Agriculture
DR. JOSHUA HARVEY HAS BEEN TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED BY TEXAS VETERINARY BOARD
Dr. Joshua Harvey, founder of Outlaw Equine has been temporarily suspended by the Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners. The suspension comes in the wake of the multi-state EIA outbreak, with his clinic named as the likely point of origin and ongoing investigations into his professional conduct.
An informal conference will be held within 14 days to determine whether formal disciplinary proceedings will move forward.
PLEASE NOTE: As of now, Dr. Joshua Harvey, DVM, has not been arrested or charged with any criminal offenses. The Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners (TBVME) issued a temporary suspension of his veterinary license on July 1, 2025, due to serious allegations, including these outlined in the recent Order of Temporary Suspension, with dates:
• 𝐀𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐥 𝟐𝟗, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒 – Controlled-substance logs were inaccurate with large variances, and substances were stored in safes that failed security requirements.
• 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝟐, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑 & 𝐅𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟐𝟐, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒 – Issued prescriptions for Butorphanol Tartrate Powder without establishing a valid Veterinary-Client-Patient Relationship (VCPR).
• 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒 – Allowed Dr. Danielle Araujo Barbosa, who was not licensed in Texas, to practice veterinary medicine at the clinic.
• 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝟐𝟒, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒 – Police report filed alleging sexual assault of an employee at the clinic.
• 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒–𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 – An Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) outbreak traced to sterile-technique lapses (double-dipping syringes into shared heparinized saline) infected 22 horses; 21 were euthanized.
• 𝐅𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟐𝟎, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 – Misadministration of procaine penicillin G (“PPG”) to “Sissy” via IV instead of intramuscularly, causing a violent seizure.
• 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝟏𝟐, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 – Onsite inspection uncovered the fraudulent issuance and interstate shipment of stanozolol prescriptions—for performance enhancement, not medical need—and dispensing dangerous doses.
• 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝟏𝟑, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 – Former employee reported being grabbed and choked by the respondent.
• 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝟏𝟒, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 – Board received complaints of practicing under the influence of alcohol, sexual assault, and physical assault; notice of complaint sent May 21, 2025.
• 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝟑𝟎, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 – Surrendered DEA Certificate after failing to comply with federal controlled-substance requirements.
The ORDER OF TEMPORARY SUSPENSION is show below.
A Statement from Outlaw Equine Hospital and Rehab Center on Facebook:
Clients can write and submit professional letters on behalf of Josh & his team by sending them to [email protected]
Perspective from Deb Johnson of Desert Cross Veterinary Hospital:
Statement from Deb Johnson: (Above is the statement on Facebook)
News broke today that Dr Josh Harvey DVM of Outlaw Equine Veterinary Hospital had his license suspended and was no longer allowed to practice veterinary medicine pending further legal actions and investigations. I do not know Dr Harvey, I have never met Dr Harvey but as a fellow doctor of veterinary medicine, I truly feel sorry for him and what is happening and has happened to him.
Did Dr Harvey break the law? Sure, I am sure he did based on what I have read, and I did read the TVLB full case report, and he did stuff that legally he should not have done and he will have to suffer the consequences from those actions but it does not make him a horrible person or a bad veterinarian. Let me tell you, I break the freaking law every single time I get into a vehicle. I speed, I rarely wear a seat belt, I change lanes and turn all the time without signaling, my truck is deleted, I run stop signs, I look at my phone, I do all sorts of stupid things while driving just like most of us. It is not hard to break the law and we all do it, most of us just don’t get caught. Dr Harvey is not doing anything that a lot of other veterinarians are not doing, he just got caught. Before you lose your mind I did not say all veterinarians, for those who never step out of line I am not talking about you, I just said a lot and a lot could be 1000 or it could bet 10,000 or it could be 100,000+, I don’t know but I do know that if you practice on certain populations of horses or animals, you are not obeying all the laws.
For almost a decade I had a large animal practice that was race horses and ranches. I did almost everything that Dr Harvey did back in those days. I sold the same meds, I injected the same meds in horses that were not “approved” for horses but sure helped them recover better and perform better. I did all the same things for my clients because I was trying to help them and their animals. I did what I thought was best for the animal and sometimes it was not what was considered best by people who have never done what I was doing and I was ok with that. I took the risk because it benefitted the horse and that is what mattered. I knew it was a risk but I was willing to take it.
I did stop taking those risks when I opened the clinic because it became not worth the risk. I had a business and I had two small children to care for and while there were some rules I was willing to bend there were a lot of the rules that I used to break that I stopped breaking because it was not worth the risk. It is a choice for each and every one of us who choose to work on animals. We use drugs and medications daily that are not approved and each case is individual and each person, each doctor has to decide if they are willing to take that risk.
Taking the risk does not make Dr Harvey a bad person or a bad vet it just makes him someone who got caught. Just like every time I get pulled over for speeding, it pisses me off but I cannot complain because I was breaking the law and I know it. Dr Harvey knew he was breaking the law, we all do, and he made a choice and he will have to accept the consequences of those choices and fight for his license. I hope he does fight for it and can get it back because what he did was to take care of the animals that his clients pay him to care for. If you have never worked with the meds that he was using and the caliber of horses he was treating, you just do not know.
