Christopher Wilhite, DVM
Dr. Wilhite earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 1996 from the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine. In 1998, he founded Wilhite Equine Veterinary Services, P.C., which is now doing business as Wilhite and Frees Equine Veterinary Services. His is a member of: AAEP; AVMA; MVMA; KCVMA; and the Missouri Academy of Veterinary Practioners (MAVP).
In his spare time Dr. Wilhite enjoys spending time with his wife, Dana and their two children. His son is a University of Missouri graduate as well and his daughter currently attends DePaul in Chicago. His 4-legged family includes several horses, a miniature horse named Stanley, several underground fence trained cats, and a Terrier mix named Ida.
Karl. E Frees, DVM, MS, DACVS
Dr. Frees earned his DVM degree in 1997 from the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine. He completed a 1-year internship in equine medicine and surgery at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky and a 3-year residency in large animal surgery at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas. During the residency Dr. Frees also obtained a Master's degree in Veterinary Clinical Sciences; his thesis was on hyaluronic acid. In 2003 Dr. Frees attained Diplomate status in the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS) as a Board Certified Surgeon. Dr. Frees has published articles in scientific journals and has served as a reviewer for the American Journal of Veterinary Research and the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association.
He often speaks on equine and veterinary subjects to groups ranging from local 4-H clubs to International Conferences. His interests include lameness, rehabilitation, joint therapies, arthroscopic surgery, abdominal and soft-tissue surgery, and regenerative medicine.
When not working with your horses, he enjoys time with his family; which usually means discussing chemistry and genetics with his boys and tending to their honeybees or any number of creatures they currently care for.
Ricky A. Trahan, DVM, MS
Dr. Trahan was raised in southwest Louisiana and acquired his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from St. George’s University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2013. Following graduation, he completed an extended internship in equine medicine and surgery at WFEH. He finished a 3-year residency in large animal surgery in 2017 at the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in Blacksburg, Virginia. Dr. Trahan’s Biomedical and Veterinary Science Master’s thesis was based on advancing laboratory models and treatments of osteoarthritis. Following completion of his residency, Dr. Trahan joined the Equine Field Service as a clinical instructor prior to returning to WFEH. His professional interests include lameness evaluation, arthroscopic/endoscopic surgery & integration of new technology into conventional treatment regimes. Standing surgical techniques and reconstruction of chronic wounds were also an important part of his surgical training.
He and his two dogs (Abita & Rue) are avid fans of LSU football and baseball, competition target shooting and most any outdoor activity.
Kelsey Davis, DVM
Dr. Davis was raised in central Illinois. She received her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine in 2019. Upon graduation, she completed a year long internship in equine medicine and surgery at Tennessee Equine Hospital in Thompson’s Station, TN. Following her internship, she pursued further training in equine ophthalmology as a fellow for Dr. Catherine Nunnery at Equine Veterinary Vision in The Plains, VA. Dr. Davis is a member of AAEP, AVMA, and Christian Veterinary Missions.
In her spare time, Dr. Davis enjoys hiking, kayaking, horseback riding, and any other outdoor adventure that she can enjoy with her two dogs – an Australian Shepherd named Ember and a rescue lab-mix named Tehya. She loves spending time with family and friends.
CC Ivey, DVM
Dr. Ivey was born and raised in sunny San Diego, CA. She grew up riding in various disciplines and has experience with off-the-track thoroughbreds and colt starting. She moved to Missouri for veterinary school and earned her DVM degree at the University of Missouri in 2022. Her professional interests include equine wellness, dentistry, podiatry, and emergency work. In her free time, Dr. Ivey enjoys hiking and traveling with her husband, Zack. She also loves spending time with her two geldings, Howie and Punchy, and practicing obedience training with her two energetic German Shepherds, Roland and Petra.
Lexi Miller, DVM
Dr. Miller was raised in north central Indiana on a farm. She grew up riding horses while her father raised, trained and bred Standardbred harness racehorses. When she visits home, she is still greeted by her first “horse”, a miniature pony named Lightning, and her donkey, Buster. She received her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Purdue University in 2022 and chose to continue her passion with equine medicine.
Outside of work, you can find Dr. Miller exploring with her English Labrador, Freda and fiancé, Tyler. She enjoys hiking, swimming, paddle boarding and is an avid reader. She looks forward to meeting and working with you!
Technicians/Assistants
Debra
Debra graduated from Auburn University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture Animal and Dairy Science and a Master of Science degree in Agricultural Economics. She worked at Lane's End in Versailles, Kentucky and was the owner of a Thoroughbred breeding farm in New York. Debra's children include a dachshund, Gimlet, a Lab named Pina Colada, and her horse, River of Fortune. Debra joined Wilhite and Frees in November 2005.
