Dr. rebekah Hartfield

Meet Dr. Rebekah Hartfield
Veterinarian | Author | Cowboy Mom | Christ-Follower

I’ve been around animals my whole life. Growing up in the small town of Bridgeport, Texas, I chose to be homeschooled so I could spend more time doing what I loved most — riding and showing horses. School never came naturally to me, and I certainly wasn't a model student. After graduating from high school and enrolling at North Central Texas College, I quickly realized the traditional college path just didn’t feel right. Books and professors didn’t make sense to me — but horses did.

At 19, I did what many wouldn’t expect: I dropped out and spent a summer working on a dude ranch in Colorado. I cared for horses, helped run the ranch, and poured my heart into making sure every guest fell in love with those animals the same way I had. That summer changed me. It reminded me that I wanted to be and do so much more.

When I returned home, I went back to school and earned associate degrees in equine science and veterinary assisting. I was happy working with animals, showing horses, and living simply. But then I met my husband, Preston — who saw something more in me. He encouraged (okay, maybe nagged) me to go after a veterinary degree. I laughed it off at first. Me? A small-town girl who had never wanted college in the first place?

But when God puts a calling in your heart, it’s best to be quiet and listen.

Pursuing that calling wasn’t easy. After my first biochemistry test at Texas A&M, I thought, There’s no way I’ll get into vet school. After the second one, I was even more sure of it. And when I didn’t get accepted into veterinary school the first year I applied, I questioned everything. But the desire in my heart hadn’t gone away — and neither had God.

I eventually earned my veterinary degree from Oklahoma State University, after 11 years of college, two associate degrees, a bachelor’s in animal science, and one very hard-fought doctorate. There were many setbacks — I even failed the licensing exam the first time — but God was with me every step of the way. When I was anxious before a test, He gave me peace. When I felt like giving up, He gave me grit.

Today, I’m proud to be the owner of Holdenville Veterinary Clinic, a mixed-animal practice in Holdenville, Oklahoma. And in 2024, I opened a second location — Hartfield Veterinary Clinic Urgent Care in Mannford, Oklahoma — to serve even more families and pets who need care on weekends and outside of regular hours. It’s part of my mission to make veterinary services more accessible and to meet people where they are, especially in rural communities.

I’m also the author of a children’s book series that teaches young readers about animal care, responsibility, and the beauty of rural life — all through the eyes of a young girl named Abby and her mentor, Dr. H. My books reflect everything I believe in: hard work, faith, compassion, and never giving up on the dream God places in your heart.

I may not have been the smartest student or the best test-taker — but I was a fighter. I fought to get in, I fought to stay in, and I fought to get out. My story is living proof that with faith, perseverance, and a whole lot of grace, anything is possible.

“I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” – Philippians 4:13

Whatever season you’re in, never forget why you started. God placed a purpose in your heart — to love animals, serve people, and do something far bigger than yourself. Keep going. Keep fighting. And always put Christ first.