Dr. Jeffery LaPoint
DVM Cornell, owner
Dr. Jeff LaPoint grew up riding Quarter Horses and Morgans in the Hudson Valley Region of New York. He spent ten years teaching riding at various summer camps in the Adirondacks. In 1988, he spent a semester in Kenya with St Lawrence University and graduated in 1989 with a major in Biology and minors in Chemistry and African Studies. Dr. LaPoint then moved to Ithaca and earned his veterinary degree from Cornell University in 1993. He began working with Finger Lakes Equine Practice and in 1995 had an opportunity to purchase the business.
Dr. LaPoint started performing equine acupuncture after completing the course with the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society in 1995 and finds acupuncture to be a great adjunct to western medicine techniques. Over the years, Dr. LaPoint has volunteered on the dental committee and various economic task forces with the American Association of Equine Practitioners. He assisted with equine dental care for six years at Cornell University Hospital for Animals. Dr LaPoint enjoys all aspects of equine care but has a fond interest in equine assisted reproduction, gait evaluations and soundness work, prepurchase examinations, and dental care.
Dr. LaPoint has ridden and competed in western and hunt seat on flat and over fences. Most recently, he owned and exhibited Straight Egyptian Arabians and had the honor of owning the stallion Hawkeye CC. Dr. LaPoint is an active member of the Trumansburg Encore Players theatre group, and can often be seen performing in their productions. He also enjoys his hobbies of marine fish and coral propagation, martial arts, kayaking and playing music.
Dr. Sean Nash
DVM Tufts, associate/pleasure rider
Dr. Sean Nash grew up on beautiful Martha’s Vineyard, MA. He earned his BA in neuroscience from Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY. After spending a year working and traveling abroad in New Zealand, he went to Tufts University and earned his veterinary degree in 2013. While at Tufts Dr. Nash was fortunate enough to work in the large animal hospital and fell in love with the equine world! This exposure helped him solidify his desire to become an equine veterinarian. Following his graduation from Tufts he completed a year long, equine only, veterinary internship before joining the FLEP team as an associate veterinarian in 2014.
Dr. Nash has a special interest in equine ophthalmology, but enjoys all aspects of the equine ambulatory medicine, with the endless variety, surprises, and opportunities for daily connections with horses and humans alike.
When not at FLEP Dr. Nash is an avid cook, which he tries to balance out by being a trail runner! He also enjoys reading, hiking, and relaxing on Cayuga lake. Though he misses the ocean, Dr. Nash feels lucky to live in Ithaca with his cats, Rupert and Wellington.
Dr. Tyler Olson
DVM Cornell, associate/pleasure rider
Dr. Olson is a NY native, who grew up in New Berlin where he started his career with horses working at a local horse farm. He attended Cornell University as an undergraduate where he competed on the Western Equestrian team. After graduation he worked as a vet assistant with FLEP (he will be a familiar face to many of you) before returning to Cornell for his veterinary degree.
Dr. Olson is thrilled to be returning to FLEP as a full time veterinarian and looks forward to supporting horses and their owners in all facets of veterinary medicine, with special interests in lameness and reproduction.
Outside of FLEP Dr. Olson can be found with his fiancée, Omyia, on their farm in Groton taking care of the menagerie of goats, chickens, cats, dogs, and, of course, horses that call it home. He also enjoys knife making in his home forge and is excited to get back to riding his own horses.