Mid-South Equine Sports Medicine & Surgery
in Tioga, Texas
Mid-South Equine Sports Medicine & Surgery
in Tioga, Texas
Mid-South Equine Sports Medicine & Surgery provides equine sports medicine, lameness evaluation, and equine surgery for performance horses across North Texas and DFW. We are the only clinic within two hours of Tioga offering standing MRI, traditional MRI, and equine bone scan. Our services include diagnostic imaging, orthopedic and arthroscopic surgery with a board-certified surgeon, regenerative therapy, rehabilitation,gastroscopy, in-house laboratory, pre-purchase exams, and reproduction.
Performance Horse Show Veterinarian | On-Site Care | Mid-South Equine
About Us
About Mid-South Equine
Mid-South Equine is a veterinarian-owned equine sports medicine and surgery practice in Tioga, Texas. was founded by Dr. R.A. "Tony" Rocconi and his wife April in 2015. We serve performance horse owners, trainers, and breeders throughout the DFW metroplex and North Texas — with a board-certified equine surgeon on staff and advanced imaging most practices in this region don't have.
We diagnose and treat the lameness and soft tissue injuries that keep good horses out of the ring — with standing MRI, bone scan, and a board-certified surgeon on staff. From the first lameness exam through surgery and rehabilitation, the care happens under one roof.
Our veterinarians travel with the practice to major shows across the country — the AQHA World Championship Show, the All American Quarter Horse Congress, the NSBA World Championship Show, and the World Equestrian Center Championship Show among them.
Show weeks compress every decision. A horse that's a hair off Wednesday morning has a class Thursday afternoon, and the call about whether to treat has to be made fast and made right. A veterinarian who diagnosed the original injury and read the standing MRI is working from everything. One meeting your horse cold in a barn aisle is working from a two-minute history.
We provide pre-class soundness checks, emergency care, on-site radiography and ultrasound, and treatment within association medication rules — from the time the trailers unload until the last class is called.
Mid-South Equine Veterinarians
Veterinarians
Dr. Tony Rocconi
DVM, MS
Owner/Veterinarian
Dr. Tony Rocconi is the owner of Mid-South Equine Sports Medicine & Surgery, where he focuses on lameness diagnostics, advanced imaging, and orthopedic surgery for performance horses.
His clinical work centers on the problems that quietly end show careers — suspensory and tendon injuries, coffin joint and navicular pain, hock and stifle disease, and the poor-performance cases that never quite localize to a single limb. Mid-South Equine is the only facility within two hours of Tioga offering standing MRI, traditional MRI, and nuclear scintigraphy.
Dr. Rocconi travels with the practice to major shows nationwide, including the AQHA World Championship Show, the All American Quarter Horse Congress, NSBA World, and the World Equestrian Center.
Dr. Alli Salinger, DVM, MS, Diplomate American College of Veterinary Surgeons (Large Animal)
Equine Surgeon
Dr. Allison Salinger is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (Large Animal), a credential held by relatively few equine practitioners in North Texas.
She grew up in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania competing in hunter/jumper events, earned her degree in Biology at Virginia Tech while playing field hockey, and completed her DVM at Western University in Pomona, California. Following a one-year internship at Pioneer Equine Hospital in Oakdale, California, she completed a three-year large animal surgical residency and a Master of Science in Veterinary Science at Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine. She became board-certified in 2024.
Dr. Salinger has published scientific work on a novel implant for carpal bone fracture fixation, skeletal development of the foal's distal limb, and equine muscle disease. She joined Mid-South Equine in 2022, and her focus spans orthopedic surgery, soft tissue surgery, lameness and sports medicine, and neonatal care. She has worked with horses across all disciplines and particularly enjoys contributing to the health of the western performance horses in this area.
Dr. Dalton Pate
DVM
Associate Veterinarian
Dr. Matt Winter
DVM
Associate Veterinarian
Dr. Dalton Pate joined Mid-South Equine in the spring of 2018 and has become known for his commitment to his patients and his humor, kindness, and patience with their owners.
A native of West Point, Mississippi, he earned his DVM from Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine and completed an internship at Outlaw Equine in Texas. Since joining the practice, his interest and aptitude for sports medicine have grown into his primary area of focus.
He and his wife Darby spend their off time roping and competing in barrel racing.
Dr. Matt Winter completed his internship at Mid-South Equine in 2024 and stayed on as an associate veterinarian.A native of Punta Gorda, Florida, he earned his DVM from the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine. Since joining the practice, his focus has moved steadily toward sports medicine and the performance horse.He spends better than a third of the year on the road at AQHA and NSBA shows, providing on-site care for clients through show week — which is where a sports medicine practice actually gets tested. Knowing a horse's history, watching it warm up, and making the call on Thursday morning is different work than seeing it cold in a barn aisle.Outside the clinic, Matt rides and shows his own horses, travels, and follows the Florida Gators.
Dr. Taylor Pappas, DVM
— A recent graduate of Oklahoma State University, Dr. Pappas grew up in Pennsylvania riding hunter/jumpers. Her particular interest is sports medicine, though she enjoys all aspects of equine practice. Outside of work she reads, hikes, and spends time with her dog, Milo.
A recent graduate of Iowa State University,
Dr. Jake Jenson, DVM —
Dr. Jenson has always known he wanted a career in equine medicine. His interests include sports medicine, surgery, acupuncture, and general practice. He plans to return to western North Dakota after completing his internship.
Dr. Victor Zhidkov, DVM
— A 2026 graduate of Texas A&M, Dr. Zhidkov is expanding his clinical experience at Mid-South Equine and hopes to pursue veterinary research. Outside of work he reads, spends time outdoors, and explores computer science.
Anesthesia Technician
Megan Robbins
Megan is originally from Mississippi attended Mississippi State University and Hinds Community College for Veterinary Technology. Graduated first in technology class. Worked for MSU-CVM for 11 years first in the equine department then in anesthesia specializing in large animal anesthesia. She has been with Mid-South Equine going on 2 years. With the support of her wonderful husband of 18 years, daughter, and 5 horses and 2 dogs.
Mackenzie Allen-Advanced Imaging & Clinical Services Technician
Kaitlin McCuan- Equine Performance Services Technician
Emergency Equine Services
Technicians
Caitlyn Uber
Alyssa Greek
Aubrie Watson
Megan Briley
Debbie Carroll
Hannah Hodges
Lacy Lemus
Mary Williams
Emergencies instructions. "Press 0" after hours is high-intent information and it's nowhere on the site.
Mid-South Office
April Rocconi
Practice Manager
Front Office Staff
Catherine, Cindy, Jennifer, Lauren, Julie, April and Mackenzie
