Alamo Pintado Equine Medical Center

What Alamo Pintado Equine Medical Center does

Alamo Pintado Equine Medical Center is a specialized equine veterinary hospital and referral center located in Los Olivos, California (Santa Ynez Valley), founded in 1972 by Dr. Doug Herthel and Sue Herthel. The practice operates as a comprehensive referral center and primary care provider, serving individual horse owners directly through its main clinic and an ambulatory field practice, while also receiving case referrals from equine veterinarians across the western United States. The current veterinary team consists of nine doctors including three board-certified surgeons, two board-certified internists, and an ambulatory veterinary team serving multiple breeds and disciplines. The practice has operated continuously for over 50 years and remains family-owned following Dr. Doug Herthel's death in 2018, with sons Mark and Troy Herthel continuing in operational and clinical roles; no external institutional investors or private equity involvement has been disclosed.

The core of the practice is its Advanced Imaging Center, which operates an integrated multimodal imaging platform combining high-field 1.5T Siemens Magnetom Espree MRI, low-field standing MRI, MILE-PET standing positron emission tomography, nuclear scintigraphy (bone scan), standing CT, a portable 64-slice BodyTom CT (one of only three in U.S. equine veterinary medicine), digital radiography, ultrasonography, fluoroscopy, endoscopy, arthroscopy, and laparoscopy. A 12-camera motion detection and gait analysis system — described as the first in a U.S. private practice — supports objective lameness evaluation. Complementary specialized facilities include a custom warm-water recovery pool, hyperbaric oxygen therapy chamber, underwater treadmill, and a regenerative medicine platform offering PRP, ProStride, IRAP, BMAC, stem cell, and exosome therapies pioneered by founder Dr. Doug Herthel. Surgical capabilities span colic surgery, orthopedic repair, upper airway, ophthalmic, neurological, abdominal, and reproductive procedures.

The business model is built on professional services revenue billed at point of delivery, supplemented by an on-site pharmacy dispensing prescription and OTC equine pharmaceuticals to current clients via an online storefront. Distribution is direct-to-client through the Los Olivos clinic and a fleet of ambulatory vehicles making farm calls throughout the Santa Ynez Valley, combined with a structured referral channel receiving patients from equine veterinarians across the western United States. Customer acquisition relies heavily on professional community engagement — principally the annual RACE-approved Veterinary Symposium (21st year in 2025), client education content, and the Alamo Pintado Equine Health Foundation (founded 1991). Pricing is not publicly disclosed; service fees and pharmacy retail prices are not listed online.

Name

Alamo Pintado Equine Medical Center

Legal name

Alamo Pintado Equine Medical Center

Website

https://alamopintado.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Alamo Pintado Equine Medical Center is a family-owned equine veterinary referral hospital founded in 1972 in Los Olivos, California. It provides advanced diagnostic imaging, surgery, internal medicine, sports medicine, and rehabilitation services to horse owners and referring veterinarians across the western United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Equine Veterinary Services

NAICS

Veterinary Services (54194), Veterinary Services (541940), Diagnostic Imaging Centers (621512), Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals (622310)

SIC

Services-Hospitals (8060), Agricultural Prod-Livestock & Animal Specialties (200), Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093)

akta.pro primary industry

Equine Hospital & Surgical Services (HLAMABAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Equine Veterinary Services (AFAEANAC), Veterinary Imaging Centers (Radiology, Ultrasound, CT/MRI) (HLAMADAH), Equine Ambulatory & On-Farm Veterinary Services (HLAMABAE), Equine Rehabilitation, Layup & Retirement Facilities (AFAEAGAJ)

Keywords

• Equine veterinary services
• Horse diagnostic imaging
• Equine surgery center
• Equine internal medicine
• Equine regenerative therapy

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Olivos

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Veterinary Clinical Services: Revenue generated from providing comprehensive veterinary medical services including diagnostic imaging, surgery, internal medicine, emergency care, rehabilitation, reproduction, field practice, and wellness/preventive care to horse owners. Services are billed at point of delivery, with pricing not publicly disclosed.
2. On-Site Pharmacy: Dispensing of prescription and OTC equine pharmaceuticals and supplies to current clients. Available to current clients with a prescription. Includes anti-inflammatories, antibiotics, dewormers, joint therapies, metabolic medications, ophthalmic, reproduction, sedation, and wound care products.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Founded in 1972 in Los Olivos, California, Alamo Pintado Equine Medical Center provides advanced specialty veterinary medical services for horses, including diagnostic imaging, surgery, internal medicine, regenerative medicine, and wellness care. The center is staffed by board-certified specialists, equipped with advanced imaging modalities (CT, MRI, PET, motion-capture lameness analysis), and supported by an on-site pharmacy and ambulatory field practice.

