Dr. Patrick First grew up in Madison, Wisconsin. He spent his childhood helping care for his family’s Arabian horse farm, where he earned multiple titles showing Arabians at the Regional and National levels. In 2007, he was nominated for the USEF’s Young Rider of the Year Award. His love of horses and the equine industry led him to pursue a career in veterinary medicine. Dr. First completed his undergraduate degree at Mississippi State University prior to attending the College of Veterinary Medicine, also located at Mississippi State. Throughout vet school, he was elected President of his class, President of the student chapter of AAEP, and received the Large Animal Surgery Award. After graduation, he moved to Tallahassee, Florida where he worked as an Associate Veterinarian at a referral equine practice then eventually moved to Mobile and started First Equine Veterinary Services alongside his wife, Dr. Brittany First. His professional interests include sports medicine, lameness, reproduction, and dentistry. Dr. First is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association and American Association of Equine Practitioners. Dr. First is an avid polocrosse player and enjoys being an avid part of the local equestrian community. In his spare time, he enjoys running, going to the beach, and spending time with Brittany.

The First’s are excited to offer an exclusively equine veterinary service to the local horse community. They are enjoying being back home with their two dogs, Diesel and Dolcé, their cat, Gracie, and their beloved horses, Floppy and Maui.

Dr. Brittany First is originally from Mobile, Alabama where her love of horses started at a very young age. She developed friendships in the local horse community throughout South Alabama and Mississippi riding and competing her off-the-track Thoroughbred, Jo. After completing her Bachelor’s Degree with Honors at the University of South Alabama, she attended Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine. After graduation, Dr. Brittany worked at an equine referral practice outside Birmingham, Alabama for two years, then moved to Tallahassee, Florida where she served as a mixed animal Veterinarian.In 2016, she moved back home to Mobile and started First Equine Veterinary Services alongside her husband, Dr. Patrick First. She has received certifications in equine acupuncture, spinal manipulation (chiropractic), and equine rehabilitation from Chi University and serves as a lab instructor for the spinal manipulation courses offered there. Aside from these integrative therapies, Dr. Brittany also enjoys routine wellness visits and client education. She is a member of American Veterinary Medical Association, American Association of Equine Practitioners, United States Equestrian Federation, United States Eventing Association, and United States Dressage Federation. Dr. Brittany is happy to be a part of the local horse community and enjoys eventing and dressage with her horse, Floppy. She and Dr. Patrick are loving life on their small farm with their horses, two dogs, cats, and goats.

Dr. Bastiana Rodebaugh is originally from Winchester, Virginia where she grew up eventing and fox hunting. She spent several years as a working student for professional eventing barns riding and managing a variety of horses, but developed a special love of OTTBs (off-the-track Thoroughbreds).



She attended James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Integrated Science and Technology, followed by a Master’s of Public Health from Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia. She then migrated South to attend Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine. She is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association and the American Association of Equine Practitioners. Her special interests include equine nutrition, podiatry, and infectious disease. She is a member of the USEF, USEA, APA and has completed her saddle fitting certification. In her spare time, she enjoys riding and competing multiple horses in both eventing and polocrosse as well as spending time with her pack of rescue dogs.