Veterinarians

Justin Sobota, MS, MSM, DVM

Justin was raised on a small fruit farm in Biglerville, Pennsylvania where he developed his love of the outdoors and the agricultural community. He attended Penn State University for undergraduate studies (Animal Bioscience) and developed a passion for horses while working at a local hunter farm. He then traveled to Colorado State University to study additional horse course work. Justin then moved to the East Moreno Ranch in New Mexico and spent time as a wrangler. Afterward, he attended the University of Florida for graduate school and earned degrees in both animal nutrition and business where he developed a desire to teach. After graduate school, he worked for Buckeye Nutrition and Progressive Nutrition as a nutrition consultant. He then returned to the University of Florida for veterinary school and afterwards completed an internship at Woodside Equine Clinic in Ashland, VA prior to starting his ambulatory practice, South Mountain Equine in Middletown, MD. He has also been a testing veterinarian for the USEF and FEI. Socially, he has enjoyed organized veterinary medicine and is the past President of the Maryland Veterinary Medical Association. He is married to a small animal veterinarian and have two young boys named Connor and Samuel, two goldfish from the fair, a half dozen chickens, and two shaggy dogs.

  • 1999 graduate of Penn State University, Animal Bioscience & P.T.M.
  • 2001 graduate of University of Florida, Masters of Science in Animal Nutrition
  • 2002 graduate of University of Florida, Masters of Science in Management
  • 2008 graduate of University of Florida, Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine
  • 2009 Woodside Equine Clinic, Internship, Ashland, Virginia
  • 2009 Started South Mountain Equine
  • 2012 International Veterinary Chiropractic Association Certification
  • 2015 Completed the Acupuncture Course at Chi Institute of Chinese Medicine
  • 2018 Member of International Society of Equine Locomotor Pathology (ISELP)
  • Native of Biglerville, Pennsylvania

 

Caitlin Cosentino, DVM

Caity grew up in Western New York where her love of horses began at 9 years old. She competed in the hunter/jumper circuit locally. She attended Medaille College for undergraduate studies (biology and veterinary technology) and worked part time at a local small animal hospital. She took 2 years off after graduating from Medaille to work full time and gain more experience before going to The Ohio State University to get a degree in veterinary medicine.

After graduation she went down to Retama Equine Hospital in Selma, Texas to complete a 1 year internship focused exclusively on equine medicine. She stayed on at Retama for an extra year gaining more experience. When not working she enjoys riding her arabiana Triton and Banner and hiking with her 2 dogs, Fiasco and Mango.

 

Dr. Brooke Alnwick

Dr. Brooke Alnwick grew up in Groton, Massachusetts. She grew up in a barn, as an event rider, which is what sparked her interest in veterinary medicine. She obtained a bachelors in pre-veterinary sciences from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2016. She then moved to Auburn, Alabama for veterinary school and earned her doctorate in veterinary medicine from Auburn University in 2020.

After veterinary school, Dr. Brooke completed an internship in the large animal hospital at the University of Georgia. Dr. Brooke’s interests include lameness, diagnostic imaging, emergencies, and ophthalmology. She spends her free time with her dogs, Rhett and Huck, fishing, exploring new restaurants, and being active with her local church.

 

Veterinary Assistants

 

Practice Manager: Danielle Thumma, BS

Danielle grew up in Middletown, MD and graduated University of Maryland Baltimore County in 2005 with a BS in Sociology. She has been a horse lover and rider her whole life. She is currently Eventing her warmblood gelding, Ryker and her 8yr old TB, Squishy. She and her husband, Justin, currently live in Braddock Heights with their 3 dogs, Wellington, Koko and Bart. Danielle also runs a boarding facility located in Middletown, MD.

 

Emily Ballenger

Emily grew up in Rocky Ridge MD on her parents 145 acre boarding farm. Emily learned to ride at a very young age with the instruction of her mother whom was a previous exercise rider and  eventer. Their farm focused mainly on thoroughbreds, and breeding sport ponies.
Emily was an active member of 4-H for 9 years, showing goats, pigs and sheep. At 19, Emily enlisted to the United States Air Force where she served 2 years in Misawa Japan as an Information Manager. Emily returned back to the states where she worked as a free lance photographer for a small newspaper in Emmitsburg, MD. Emily also helps run her family’s boarding facility, as well as training horses and riders alike. Emily currently lives in Rocky Ridge MD with her dog Rue, and horses Luna and Taz.

Tajana Pellet

A Frederick native, Tajana has been sitting on horses since she learned to walk. A Jane of all trades, she has done everything from social work to small animal medicine, but her true passion has always been horses. She spent several years managing upper level eventing barns, and is particularly interested in whole horse wellness, chiropractic and reproductive medicine, and disease ecology.
She is fortunate enough to reside on the family farm, where amongst the menagerie, she keeps her two horses: a Belgian draft cross named Apollo, and an OTTB mare named Reya.
When she isn’t working, she enjoys spending time camping and hiking with her wonderful partner and their two dogs.

Katie Torres

Katie grew up in Boonsboro MD. She started riding when she was 12, which sparked her love for horses and interest in vet medicine. She was an active member of 4-H for several years, showing sheep, bunnies, and horses. She has ridden and showed in both English and western classes, mainly western speed classes, in high school with her Arabian mare Fawn.
She now enjoys spending time with fawn, who is happily retired, and her dog Rufus.

Hannah Kotkin

Born and raised in Frederick MD, Hannah learned to ride at the age of 5 in northern Connecticut.
She took some time off from riding at age 16 after losing her draft cross gelding, Keg, she decided to go to school to study psychology and American Sign Language.
Now, coming back to the equine world as a first time veterinary assistant, she is thinking of going back to school to study veterinary sciences!
In her free time she spends time with her four legged family, her 10-year-old Rottweiler/Shepherd Barkley, and her 2-year-old cat Juni!

 

4 Legged  Staff:

 

Wellington

9yr old Chihuahua Mix

You may get a chance to meet Wellington on the road or in the office when Danielle is working!

 

 

Diesel, Turbo Chase (T.C.) and Wranger

Grey/White Tabby, Yellow Tabby, Long Hair Tabby

You will meet Diesel, T.C. and Wrangler when you come visit the office.




 

 

Solo, Oliver, Dodger and Triton

Solo-31 year old Bay Appendix

Oliver Twist-24 year old Grey pony

Triton (Right) 17 year old Arabian owned and loved by Dr Caity. Dr Caity adopted Triton from Middle Ridge Horse Rescue in 2018. Star Dodger (Left)-28 year old OTTB who Dr Caity has owned for 21 years.