Product overview

Alamo Pintado Equine Medical Center is a comprehensive equine veterinary hospital founded in 1972, offering a unified suite of advanced medical services for horses. The center operates as an integrated veterinary practice combining diagnostic imaging, surgery, internal medicine, sports medicine, rehabilitation, reproduction services, and emergency care. The core Advanced Imaging Center provides synergistic multimodal imaging technologies (MRI, CT, PET, nuclear scintigraphy, ultrasonography, digital radiography, gait analysis) used together for precise diagnosis. Surgical, internal medicine, and rehabilitation teams collaborate across specialties to deliver comprehensive patient care from diagnosis through treatment and recovery.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Alamo Pintado Equine Health Foundation: A foundation established in 1991 to further equine veterinary medicine through research, advancements, and impactful therapies to improve clinical outcomes.

Products and services

• Equine Diagnostic Imaging

Quantifiable outcome

• Colic surgery survival rates improved from near 0% to above 90% under Dr. Doug Herthel's work at UC Davis and subsequent refinement at Alamo Pintado.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Boehringer IngelheimminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPharmaceutical sponsor of the annual Alamo Pintado Veterinary Symposium. Boehringer Ingelheim is a major animal health pharmaceutical company.
• ZoetisminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnimal health pharmaceutical company and sponsor of the annual Alamo Pintado Veterinary Symposium.
• UC Davis Veterinary Assisted Reproduction Laboratory (VetART)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing relationship with UC Davis VetART for the ICSI (intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection) procedure. Alamo Pintado offers Oocyte Aspiration for ICSI on a regular basis through this partnership, enabling mares to stay in competition while preserving genetics.
• Platinum PerformanceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRecommended nutritional supplement provider. Founded in 1996 by Dr. Doug Herthel and his eldest son Mark Herthel. Platinum Performance Equine Formula is recommended as a well-rounded, balanced source of quality nutrients. Editorial coverage in Platinum Performance Magazine (Spring 2024) featured Alamo Pintado's advanced imaging technologies.
• Pete Healey (Equine Podiatry)coreOthersConsulting farrier at Alamo Pintado since 2002. Holds APF-1 certificate with the International Association of Professional Farriers, graduate of Dr. Redden's Advanced Equine Podiatry Course. Has patented three measuring systems for the equine foot and authored 'Evaluating Radiographs for Equine Foot Management.' Co-authored a paper with Dr. Mariah Kerr on distal limb evaluation. Provides specialty farrier services on site to support patient recovery from orthopedic injury and hoof conditions.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Hagyard Equine Medical Institute: Lexington, Kentucky-based equine specialty hospital offering advanced surgery, internal medicine, reproduction, and diagnostic imaging. Closest direct competitor in terms of comprehensive specialty service line, referral-based model, and longstanding reputation in equine medicine.
• Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital: Large equine referral hospital in Lexington, KY with multiple locations. Offers similar specialty services (surgery, internal medicine, reproduction, imaging) and serves as a primary referral destination, making it the most direct comparable in scale and scope.
• Palm Beach Equine Clinic: Wellington, Florida-based equine referral hospital serving the high-end winter equestrian circuit. Comparable in advanced imaging, surgical capability, and performance-horse focus, though operating in a different geographic market.
• Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center (Virginia Tech): University-affiliated equine specialty hospital in Leesburg, Virginia. Comparable in advanced diagnostic imaging, surgery, and internal medicine specialty services; differs in being a teaching hospital with academic research focus.
• Chino Valley Equine Hospital: Southern California equine hospital offering surgery, internal medicine, and advanced imaging. Geographic and service overlap makes it a relevant California-based comparable, though smaller in scale than Alamo Pintado.
• San Luis Rey Equine Hospital: Bonsall, California-based equine specialty practice with surgical, internal medicine, and imaging services. Closest geographic competitor to Alamo Pintado in the California market.
• Equine Medical Center (Colorado State University): Fort Collins, Colorado-based academic equine hospital with full specialty services. Comparable in advanced imaging, surgery, and referral-based model; differs in academic/research mission.
• Rhinebeck Equine Hospital: New York-based equine specialty referral hospital offering surgery, internal medicine, imaging, and reproduction. Comparable in referral-driven model and full-service specialty scope.
• Mid-Atlantic Equine Medical Center: New Jersey-based equine referral hospital offering 24/7 emergency, surgery, internal medicine, and imaging services. Similar in scale and referral-based specialty hospital model.

Broad incumbents

• UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital: Large academic veterinary hospital with the largest equine service in California. Adjacent rather than direct competitor given broader mission; relevant because of its existing relationship with Alamo Pintado via the VetART ICSI partnership.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/alamo-pintado-equine-medical-center

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Alamo Pintado Equine Medical Center