THE TEAM

Our support staff is key to keeping our operations running smoothly and making sure your animals feel at ease during visits.​

Kat Smith

 Lead Veterinary Technician & Inventory Manager

Kat joined McCleery Equine in February 2023. Born in Abilene, Texas, and raised in Archer, Florida, she’s a familiar face to many of our clients. Kat has held a variety of roles in the local horse and livestock community and grew up showing in both western pleasure and performance events. These days, her focus is on cutting horses, and she and her husband Josh run a breeding operation for AQHA cutting horses.
As a certified Fear Free® Equine professional, Kat is committed to making each visit as low-stress as possible for both horses and their owners. She brings a calm, capable presence to the truck and enjoys supporting clients through everything from routine care to urgent calls.
When she’s not working, Kat enjoys time with her family, riding horses, working cows, and hunting with her husband and kids.

​Armie Ugates

​Administrative Assistant

Armie is an administrative assistant at McCleery Equine Veterinary Service, joining the team in June 2024. With a bachelor's degree in communications, she's always been passionate about animal care. She has two years of experience as a veterinary receptionist in Doha, Qatar, and a year working at a non-profit animal welfare organization. In her free time, Armie enjoys music, walking her dog, and watching crime movies. She also volunteers with an animal welfare group, advocating for pet adoption. Armie lives with her husband, Axel, three cats—Dora, Macho, and Mizu—and their dog, Dash.

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​Elizabeth Darnell
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​Emergency/After Hours Veterinary Technician

Kelli Smith

​Veterinary Technician

Elizabeth is a third-year veterinary student at the University of Florida with extensive experience in equine medicine. Before starting veterinary school, she worked at leading equine hospitals including Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, Auburn University, and the Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center, where she cared for critical cases ranging from colic to respiratory disease to ophthalmic emergencies.
At McCleery Equine, Elizabeth supports the doctors on after-hours calls, bringing a calm and capable presence to emergency situations. Her background in intensive care and her certification as an EMT give her a unique perspective when caring for horses in the field.
Outside of school and practice, Elizabeth is bilingual in English and French, has lived and worked internationally, and enjoys music and teaching.

Kelli was born and raised in Wellington, Florida, where she grew up playing volleyball and softball, raising livestock guardian dogs, and spending time in the AKC show ring. She began her career in veterinary medicine on the small animal side, starting at a dog rescue before moving into clinical work.
She later relocated north with her fiancé, dog, horse, and three cats while working for a large Quarter Horse show barn. After more than six years as a small animal technician, Kelli is now expanding her skills into the equine field—where her true passion lies.
Kelli joined McCleery Equine in September 2025. As the newest member of the team, she has hit the ground running and quickly become an integral part of daily operations.
She is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science and her LVT, with plans to continue on to veterinary school. In her free time, Kelli enjoys riding her horse, drawing, and spending time with family.