About Us
New England Equine, founded by Drs. Joseph Heissan and Ronald Rosen, has been serving regional horsemen since 1970. Initially it was an ambulatory practice, but with the hiring of Dr. William Bradley in 1976, and the need for a surgical facility, the practice moved to a leased facility in Ridgefield, CT in 1978. Shortly after their move, the practice suffered the unexpected passing of Dr. Rosen.
Anxious to have a larger hospital with more services, Drs. Bradley and Heissan created a 3000 square foot facility with an 8 stall barn including outdoor turnout and a riding ring. Soon after, a 900 square foot wing, nuclear scintigraphy service and 6 additional stalls were added.
In 1986, Dr. Heissan retired and Dr. Bradley with associates kept the business growing, always planning for the ultimate home for New England Equine Practice. In 1998, Dr. Gabriel Cook, a 1992 Cornell graduate, joined the practice. He shared Dr. Bradley’s dream and in 2007 New England Equine Practice moved to a 33 acre, 29,000 square foot hospital providing a wide range of services including medicine, surgery, critical care, MRI, nuclear scintigraphy, lameness and prepurchase examinations. The surgical suite and recovery facilities allow for convenient and safe patient management during the anesthetic induction, surgery and recovery phases. The hospital includes an isolation ward and indoor riding ring.
Dr. Heissan’s death in 2007 was a shock to our doctors and the horse community he served so faithfully. He had an opportunity to visit the new clinic and was proud to see the result of the business he started 37 years previously.
In January 2008, Dr. Cook became a full partner with Dr. Bradley.
Currently New England Equine Practice P.C. employs 3 associate veterinarians, an intern as well as 25 lay employees.