Dr. Mike resides in Thousand Oaks, Calif., with his life partner and has four children. He is a lifelong equestrian in the Dressage and Endurance disciples. After working as a treatment veterinarian at the 1984 Olympics, Dr. Mike officiated at his first Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) event the following year and has participated in 20-30 FEI events each year since as Veterinarian (individual and team), Judge, Technical Delegate, Course Designer, Chief Steward, Chef d’Equipe, or Event Organizer. At the FEI, he has served as Technical Committee Member and Course Director, and at US Equestrian, he has served as Vice President, Board of Directors Member, International Disciplines Council Member, Steward General, Endurance Sport Committee Chair, ParaEquestrian Committee Chair, Safety Committee Chair, Nominating Committee Chair, Competition Management Committee Member, Licensed Officials Committee Member, Veterinary Committee Member, and Drugs and Medications Committee Member. During his time as the USEF VP, he was also the ex-officio member of all the FEI Sport Committees. Dr. Mike has also been active in many breed and discipline organizations, including being a Past President of the American Endurance Ride Conference. He represented the USEF on the California Equine Medication Monitoring Program Board and is currently its Chair. He is a Governor-appointed Board Member of the California Veterinary Medical Board, overseeing all veterinarians in the state, and has been a lifelong member and served on many of the American Association of Equine Practitioners committees. Dr. Mike also gives significant time to various not-for-profit equestrian organizations. He is a Past President of the Horses and Humans Research Foundation and currently serves as their Director Emeritus. He is an active member of the International Society for Equitation Science and Horses in Education and Therapy International, and is involved with equine-assisted services organizations domestically and abroad, speaking around the world on equine well-being and the human impact on horses' lives. Outside of his veterinary profession (licensed to practice in California and Queensland, Au.), Dr. Mike's entreprenuerial pursuits have helped start companies such as SmartPak Equine and Game Ready, and operate companies such as Kentucky Equine Research, Australasia, and Container Services Network. He has also launched medical device startups and been the primary and secondary on numerous patents, and remains involved with many of the companies he helped found. Dr. Mike's current passion is facilitating better methods to improve the lives of our equine partners through increasing understanding of equine non-verbal communication.