Dr. Marty Whitehouse Riney, Pony Club Alum: Finding Her Work-Life Balance

Original article published by Sidelines magazine earlier this month and written by Diana Bezdedeanu with portraits by Sara Ferrell. Reprinted with permission.

By all accounts, Dr. Marty Whitehouse Riney is doing the impossible—and making it look effortless. A mother of two young girls, owner of MWR Equine Dentistry LLC and co-owner of Nicholasville Road Animal Hospital, Marty begins each day before dawn tending to the menagerie of animals—including, but not limited to, two leopard geckos and a miniature donkey—on the six-acre Central Kentucky farm she shares with her husband, Tom. In between work and family time, she nurtures a lifelong passion for eventing. It’s a lifestyle that requires intention, flexibility and no small amount of hustle—but for Marty, it’s also deeply fulfilling.

“I get up at 4 a.m. most days,” Marty said. “My horses are at my parents’ farm, Red Gate Equestrian Center. On the weekends, I’m usually riding my first horse by 5 or 5:30 a.m., so I can be done by 8:30 or 9 and spend the rest of the day with my girls, Evie and Adeline.”

Having her family nearby—including both her parents and in-laws—along with a great nanny and a rotating crew of supportive babysitters, makes all the difference. “Tom’s exceptionally tolerant of my crazy life,” Marty said, laughing. “He’s a small-animal vet, not a horse person, but he knows I’m going to find a way to make it all work.

“I’m always doing farm calls,” Marty continued. “I sit in the car a lot completing paperwork. Even now, I’m sitting here being driven by my assistant while I do Coggins forms. If any of my clients need something, they don’t hesitate to let me know.”

It’s a moment that perfectly captures Marty’s work ethic and adaptability, especially at a time when so many veterinarians are burning out or leaving the profession altogether. But for Marty, this hustle is part of the dream—not a detour from it. Like so many equestrians, her passion for horses started early and stuck fast.

“I sat on my first horse at my grandfather’s cattle farm,” Marty recalled with a smile. “She was a backyard Paint and my parents couldn’t get me off her. There’s nothing I love more in this world, other than my kids and family. But riding is something that’s just for me.”

Eventing and Pony Club

Her parents weren’t horse people, but they were animal lovers and supported Marty through many years of riding lessons and Pony Club, where she eventually earned her A rating. “I did Pony Club Games—our team actually won the Prince Philip Cup, which was a huge deal back then,” Marty said. “But I always loved eventing. I like the challenge of having to do all three phases—and do them well.” That early love for eventing stayed with Marty through her adult years. “There’s something really special about being out in a field, just you and your horse with no one bothering you. It’s the two of you against the obstacles.”

Riding wasn’t her only early calling. “I knew I wanted to be a vet very early on,” Marty said. “At 4 years old, I drew a picture of a vet clinic that I was going to split with my best friend!”

Her academic path followed suit: undergraduate studies at the University of Kentucky, vet school at Auburn and an internship at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, where she initially imagined she’d become a sport horse vet. “I quickly realized I didn’t enjoy lameness as much as I thought I would, nor did I want to travel the show circuit,” Marty admitted. That realization was pivotal. Though she loved reproduction, what really stuck was dentistry. “I couldn’t get enough of it,” Marty said. “During my internship, I realized that’s what I truly loved.”

When a non-compete clause temporarily kept her from equine work in Lexington, Marty pivoted into small-animal veterinary work—also something she never expected to love, but did. “I realized I didn’t hate it at all,” Marty joked. That experience, paired with an opportunity to buy into a small animal clinic her husband was working at, opened the door to a blended career model that suits her perfectly. Today, she sees small animal clients several days a week and spends the rest of her time with her equine dental practice which has grown beyond her wildest dreams.

“I just kind of formed my own path,” Marty explained. “And it has worked out absolutely better than I could have ever imagined. I get to do small animal dentistry, internal medicine, dermatology, a handful of surgeries and all the equine dentistry I want. It’s the perfect balance!”

Despite the demands of her veterinary work, Marty still finds time to ride three to four days a week on average. “Some weeks it’s a little more if I’m preparing for a show,” Marty said. “I wish there were 30 hours in a day—I could get a lot more done!”

Among Marty’s current trusty steeds is George Alexander, a Prelim event horse who shares a dam with one of her retired Prelim mares, Uliza Jane. Another retired Prelim mare, Tzarina, shares a sire with Uliza Jane. “Those three are all from Dr. Claire Latimer, who’s probably helped me the most in life,” Marty added. “She’s an equine ophthalmologist who bred Holsteiners, and I’ve ridden for her for 18 years.”

In addition to her own herd, Marty rides a Thoroughbred named Hunter O’Riley for close friends, the Ryan family. She’s also bringing along two promising young Thoroughbreds owned by Jan Naify—Ghost Lion and Patou Road—who recently completed their first event and showed great potential for the future.

Work Life Balance

Graduating from vet school in 2014, Marty entered the profession just before the rise of the Not One More Vet movement, and before widespread conversations about work-life balance began reshaping the industry. “I believe we’re in a better place now, but I still have to remind myself that it’s OK to take a breath,” Marty said. “That there are better ways to do things.”

Those “better ways” include setting clear boundaries and expectations with her clients—a necessity not just for her own well-being, but for the long-term sustainability of the profession. Living in Central Kentucky, Marty acknowledges how fortunate she is to be surrounded by clients who recognize and support those boundaries.

“I’m lucky. My clients are wonderful and respectful of my needs. Appointments are scheduled in advance and if I need to reschedule, I will—quickly. Occasionally, I have to bring my kids with me and everyone’s very understanding. I’ve even had clients offer up their teenagers to help with child care!” Marty said. “Not everywhere is like Central Kentucky. In some places, one or two vets cover everything and they need time to breathe, to go to a horse show or just have a weekend off.”

Marty also emphasized the importance of having an established veterinarian-client relationship—at minimum, being seen once a year—so clinics can provide emergency coverage when needed. And she reminds horse owners that veterinarians are human, too. “If your vet calls and says, ‘Hey, I’m sick today,’ or ‘My kid is sick,’ don’t get mad. Life happens. I promise you—equine vets are some of the toughest people out there. We don’t cancel on you lightly.”

No matter what part of the world you live in, Marty encourages horse owners to be proactive—schedule vaccines ahead of time, don’t expect last-minute health certificates to magically appear, and understand that vets may need to triage emergencies. “Maybe your horse’s laceration isn’t the most critical case that day. If there’s a colic ending in euthanasia, that has to come first. It’s emotionally hard on everyone.”

Dr. Marty Whitehouse Riney’s life and career may not have followed her initial script to a T, but that’s precisely what makes her story so compelling. What ties it all together is her genuine love for the horses—both out in the field and in the saddle. In the chaos of running two businesses, being a mom and riding her competition horses before sunrise, Marty credits her motivation to her team.

“I love the people I work with, I love the horses and I love that I can be a part of this industry in a way that’s sustainable,” Marty gushed. “I’m not superhuman. I have a great team and a life I’ve built around the things that matter most.”

Follow Marty on Facebook at MWR Equine Dentistry LLC & Nicholasville Road Animal Hospital.

Photos by Sara Farrell, www.threeredheadsandamoose.com