Dr. Kristi K. Zarges was born and raised in El Paso, TX. She attended Zach White Elementary and graduated from Coronado High School. Growing up, Dr. Kristi knew this was her calling and passion in life. Both of her parents, Dr. Sid Zarges and Dr. Sue Zarges, were very successful practicing veterinarians. Her aunt and uncle are also veterinarians, so there was no question that her family was a major influence in her life. She knew she would be the fifth veterinarian in her family some day and her prediction was correct!
Dr. Kristi had a spontaneous childhood, living with parents who were both veterinarians. She recalls waking up in the middle of the night to go see a patient. It was not uncommon for her to ride alongside her father as he tended to the horses at the racetrack. Whether she was at the clinic or at the barn assisting either her mother or father or both, this was her way of life and couldn’t see herself doing anything else. When she wasn’t busy helping her parents at the clinic or at the farm, she would find time to ride her horses and compete in hunter jumper events, play the guitar, accordion, tap dance, and play the piano.
After graduating high school, Dr. Kristi attended Colorado State University where she competed on CSU’s Intercollegiate Polo Team for two years. After receiving her Bachelor’s Degree in Biological Science from CSU, she decided to attend Oklahoma Horseshoeing School. After completing her certification and course work at horseshoeing school, she pursued her dream and applied to Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine. She graduated from Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1995 with an interest in dogs, cats, and horses.
Upon graduation, she worked in Lake Dallas, TX, and worked in a mixed animal practice for one year. She then moved and worked in a mixed animal practice in Keller, TX for seven years. In 2000, she married her handsome husband, William Finn. In 2002, Dr. Kristi and her husband moved to El Paso, TX to take over the family practice, Zarges Animal Clinic.
Dr. Kristi currently assists in the daily operations of running a successful practice, managing her time between being a great boss, loving mother, and dedicated veterinarian to her patients. She enjoys spending quality time with her two awesome children, Kelsey and Kaleb. She also enjoys horseback riding, hiking, swimming, biking, and farming the family farm. Dr. Kristi says, “There is nothing I would change differently if I had to do it all over again, I can honestly say life is good!” [citation]