Meet the Team
Our Equine Vets
Dr. Emma Webster
Emma Webster spent her veterinary externship with us in 2008, and so we knew we were very fortunate to have her join our team when she graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College in 2009. In addition to an admirable level of general veterinary knowledge, she has taken a comprehensive course in ultrasound and dentistry and has a special interest in Ophthalmology. Outside of the clinic, Emma enjoys horseback riding, painting, and spending time with her family on their hobby farm in Drayton. Emma shares the farm chores with her husband Rob, three children (Miles, Sidney, and Samantha), their dog Kajun, their cat Spencer and about 20 chickens.
Dr. Melanie Thompson
DVM
Melanie grew up in rural Flamborough near her grandparents’ dairy farm and began riding horses at a young age. Melanie completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Guelph, and graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College in 2018.
Melanie joined the large animal team at Heartland in 2019 for both food animal and equine practice. She enjoys ruminant medicine and surgery and working with producers. Melanie enjoys equine practice, with an interest in primary care, emergency care, and equine reproduction. Melanie is currently enrolled in a Veterinary Spinal Manipulative Therapy course, with hopes of providing additional treatment modalities for pain management and lameness to her equine patients.
In her free time, Melanie enjoys running and riding horses. Melanie lives in Drayton with her husband Will, daughter Georgia, and their two cats.
Dr. Mary Walker
Dr. Mary joined the Heartland team in 2011 and enjoys her equine days on the road (weather depending of course). She has a special interest in reproductive work and of course loves meeting the (healthy) foals a year later. You will see Dr. Mary out for routine and emergency cases and she loves the variation in her day. Mary is always up for expanding her skills and knowledge. She is currently invested in extensive lameness and ophthalmology courses.
Mary is one of the Heartland’s owners and is proud of Heartland’s growth as a private, community-focused clinic. She is in awe of Heartland’s technical team who are continuously teaching each other and advocating for excellent patient care.
At home, she shares her space—and often her bed—with two dogs and a cat. When she’s off the clock, you’ll find her reading, enjoying time at the lake, and wishing she could fit more travel into her life.
Dr. Monica Fritz
Monica Fritz grew up in Walkerton and knew from a very young age that she wanted to be a veterinarian and specifically an Equine Veterinarian due to her love and passion for horses. She attended the University of Guelph for her undergraduate degree in Animal Biology and graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College in 2024. Monica is excited to be joining the Heartland Team as an Equine Associate Veterinarian. Monica grew up with Standardbred horses along side her family. In her free time she enjoys nature, going to the horse races with her family and spending hours at the barn. Monica lives in Walkerton alongside her husband Matt and his amazing children Levi and Adah.