the complete care and health of her patients. She has a special passion for surgery and sports medicine but is equally comfortable managing emergencies and medical cases.
Dr. Tracey graduated from Kansas State CVM in 2008. She completed an internship at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, KY and then a surgical residency at Iowa State University. She worked as the emergency surgeon at Iowa before moving to South Carolina to find some warmer weather and better living! She founded Palmetto Equine Veterinary Services in 2011 and the Hospital was completed and opened in April 2016.
Veterinary Interests: Surgery and Sports Medicine, Imaging, Neonates, Respiratory, Emergency, Reproduction.
Life Interests: Lake Time, gardening, reading, writing, Dungeons and Dragons, travel.
Allison Stapel, DVM
Associate Veterinarian
Dr. Stapel is originally from New Jersey and completed her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) at Tufts University in Massachusetts. After graduation, she moved to South Carolina with her boyfriend and pet snake, Macaroni (pictured) and completed an internship at Palmetto Equine Hospital. She has since stayed on as one of our associate veterinarians and developed an interest and skill in equine anesthesia (and acquired 2 cats). With a professional dressage trainer as a mother, Dr. Stapel grew up with a love for horses that she hasn’t been able to shake.
Veterinary Interests: Preventative care, Lameness, Dentistry, and Anesthesia.
Life Interests: Spending time with her family and loved ones, hiking, fencing, crochet, reading.
Skyla Knudtson, DVM
Associate Veterinarian
Dr. Knudtson completed her Bachelor's and Doctorate in her home state at the University of Minnesota-Crookston for her Bachelor’s in animal and equine science and the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine for her Doctorate. She then completed an internship at Southern Equine Service in Aiken, SC. She loved South Carolina so much, she decided to stay in the area.
Dr. Knudtson grew up trail riding with her mother and grandmother. In undergrad, she rode competitively in IHSA and NCEA on the Crookston western equestrian team. She was also a member of the Steele County Mounted Posse where she and her horses participated in search and rescue, county fair patrolling, crowd control, and local parades.
Veterinary Interests: Emergency medicine and preventative care
Life Interests: Reading, paddleboarding, riding her mares, Whisper and Eden, and motorcycling with her dog, Animosh.
Staff
Jessica Langston, Hospital Operations Manager
Jessica started riding on a mounted drill team at a young age. That drill team became a multiple southeastern regional championship team and a multiple state champion team. When not performing with the drill team, she also showed in western events and barrel racing. She completed a Bachelors of Science in Animal Science with an Equine Science and Management emphasis at the University of Georgia. During this time, she worked on a feed research trial at UGA’s stallion station that breeds American Quarter Horses. Since graduating, she has worked at multiple warmblood and P.R.E. breeding farms before coming to join the Palmetto Equine team! She loves working in breeding and has a passion for Quarter Horse bloodlines. She also has a strong background in sports medicine and lameness after years of experience with her own horses. She competes in barrel racing with her mare Rayne and helps her parents manage the farm at home when she is not working.
Nancy Smith, Client Care Manager, Front Desk
Most days you will find Nancy at our front desk working hard to keep the ship sailing in the right direction! She manages client care and appointment scheduling for Palmetto Equine, including following up on cases, triage of phone calls and emergencies, and getting clients checked in and out of the hospital. When she is not keeping us all in line, Nancy enjoys time with her horse, Jesse, and her beautiful dog Piper.