OUR DOCTORS
Dr. James V. Christensen
Dr. Christensen was born and raised in Arizona. He currently resides in Mesa and has four daughters.
After graduating from Arizona State University in 1999, Dr. Christensen attended veterinary school at Colorado State University where he was classmates with Dr. Robert Cooper. He graduated from CSU in 2003 and began practicing at East Valley Equine. At the state veterinary convention in 2007, Dr. Christensen was awarded the “Young Practitioner of the Year” award by his colleagues.
When not working with horses, Dr. Christensen and his girls enjoy camping, fishing, skiing, and being together. Dr. Christensen also enjoyed riding the 800 miles of the Arizona Trail with his mules and dog in honor of his late daughter Zibby.
Dr. Robert A. Cooper
Dr. Cooper grew up in Gilbert, Arizona. He attended Arizona State University for his pre-veterinary education and then graduated from Colorado State University′s college of veterinary medicine with Dr. James Christensen in 2003. Dr. Cooper began working at East Valley Equine in 2006 and then became owners with Dr. Christensen in 2008.
His main interests in practice include lameness and gastrointestinal disorders. At the state veterinary convention in May 2006, Dr. Cooper was awarded the “Young Practitioner of the Year” award by his colleagues.
Dr. Cooper loves spending time with his family which includes his wife, Jennifer, their 6 daughters, two sons-in-law and three grandsons. He also enjoys any outdoor activities, especially coaching and playing sports with his daughters. He and his family are active in their community and church.
Dr. Michael Hufnagel (Retired)
Dr. Hufnagel was born and raised in Colorado. He completed his pre-veterinary education at University of Colorado and then attended Colorado State University’s college of veterinary medicine. In 1970, Dr. Hufnagel graduated from CSU and moved to Missouri where he practiced for one year before moving to Arizona. In 1976, Dr. Hufnagel started East Valley Equine Practice in Mesa, AZ. He practiced there for 32 years before retiring in 2008.
Dr. Hufnagel and his wife, Linda, still reside in Mesa, AZ. Their first son, Dr. Ben Hufnagel, worked with Dr. Mike Hufnagel for 10 years before he and his wife, Noelle, and their children decided to escape the heat and moved to Colorado. Their second son, Dr. David Hufnagel, and his wife and children currently reside in Oregon. Mike and Linda enjoy traveling to visit their children and grandchildren. They also enjoy reading, biking, hiking, and theater.
Our Staff
Paige, Office Manager
Paige was born and raised in Mesa. She has always had a love for animals, but her passion for horses grew when she started riding around the age of 8. Paige began working at East Valley Equine in December of 2025 and has enjoyed growing her knowledge in the veterinary world of horse care. In her free time; Paige is often out hiking, camping or going to the river with her husband and their two dogs. She also enjoys reading and baking whenever she has the opportunity.
Elise, Veterinary Technician
Elise was born and raised in the valley and has always had a love for horses ever since she was a little girl. Her childhood dream of working with horses came true when she joined the East Valley Equine team in November of 2024. She has loved learning and growing her knowledge in the horse medicine world and her ultimate goal is to have her own horses on a cattle ranch. Outside of work she enjoys spending time with friends and family, going camping and paddle boarding and practice barrel racing.