Laura
Laura joined our practice in 2015. She is an Overland Park, KS native and attended William Woods University before moving back to the Kansas City area. Laura loves to ride and has 3 horses and 3 ponies of her own. She has a passion for training project ponies and spends most of her free time at her barn doing just that. Laura's two dogs, Dax and Daisy complete her 4-legged family.
Chloe, RVT
Chloe grew up in a small town outside of Kansas City where she fell in love with horses at a young age. She grew up riding all around quarter horses. She attended William Woods University and graduated in 2016 with a degree in equine administration and a minor in equine science. Soon after college she got a job at a mixed animal veterinary clinic where she found her passion for animal medicine. This drove her to go back to school to become a registered veterinary technician. She attended Maple Woods and completed her veterinary technician degree in 2021. She joined the team at WFEH in May of 2021 just after completing school.
In her free time you can find her horseback, roping calves, or hitting the trails across the country.
Molly
Molly grew up in Overland Park, KS riding and showing hunter jumpers. She graduated from William Woods University in April of 2022 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Legal Studies and Equine General Studies with a Media concentration. While attending William Woods, Molly competed on the Hunter Jumper Show Team and participated in many different on campus organizations. In her free time, Molly can be found with friends and family, her semi-retired horse Trent, or her miniature labradoodle Benson.
Haleigh
Haleigh grew up in Marshall, MO and attended William Woods University before moving to the area and joining our team in 2021. Outside of work she enjoys spending time with her husband and their Red Heeler named, Mincy. Haleigh has three Quarter Horses named, Molly, Tex, and Wilson.
Elise
Elise is originally from Chicago but migrated from Illinois to attend William Woods where she majored in marketing with an equestrian science minor. She graduated in 2018 and joined our team in September 2019.
Elise has been riding since she was 5 years old and worked in the AQHA western all-around circuit. In her free time Elise can be found taking photos of horses for her business Figure Eight Photography, riding horses at Saddle and Sirloin Club, or spending time with her dog Willow.
Rylee
Rylee is from Fort Gibson, Oklahoma where she grew up showing quarter horses. After graduating high school she attended Oklahoma State University where she competed as a member of their Horse Judging Team and Ranch Horse Team. She also was an active member of the Horseman’s Association. Rylee obtained her bachelor’s of Animal Science in 2022. In her spare time Rylee enjoys spending time outdoors with her dog, Duck, and her fiancé. She currently owns two horses and continues to compete in the hunter ring, dressage, and reined cow horse classes.
Office Staff
Sydney
Sydney grew up in rural Southeast Nebraska, where her love of large animals blossomed on her family's farm. She worked at her home town veterinary clinic, a mixed animal practice, from junior high until she graduated from high school. Following high school she moved to Kansas City to attend Maple Woods Veterinary Technology Program. Sydney completed the program in May 2014 and joined Wilhite and Frees in August 2014. Outside work she enjoys team roping with her husband and breakaway roping. Sydney has three Quarter Horses, a Border Collie/Blue Heeler mix named Max, an Italian Greyhound named Weasel, Border Collie named Sam, and a cat named Carl.
Contact Sydney: [email protected]
Kristin
Kristin grew up in Arkansas where she began riding as a child. She joined our practice in 2021 and the pet rats she now has in her office named, Karla and Christy joined in January 2023. Outside of work she and her husband keep busy with their crew of 3, attending basketball games and taking trips as a family. She has a retired Quarter Horse gelding at home named Tony Macaroni and a hunter/jumper Hanoverian gelding named Waffle that she shows. Kristin fosters dogs through a local rescue when she can and has two French Bulldogs of her own named, Doug and Jim.
Contact Kristin: [email protected]
Holmes and Watson- Office Greeters in training
Holmes and Watson are brothers who joined our staff in July 2021. Our late cat, Louie left behind big shoes to fill but we know these boys are up to the job! Holmes is an extroverted go-getter and Watson is an observer who is a little more reserved. If you stop in to the office, be sure to ask about them! They are still training for their roles and can use all the experience they can get.
In loving memory of Louie
Louie joined the Wilhite and Frees team in the Summer of 2014. He had previously shared a home with an older member of Laura Frees' family. He arrived a somewhat quiet and timid cat; this lasted approximately 13.5 hours at which he obtained the FIC (Feline in Charge). Anyone who has visited our hospital knew Louis as the consummate greeter and entertainer; ready for any occasion as he was always wearing his formal attire. He passed away in July 2021 of cancer.