Dr. LuAnn Groves
Dr. Groves graduated in 1981 from Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine. She has been an equine veterinarian for 39 years, and horses have been her life passion.
Dr. Groves is a member of the American Association of Equine Practitioners, (AAEP). She is also a member of WAEO, the Worldwide Association of Equine Osteopaths; and she is registered with the International Registry of Equine Osteopaths, the IREO.
She was raised in Tucson Arizona. From a very young age, she participated in 4-H activities and horseshows. At age 10 she began competing in barrel racing and junior rodeos. She was the American Junior Rodeo Association Barrel Racing Champion and the AZ State Barrel Racing Champion in 1973.
After graduating from vet school in Colorado, she learned to play polo with the local team back in Tucson. She became an honorary member of Therapeutic Riding of Tucson, donating her time to care for the horses used to help handicapped riders. She worked for another veterinarian for a year and then opened her own mobile equine practice. Dr. Groves went back to barrel racing, winning the Southern AZ Barrel Racing Championship in 1983 in two divisions, on two different horses. In 1986, she took up endurance riding. She won several first place and best condition awards between 1986 and 1994. In 1994, she won the Southwest Regional Championship 100 mile endurance ride in Williams AZ.
In 2000, she moved to Texas from Arizona. After working for a few years as a mobile vet, she opened The Whole Horse Veterinary Clinic. After a stint at learning to cut on her mare, Dr. Groves has taken up mounted archery.
Dr. Shana Pinxten, DVM EDO CDO
Dr. Shana Pinxten is a distinguished veterinarian and equine osteopath originally from Belgium. Born in 1984, she grew up on a small family farm surrounded by animals, cultivating an early love for horses and dogs. By age four, she began horseback riding, later competing in jumping and eventing. In her teenage years, she developed a passion for dog training, excelling in agility and obedience competitions.
In 2009, Dr. Pinxten graduated with honors from Ghent University’s School of Veterinary Medicine. Her career began in a mixed-animal practice, where she worked with small animals, horses, cattle, and even exotic zoo animals. In 2011, she established her own veterinary clinic, Dierenarts Shana Pinxten, in Meeuwen, Belgium. Specializing in small animals and horses, she broadened her expertise with advanced therapies including hydrotherapy, laser therapy, kinesiotaping, dry needling, and nutrition.
Seeking to enhance her skills further, Dr. Pinxten earned certifications as an Equine Osteopath (EDO) and Canine Osteopath (CDO) through the Vluggen Institute for Equine Osteopathy in Germany. A dedicated educator, she also served as a teacher at the institute.
Dr. Pinxten’s passion for holistic care and innovative treatments brought her to the United States in 2023, where she joined the Whole Horse Veterinary Clinic in Garwood, Texas. There, she focuses on integrating osteopathy, ozone therapy, and acupuncture into veterinary medicine. She is committed to advancing research and educating clients and fellow veterinarians on combining holistic therapies with traditional medical practices to optimize animal health.
A proud member of the International Register of Equine Osteopaths (IREO) and the Worldwide Alliance of Equine Osteopaths (WAEO), Dr. Pinxten continues to pioneer holistic approaches to veterinary care.
