Kristen Harkay grew up on a Christmas tree farm in Westmoreland, NH until the age of eleven. Her love of animals started there, growing up with pigs, chickens, geese, and ducks. She took care of the many barn cats, dogs, and rabbits as well. After her parents sold the farm, she moved to Keene, NH, where she started taking riding lessons on top of her academic work and cross country ski racing. After graduating from Keene High School, Kristen pursued her passion in horses at the University of New Hampshire. She graduated in 2010 with a degree in Animal Science with a concentration in Equine Science. She worked at a small animal practice until 2013 and then went to Clark University in Worcester, MA for her MBA in Marketing. Kristen soon discovered that she missed working with animals too much, so she went back to working at a doggy daycare, then finally at Sunderland Animal Hospital. Kristen’s hobbies include horseback riding, cross country and downhill skiing, running, and hiking. There is never a dull moment in the household either, as she has a Connemara pony, named Peppercorn, an English Bulldog named Arnie, one rabbit, two guinea pigs, and four cats.