Dr. Darryl Bonder is a distinguished pioneer in equine healthcare, renowned for his expertise and contributions to the field. Graduating with honors from the University of Guelph in 1977, Dr. Bonder quickly established himself as a leader in equine medicine and surgery, earning the prestigious Fowler Award for highest proficiency in equine medicine and surgery.

Throughout his illustrious career, Dr. Bonder has accumulated a wealth of experience across various domains of equine practice. From racetrack practice to ambulatory farm practice, and from full surgical hospital facilities to equine nuclear medicine, his expertise spans the breadth of the industry.

Dr. Bonder’s dedication to advancing equine healthcare is evident through his extensive involvement in professional associations and committees. He has served as the President of the Ontario Association of Equine Practitioners and as a member of the Federal Drug Advisory Committee to Racetracks Canada. Additionally, he has contributed his expertise to organizations such as Equine Guelph Research Committee and the Grayson Foundation Jockey Club Research Advisory Committee.

With over four decades of experience, Dr. Bonder continues to shape the future of equine medicine. Dr. Bonder’s commitment to innovation and compassionate care has earned him the respect and admiration of colleagues and clients alike, solidifying his reputation as a true pioneer in equine healthcare. As the Owner and Medical Director of Ontario Equine Hospital from 2019 to 2023, he led with distinction, and continues setting the standard for excellence in equine care now as CMO at King Animal Hospital.

Dr. Cleary graduated with a veterinary degree from University College Dublin, Ireland, in June 2003. She then completed a Large Animal Medicine and Surgery internship at the University of Georgia, followed by an Equine Medicine and Surgery internship at the Equine Medical Center of Ocala, Florida. In the summer of 2005, she lectured at the College of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin and traveled to observe equine surgery in Sweden. She then worked as a resident veterinarian at Adena Springs South in Williston, Florida, until July 2006. In July 2009, Dr. Cleary completed a 3-year residency in Large Animal Surgery at the University of Florida in Gainesville with surgical externships in private practices in Florida, Kentucky, and New Jersey. This was followed by a clinical instructorship at the University of Florida. She moved to Ontario to join the teams at Milton Equine Hospital and Allen Equine services in July 2010.

From 2017-2018 she worked doing elective and emergency large animal surgery at the Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph. She joined the Ontario Equine Hospital team in April 2019. Dr. Cleary’s special interests are in advanced imaging (MRI, CT, scintigraphy), as well as all aspects of soft tissue and orthopedic surgery.

Dr. Côté graduated from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the Université de Montréal in 1988. Subsequently, she completed an internship and a year of surgical residency at the same institution. She continued her training at the University of Guelph where she obtained a DVSc in Large Animal Surgery. She remained there as a clinician and faculty member until 2003.

Dr. Côté then joined a reference centre in equine surgery and opened her own establishment in partnership with another veterinarian in 2007. During this time, she continued to teach in the VSTEP program, a program that helps graduates from foreign countries take the Canadian Veterinary Entrance Examination. Since February 2017, she has held a faculty position at the University of Guelph. Dr. Côté has been certified and diplomatic with the ACVS since 1997.

Dr. Cruz received his veterinary degree from the National University of Cajamarca, in Peru, in 1995. In 2000, he moved to Kentucky and worked first at Woodford Equine Hospital; then at Davidson Surgery Center (Hagyard Equine Medical Institute) for four years where he was a primary anesthetist. He has since been living in Ontario since 2012, working at different equine hospital facilities including Ontario Equine Hospital where his main occupation is anesthesia under the hospital setting.

Dr. Albert Torrent is a board-certified equine surgeon (ACVS-LA, 2019) with extensive international experience and a passion for advancing surgical care for horses.

Originally from Catalonia, Spain, Dr. Torrent earned his veterinary degree (LV) from Universidad Cardenal Herrera – CEU in 2005 before completing advanced surgical training through a Large Animal Surgery Residency at the University of California, Davis. He later served as an equine surgeon at the Université de Montréal’s large animal hospital and most recently as an Assistant Professor in Large Animal Surgery at the Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph.

At King Animal Hospital, Dr. Torrent’s clinical interests include minimally invasive surgical techniques, upper airway procedures, complex abdominal surgeries, emergency cases, and podiatry. He is also pursuing a master’s degree focused on improving postoperative outcomes and advancing regenerative therapies in equine patients.

A Toronto native, Dr. Alexa Gray began her academic journey with an undergraduate degree in Commerce from Dalhousie University before pursuing her true calling in veterinary medicine. She earned her veterinary degree from the University of Glasgow in 2019, where she enriched her education through externships focused on wildlife care in South Africa.

Following graduation, Dr. Gray completed a Small Animal Rotating Internship at Mississauga Oakville Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Hospital. Her growing interest in ophthalmology led her to the University of Pennsylvania’s Retinal Disease Studies Facility, where she undertook a fellowship focused on retinal diseases.

In 2022, she began a Comparative Ophthalmology Residency at Cornell University Hospital for Animals. There, she gained experience treating a wide range of species—including small animals, horses, exotics, and wildlife.

Dr. Gray is excited to return home to Ontario and join the team at King Animal Hospital, where she will provide ophthalmology services for both small and large animal patients.

Dr. Bartel earned her BScH in Biology from Queen’s University in 2002 and then went on to graduate BVM&S with Distinction from the University of Edinburgh in 2008. After working in small animal general practice and emergency medicine in Ontario and Florida until 2011, she completed specialty training in Anaesthesia and Analgesia at Cornell University, receiving board certification in 2016.

Dr. Bartel has served as the President of the North American Veterinary Anaesthesia Society, as an examination committee member of the American College of Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia, and as a councillor for the College of Veterinarians of Ontario. She was also a staff instructor at the University of California, Head of Surgery and Anaesthesia at the Toronto Veterinary Emergency Hospital, and most recently, Head of Anaesthesia and Analgesia at Veterinary Emergency & Specialty Hospital in Singapore.

Dr. Aguilera obtained his DVM degree in 2010 from the University of Chile. After graduating, he practiced as a general practitioner and in 2015 finished a clinical skills internship at the Ontario Veterinary College, followed by an anesthesia internship in 2016.

In 2017 Dr. Aguilera started his residency and doctorate program (DVSc) in Anesthesia finishing in 2020. After finishing his residency, he has been part of the anesthesia department at Animal Health Partners.

Dr. Aguilera became a Diplomat of the American College of Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia in 2023 and is a Board-Certified Anaesthesiologist for equine and small animals.

Professional interests include pain management, neonatal and pediatric anesthesia.

Dr. Freitag obtained his DVM degree from the Pontifical Catholic University of Parana (PUCPR) in 2015, graduating with honors, first of the class. After graduation he completed a 2-year residency in Anesthesia, with parts in Critical Care, from 2016-2018 at the Federal University of Parana (UFPR) where he also then obtained his Master of Veterinary Science in 2019.

He then moved to Canada in 2019, to pursue his Anesthesia Residency and Doctor of Veterinary Sciences at the Ontario Veterinary College, 2019-2022. After residency, Dr. Freitag practiced at the Veterinary Specialty Centre of Newfoundland and Labrador, where he was the first veterinary anesthesiologist of the province. In 2023 Dr. Freitag become a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia and started a pain clinic at the hospital.

Dr. Freitag’s professional interests include ultrasound guided loco-regional anesthesia, with focus on TAP block, use of pain catheter, CPR, pain management, chronic pain, anesthesia in different species (small animals and equines). And he has published over 20 manuscripts as first author.