In 1988, Dr. Charlene Cook started Central Georgia Equine Services, Inc., a veterinary practice devoted exclusively to horses. The daughter of an Air Force navigator, Dr. Cook grew up in a military family where families were relocated on a regular basis. The family bounced from Georgia to Massachusetts to Montana & Colorado before finally landing in Georgia. A 1978 honor graduate of Warner Robins High School, she was awarded a Bachelor of Science degree in pre-veterinary medicine following three years of undergraduate work at the University of Georgia. After an early admission, she completed her doctorate in Veterinary Medicine in 1985. While in veterinary school, Dr. Cook developed a special interest in reproduction and spent an externship in central Kentucky where ultrasound pregnancy diagnosis was brand new technology. She was also keen on pediatrics and spent a concentrated block with Dr. Susan White. Working her way through school, she held a variety of part-time jobs; training horses for an Atlanta family, flipping hamburgers at McDonalds, and large volume food preparation in Bolton Cafeteria at the University of Georgia. Following graduation in 1985, she was employed as an associate veterinarian in mixed practice at Houston Veterinary Clinic in Warner Robins. In 1988, she started her own business Central Georgia Equine Services, Inc., a veterinary practice devoted exclusively to horses. Dr. Cook is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the American Association of Equine Practitioners, and the Georgia Equine Practitioners Association. Appointed by the Georgia State Veterinarian, she served for three years on the Georgia Equine Advisory board. She was then appointed to serve on the Georgia Horse Council. Elected by the Georgia membership, Dr. Cook served two terms on the board of directors of the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeder’s & Exhibitor’s Association and spent two years serving on the Breeders committee. In 1996, TWHBEA appointed Dr. Cook to serve on the Equine Viral Arteritis Working Group of the American Horse Council to develop guidelines for the control of this contagious virus. A long-time member of the Georgia Walking Horse Exhibitor’s Association, Dr. Cook served several terms on the board of directors. Married to Fred Cook since 1981, the couple combined their efforts to build CGES. Together, they have been breeding, raising, and showing Tennessee Walking horses for more than 30 years. In 2003, Dr. Cook’s hard work paid off as she won the English Trail Pleasure World Grand Championship at the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration on her Amateur Owned and Trained mare, She’s Legal Tender. When she’s not working, Dr. Cook would rather be riding but is also rumored to enjoy gardening and snow skiing.