Meet the Piedmont Equine Practice Partner Veterinarians, Associates,
Meet the Veterinarians & Team of The Piedmont Equine Practice in The Plains, VA. We’re pleased to provide exceptional care for your horses.
Carin Wahl
Vet Assistant
Carin, born and raised in Ohio, has always surrounded herself with animals. She has a degree from Hocking College in Backcountry Horsemanship and Wilderness Skills. Her husband’s time in the army led them to Alaska and North Carolina and various jobs, including veterinary receptionist, doggie daycare attendant, and pharmacy technician. Her employment in the horse industry has ranged from dressage groom to barn manager at a carriage driving and fox hunting barn. Carin lives in Jeffersonton with her husband Eric and two dogs, Jaina and Bucky. In her free time she enjoys hiking and dog training.
Mickayla Dolly
Vet Assistant
Mickayla was born and raised in Southern NJ, and grew up on her grandparent’s farm tending crops and caring for chickens and beef cattle. She started riding horses when she was 4, and mostly does western. Mickayla drove horse carriages in Georgia for two years and moved to VA in December of ’21 with her boyfriend. She has a dog named Liberty who she absolutely adores and two rescue cats (Clare and Percival) that drive her crazy.
She has a long history in animal rescue (cats, dogs, wildlife and horses mostly) and looks forward to getting back into it when the time is right. Mickayla worked in a small animal GP clinic before coming to Piedmont and still assists there a few times a month for more education. Her goal is to become a Licensed Vet Tech and is studying online at Penn Foster to achieve this.
Victoria Heiser
Vet Assistant
Tori has been an assistant at Piedmont for just under a year and loves working here and being able to help horses. She is working towards getting her licensed vet tech license and will start school in the fall through Purdue University’s online program.
Tori grew up in Fauquier County and currently lives in Upperville. She attended Germanna Community College. When she was quite young, she developed a love for photography and thrives on going to horse shows and taking pictures of people doing what they love. She would love to further her skills.
She has been involved with horses for 12 years at KR Quarter Horses. shows Quarter Horses Ranch and Barrel Race and is now moving towards roping. She rescued a QH cross filly named Dolly and a dog named Oakley. In her spare time, she loves outdoors activities including fishing and hiking.
Talia Carstoiu
Vet Assistant
Talia grew up in northern Virginia, where she continues to live with three corgis. Her fascination with horses started at a young age, but it wasn’t until her college years that she truly got into the “horse world.” It was then that she decided to get back into riding and found that she really enjoyed working with horses. Now she enjoys taking care of her OTTB, who she rides for pleasure.
Talia graduated from the College of William & Mary with a BS in Biology and Art. She wishes to continue working with animals in a veterinary setting and hopes that she may get into vet school in the near future!
Claire Ledbetter
Vet Assistant
Claire was born and raised in Warrenton, VA and has been passionate about horses and riding hunters since she was a child. She loves learning something new every day at work and helping equine patients feel at ease at the clinic.
She attended Virginia Tech for 3 years and worked towards a degree in Animal Science with an equine emphasis, before deciding to come home for a while to work and gain experience in the horse world. During her time at VT she rode on both the Hunter and Western IHSA teams and enjoyed participating in the Equestrian Club and VT Clay Target Club. In her free time, she loves riding, birding, hiking, and spending time with her beloved chocolate lab Regina (affectionately called Reggie).
Laura Robbins
Vet Assistant
Laura grew up in PA and has been riding and showing hunters/jumpers since she was 3 yrs old. She got into racehorses in her teens at first galloping, and then went on to do many other jobs within the racing industry including managing a breeding/racing facility. Laura and her husband moved to FL in 2019 where she foaled horses for 2 top thoroughbred farms in the Ocala area while managing their own farm. They relocated to Virginia at the end of 2023.
Although foals and breeding are Laura’s absolute passion, she’s always had an interest in equine veterinary medicine and is very happy to be at Piedmont. She hopes to obtain my LVT in the future.
In her free time she helps her husband Cliff run his thoroughbred training operation and spend time with their daughter Hazel. We have a small herd of our own horses and 3 boxers.