Meet the Team

Daniel Sweet, D.V.M.

Veterinarian, Owner

Dr. Daniel Sweet attended California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obisbo for his Bachelor’s Degree. He then went on to graduate from the University of California of Davis in 1986 with a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine. In March of 1995 Dr. Sweet opened the practice with his wife, Carole Sweet.

Dr. Sweet has been an active member of the American Association of Equine Practitioners for 35 years. He has a special interest in podiatry, reproduction, and sports medicine.

Dr. Sweet loves spending time with his family and riding his cutting horses, Sydney and Cooper. He hopes to continue trail riding and horse-camping with his horses.

Carol Van Hoogmoed, D.V.M.

Associate Veterinarian

Dr. Carol Van Hoogmoed grew up in the Central Valley. She attended Fresno State, where she got her Bachelor’s Degree in Animal Science. She then went on to the University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s College of Veterinary Medicine.

While she has over 20 years of experience as a licensed veterinarian, she has also been a licensed veterinary chiropractor since 2015.

Dr. Carol is training in disaster medicine. She also has experience in veterinary research and has published many articles. She belongs to: AVMA, CVMA, NSJVMA, CoAc, AAEP

When she is not working, Dr. Carol enjoys spending time with her family and their dog Harla. When she is not working, Dr. Carol enjoys spending time with her family and their two cats, Kiwi and Percy.

Anne King, D.V.M.

Associate Veterinarian

Dr. King originally comes from Canada but was drawn to California for the warmer weather. She completed a Bachelor's in Animal Biology at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada, then went on to graduate from the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program at the Ontario Veterinary College. Dr. King completed a one-year internship at Moore Equine Veterinary Centre, a busy emergency hospital in Alberta, Canada.

When she isn't working, Dr. King spends her time riding, hiking, and climbing mountains. She also has two cats Belay and El Katipan that she is currently teaching to rock climb.

Kailey Bennett, D.V.M.

Associate Veterinarian

Dr. Bennett was born and raised in Santa Clarita, California. She graduated with her B.S. in Animal Science from Cal Poly Pomona in 2020. She then continued on to Veterinary School at Western University of Health Sciences and graduated in May 2024.

When she is not working, she enjoys being outside hiking or swimming. She also enjoys going to country music festivals and line dancing.

Carole Sweet

Practice Manager

Carole grew up in Fresno county with her three sisters. She was out riding horses with the cowboys before she could even walk. Carole graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Management. In 1995 she helped her husband, Dr. Dan Sweet, open Sweet River Equine Clinic, Inc. She has remained at the clinic as the Business Manager.

Carole enjoys fun days out carriage driving with her horse John. She also likes to go horse-camping with her trail horse, Nauttman. If she is not with her horses, Carole is oftentaking classes in crafting arts.

Brianna Sweet

Office Manager

Brianna grew up here in the Modesto area and has had horses her entire life.. Brianna grew up right here at the Clinic and has had a lot of experience assisting her dad, Dr. Sweet. Brianna currently works in the office and assists the vets when needed. She has been working at Sweet River in the office since 2019. You might even catch her riding one of her horses in the arena!

When Brianna is not working or riding her horses, Katie and Derby, she enjoys spending time with her dog Belle.

Nikki Hawn, RVT

Hospital Manager/Lead Registered Veterinary Technician

Nikki is the Clinic Manager and Lead Registered Veterinary Technician at Sweet River Equine Clinic. She is originally from the Fresno/Clovis area. She started as a veterinary assistant in 2006, and graduated from San Joaquin Valley College in Fresno in 2007 to become a Registered Veterinary Technician. She has been in veterinary medicine for 17 years, 16 years in small animal.

Nikki and her husband, Jared, recently bought a house in Oakdale. They have four horses, Opera, Candy, Rodeo, and Smokey, and one English Bulldog, named Rowdy. In her spare time she likes to barrel race and gymkhana with her horse Candy, and work on home improvement projects around their house.

Elizabeth Hicks, RVT

Registered Veterinary Technician I

Elizabeth has been in the veterinary world since 2020. She graduated from Carrington College in 2021. She has been working at Sweet River Equine Clinic since June 2023 and we are so happy to have her here.

Shortly after she started she got her RVT license and is our second Registered Veterinary Technician on staff.

She lives in Turlock with her husband and her cat, Truly. In her spare time she enjoys playing video games with her husband and playing Dungeons and Dragons with their friends.

Barbara Riner

Assistant Office Manager
Barbara grew up in Escalon, California. She grew up surrounded by lots of animals, family and love. She went to school at Modesto Junior College and graduated with an AS in Business. While she was at MJC she took some Equine Veterinary classes and took a special interest in Equine Reproduction.
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Barbara has been working with us since May 2022, and she has been a wonderful addition to our team. She is the first face you see when you enter our office and will help you with all of your needs.

In her spare time she is spending time with her husband and two boys, Brantley and Austin. She also enjoys riding her horse, Frosty, playing with her two dogs, Maggie and Ruger, and her cat, Ariel.

Paris Bettencourt

Veterinary Assistant II

Paris has been working at Sweet River Equine Clinic since Spring of 2022. Since she was a young age, Paris has enjoyed spending time with animals. She showed animals in 4-H and FFA. She went to school at Modesto Junior College following the Veterinary Technician Path.

In her free time she plays video games with her husband and is currently training her cows to pull a cart. She has two heifers, Tootsie Roll and Cookies N'Cream, a dog, Rose, and one Crested Gecko named Toast.

Kaitlyn Gossett

Veterinary Assistant II

Kaitlyn grew up in Valley Springs, California and has owned horses since she was 8 years old. She has worked as a ranch hand, at a dressage barn, a reining barn, as well as a cutting barn. Her goal is to become a RVT (Registered Veterinary Technician).

She has one horse named Kailea, and two reptiles. She has a bearded dragon named Barbara (aka Babs), and a leopard gecko named Eugene. In her spare time she loves to crochet, fish, and to volunteer as a camp counselor at Horsepeak Ranch.

Chelsea Rouse

Receptionist
Chelsea has been working at Sweet River Equine Clinic since June 2023 and we are so happy to have her in the office. Chelsea has a long history of animal loving. She has worked at a few animal facilities before coming to Sweet River Equine Clinic and we are happy to have her. She has 6 dogs that take up all her time and enjoys taking them hiking or to the dog parks.

Everardo Lopez

Facilities Maintenance

Everardo started at Sweet River Equine Clinic in November 2019. He enjoys taking care of the horses and maintaining our yard and facilities. He is always around to give us an extra helping hand.

When he is not working he enjoys spending time at home with his girlfriend Leti. His favorite drink is the Starbucks Mocha Frappuccino's.