Our Team
Individual attention, with the support of the entire staff. Our veterinarians, technicians and support staff work together so every horse gets personalized, compassionate and comprehensive care.
Our veterinarians
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Richard L. Stevens, D.V.M.
Dr. Stevens graduated from Colorado State University in 1981 and joined Conejo Valley Veterinary Hospital as an intern that same year. He is married with two children.
His menagerie includes numerous dogs and the best stray farm cat. He enjoys skiing and mountain biking with his family, as well as raising guide dogs for the blind.
Professional interests: Sports medicine, equine reproduction and equine dentistry
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Merle DerVartanian, D.V.M.
Dr. Merle received her B.S. and D.V.M. degrees from the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia, and completed her internship at Chino Valley Equine Hospital.
In her free time, Dr. Merle enjoys riding, running, cycling and hiking with her dogs, Paulie and Emmy. She also enjoys spending time with her four-legged, hoofed family: two horses, two donkeys and now a mule.
Professional interests: Ophthalmology, internal medicine, wound management, lameness and geriatric care
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Kristen Brown, D.V.M., C.V.A.
Dr. Brown completed both her undergraduate and veterinary education at the University of California, Davis, followed by a one-year internship at B.W. Furlong and Associates, an equine hospital in New Jersey. She is certified in equine acupuncture by the Chi Institute of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine.
After her internship, she returned to Northern California and worked for two years at an ambulatory equine practice in Chico before joining Conejo Valley Equine. She enjoys riding, hiking and exploring with her dog, Sansa. She loves all aspects of veterinary medicine, especially emergency medicine and lameness cases, and building relationships with her patients.
Professional interests: Emergency medicine, lameness, acupuncture and chiropractic
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Carin Zeller, D.V.M.
Dr. Zeller earned her veterinary degree at the University of California, Davis, in 2016. She then served as a veterinarian in the United States Army for five years, caring for military working dogs and horses while stationed in Texas, California and Washington, D.C. Her final assignment was caring for the 70 horses that carry service members to their final resting place in Arlington National Cemetery.
She is certified in equine rehabilitation through the University of Tennessee. Dr. Zeller enjoys riding, running, weightlifting and spending time with her family: her husband, Tyler, and their two dogs, Annie and Jessie.
Professional interests: Emergency medicine, lameness and rehabilitation
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Hayley Rasmussen-Ball, D.V.M.
Dr. Rasmussen-Ball earned her Bachelor of Science at the University of Nevada, Reno, in the town where she grew up, and her veterinary degree at Washington State University. She then completed a yearlong internship at Alamo Pintado Equine Medical Center in Los Olivos, California, and stayed on to complete a fellowship in its Internal Medicine department.
She enjoys all aspects of equine practice. She and her husband, Brian, love spending time with their son and their animals, trail running, hiking and exploring the West Coast.
Professional interests: Internal medicine, nutrition and neonatal care
The whole team
Behind every farm call is a team of field assistants, technicians and office staff who keep your horse’s care running smoothly.
