About Us

Preston Hickman, D.V.M., has had a way with horses since his earliest years.  In fact, at age three he traumatized his mother by slipping out of the yard, riding his unbroken pony down the road.  Even at that early age, Dr. Hickman knew horses would be an important part of his life. Dr. Hickman’s dad was an evangelist and, although his family’s lifestyle kept them on the road until he was around ten years old, he never lost his love of horses. After high school, he worked for several feedlots from Colorado to Kansas, riding pens and caring for cattle.  It was during this time that he aquired farrier skills, a pivotal step in his career.

He began shoeing professionally after graduating from Oklahoma Horse Shoeing School in 1983.  He continued his education and, in 1987 earned his American Farrier Association (AFA) certification. As a farrier he learned to make therapy shoes for horses with leg and foot problems.  Preston enjoyed the work but his passion to help horses drove him further.  At the prompting of the veterinarians with whom he worked, he entered veterinary school and graduated from Kansas State University School of Veterinary Medicine in 1997.

Since then, Dr. Hickman has been on the cutting edge of equine medicine, diligently researching and learning new treatments that went beyond injections.  “It is my desire to always be better,” he says. Dr. Hickman provides a full range of equine maintenance and medical care, as well as comprehensive dentistry, regenerative medicine at his clinic.

What sets him apart is his expertise in sports medicine, drawing clients from all over the Midwest.  Lameness and performance problems are special areas of his practice.  He utilizes chiropractic and acupuncture and is schooled in using stem cells for joint, ligament and tendon therapy, as well as certain fracture repairs.

• GRADUATE OF MEDICAL ACUPUNCTURE FOR VETERINARIANS -2006 (CSU)
• GRADUATE OF PARKER CHIROPRACTIC SCHOOL Animal Certification Dallas Tx. -2005
• GRADUATE OF KSU SCHOOL OF VETERINARY MEDICINE – 1997
• GRADUATE KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY (KSU) BS ANIMAL SCIENCE -1993
• EARNED AFA CERTIFICATION IN 1989.
• GRADUATED FROM OKLAHOMA HORSESHOEING SCHOOL 1982

Always on the cutting edge of equine medicine, Dr. Hickman’s practice was the tenth in the nation to have computerized radiography, a powerful diagnostic tool. An Olympic sports training software program is another tool Dr. Hickman uses, to target movement abnormalities. High-speed cameras identify key points within the horse’s stride that the naked eye would miss.  This allows him to detect subtle changes in movement and provide graphical representation and measurable velocity differences.

With a special software program, Dr. Hickman can turn two-dimensional x-rays into three-dimensional images of joints, and highlight the different angles of the leg and hoof. Armed with this information, Dr. Hickman uses a team approach, working hand in hand with the farrier, trainer and owner to develop a therapeutic plan for the individual horse.  Owners can then take these images back to their local veterinarians to assist in the animals continuing care.

• Upon graduation from KSU SCHOOL OF VETERINARY MEDICINE -1997 worked in a mixed animal practice predominately feedlot consulting and Equine lameness until 1999.
• 1999 moved to El Dorado, Kansas and opened a private practice specializing in Equine and Bovine medicine
• 2000 became a regulatory veterinarian for the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission and continued that position in conjunction with private practice until 2008.
• 2005 purchased an equine practice in northeast Wichita, Kansas.
• Assistant medical director for Louisiana State Racing Commission (LSRC) 2008-2012 - continued that position in conjunction with private practice until 2012
• Multiple Speaking engagements and collaborative educational ventures with various groups at such places as Equifest of Kansas
• Several Farrier’s Association events including the national AFA meeting Salt lake city Utah 2002
• The Student Chapter of Equine Practitioners (Kansas State University)
• Graduated from Parker Chiropractic College Dallas Texas
  
• The yearly racing regulatory authorities meeting in Orlando Fl.
• Key Note speaker for Equine Medicine at the 2004 Kansas Veterinary Medical Association Yearly meeting
• Pilot project using stem cell therapy to treat laminitis paper co authored by Dr. Larry Snyder of Topeka Ks.
• Midwest equine spokesman for Medivet-America,  a company specializing in several areas of Regenerative Medicine.
• Worked with Dr. Qizhi Gau, DOM, Dipi OM, of the Kansas College of Chinese Medicine, to develop a continuing education curriculum for certification in acupuncture in large and small animals.  The course was offered for the first time in October 2007.