Four Sixes Foray: CVM student spends externship at renowned ranch
Thursday, January 2, 2025
Media Contact: Taylor Bacon | Public Relations and Marketing Manager | 405-744-6728 | cvmcommunications@okstate.edu
Olivia Ary, a fourth-year Oklahoma State University veterinary student, has pursued her passion for equine medicine through numerous externships.
These hands-on experiences have strengthened her technical skills and have given her a look into the demands and rewards of large animal veterinary practice.
Ary’s journey through her externships has taken her nationwide, from Michigan to her home state of Colorado. Each placement offered valuable experiences.
However, the Four Sixes Ranch in Guthrie, Texas, presented a unique opportunity. The 260,000-acre ranch is well known in the equine world, being founded in 1870 and home to some of the most top-quality stallions in the quarter horse industry. The ranch has recently appeared in popular culture after screenwriter and director Taylor Sheridan — of “Yellowstone” fame — bought it.
“All of the staff members were very encouraging and very hardworking. It’s a tough place to live, with long, hardworking days, yet everyone approaches their work full of joy and excitement to do their job.”
Known for its expansive lands and extensive equine operations, the ranch hosts a full-service clinic that manages everything from routine checkups to critical care.
“The Sixes ranch is unique because it’s a fully functional clinic and a working ranch,” Ary said. “You’re dealing with hundreds of horses on-site and from neighboring ranches, which means you see a variety of cases each day.”
During her externship at the Four Sixes Ranch, Ary’s days were full. Breeding season, in particular, kept the team on its toes as it conducted checkups on mares, facilitated breeding procedures and handled emergency cases.
For Ary, this hands-on experience was invaluable, giving her the opportunity to assist with procedures, handle patient care and even make critical decisions under the supervision of experienced veterinarians.
“One of my favorite parts was working with the mares and foals during breeding season,” Ary said. “From checking the mares and deciding when they needed to be brought in, to ordering semen and managing the breeding schedule — it’s incredibly rewarding to be part of those critical decisions.”
The externship also allowed Ary to experience a high level of autonomy, as the clinic’s veterinarians trusted her and the other externs to take the lead on various cases. Whether treating lacerations, managing respiratory illnesses, or conducting dental work on mares, she was given a sense of responsibility and support.

“All of the staff members were very encouraging and very hardworking,” Ary said. “It’s a tough place to live, with long, hardworking days, yet everyone approaches their work full of joy and excitement to do their job.”
Working alongside seasoned cowboys, skilled veterinarians and fellow externs, Ary found a supportive community. The clinic staff, which included OSU alumni, were dedicated to involving Ary in every aspect of the job and providing her with constructive feedback.
“It was really nice to have such a close-knit community on the ranch,” Ary said. “Everyone, from the clinic staff to the ranch cooks, created an environment where we all felt like part of a team.”
The Four Sixes Ranch externship solidified Ary’s desire to pursue a career in equine medicine. The externship showed her the extent of work involved, the impact veterinarians have on rural communities and the connections they build with their clients.
“People drive hours for an emergency because there are just no equine veterinarians,” Ary said. “I am going into a field that really needs it.”
With her upcoming internship at Weems and Stephens Equine Hospital in Aubrey, Texas, Ary looks forward to continuing her journey in equine medicine post-graduation, equipped with the skills and insights gained from her externships.
“I will rotate between doctors and get a really good foundation in every area under the sun,” Ary said.
Photos By: Provided
Story By: Bailey White | Vet Cetera Magazine