Now, as far as the EIA, that is a horrible, terrible thing. Having owned a clinic for almost 20 years now I can tell you that it is impossible to keep track of every staff member and everything they do. You can put all the rules in place and people will do whatever in the heck they want when you are not looking. They get away with something and before long the habit spreads to more employees and you do not even realize it because you are too busy saving lives of animals to oversee every small detail that your employees are doing. It doesn’t make you a bad vet, it makes you a bad leader.
Does it freaking suck that so many horses were infected and had to be euthanized, yes, yes it does but horrible accidents happen all the time and cost people their lives and or animals lives. Wrong feed given, horses dead. Wrong amount of clenbuterol, horses dead. Sheep get on the wrong pasture, all dead. Cattle or horses get on the wrong kind of weed, all dead. It can happen so easily and it can happen to anyone. Having staff member make poor choices does not make you a bad veterinarian, it just makes you poor business owner.
Shoot, my son is working for a large commercial plumbing company and they are on a big job and the company that poured the foundational wall for a huge building, off by 1 foot for 300 yards! That is three football fields worth of wall that is having to be tore out and redone because of one freaking foot. Accidents happen, things get misplaced, things are read wrong, someone hears wrong, people don’t pay attention, you get away with something for a bit and it turns around and bites you in the ass. It doesn’t make anyone a bad person, it just makes them human.
He who is without sin cast the first stone. Did Dr Harvey screw up? I have no idea. I know that his staff started doing stuff that they probably should not have and it just became the norm until it cost lives. In the big picture I guess it is his fault and his screw up because it is his clinic and his license but that still does not make him a bad veterinarian. As someone who once used to prescribe and use a lot of the same drugs that he got in trouble for using I can tell you that it is really easy to get caught up in using them because they help the horse so much. It is easy to rationalize helping your clients help their horses to recover faster and be better and feel better. Is it wrong? Who am I to judge. Is helping a horse feel better and do better wrong?
Veterinary medicine is hard, working as a veterinarian for performance animals is even harder. There is so much expected and asked of you that it is easy to walk the line really close and even cross it but it doesn’t make you a bad person or even a bad vet, it just makes you a human who is trying to do what you think is best. All I can say is if you are not in his shoes, you do not know and while he might have made choices that were different than you would have made, they were his choices to make and those choices don’t make him a bad vet, they just make him a different one than you are.
Good luck to you Dr Harvey. I wish you the best of luck in regaining your license and being able to go back to doing what you were created to do.
Statement from Catherine King: (Above is the statement on Facebook)
The first time I met Josh Harvey was during Bella’s futurity year 5 years ago. She was starting to act off and we couldn’t pinpoint the cause so I hauled to him for a second opinion. He did a few treatments and wished us luck at Ruby. After Ruby, Bella’s condition continued to decline until she became deathly ill and had to be hospitalized at Dr Arnold’s for over a month. Dr Arnold did a fantastic job managing her care but informed me that he would have to go out of town for a weekend and felt she needed close observation at an equine hospital while he was away. I called OE and they immediately agreed to watch her while he was gone. At this point Bella had been off her feed for weeks, she refused to eat. She had temps from 104-105*. She looked like a horse I’d picked up at a sale barn, nothing like the slick, healthy futurity horse Dr Harvey had seen a few months prior. I’ll never forget the moment I walked her in that Dr Harvey walked over and looked at her and said “Catherine what the heck happened? She didn’t look like this last time I saw her.” I remember being shocked in that moment that a big time vet who works on million dollar horses and who had only seen this mare one time before remembered a no name owner and a no name horse like us. I was impressed by how he took care of her like she was a big time money earner and gave her the best care possible. At that moment I knew I wanted to keep a working relationship with Dr Harvey in addition to my regular vet.
Every time I visit the clinic, I’m always shocked by the fact that he remembers me and my horses when he has so many much more important clients. He takes the time to listen to you about what your concerns are and what your goals are. At the end of the day he is a fantastic vet who cares about his patients and the equine community will suffer if he’s not a part of it!
Statement from Athlete Océane Veilleux: (Above is the statement on Facebook)
It’s not easy to fully trust someone with the animals we care about the most. But with Josh Harvey and Outlaw Equine Hospital and Rehab Center, I’ve never had a doubt. Whether I’m in Québec, somewhere across the country, or down in Texas, he’s always just a call or text away, day or night. He’s helped Ice Cream through more injuries than I can count and always treated us like a priority from day one. Josh isn’t just a great vet, he’s someone who truly cares. That kind of support is rare, and I’m beyond grateful for it.
Statement from Josh Andrews of Josh Andrews Saddles and Horses:
(Above is the statement on Facebook)
In Support of Outlaw Equine and Dr.Josh Harvey
I would be lying if I said I haven’t lost sleep over the news of my veterinarian being held to a different standard than others in the field. For years, Josh, Ashley, and the entire team at Outlaw Equine have bent over backwards for me and countless others. They’ve stood by their patients, day and night, with a level of care that’s hard to come by.
I’ll never forget the first time I met Ashley—she was taking Dash For Perks Baby back to the clinic after he broke his hock. That horse came back stronger than ever.
And when it comes to records? I would bet the ranch that no one receives more detailed, timely discharge reports than what Outlaw Equine provides. I’ve used many vets over the years, but never have I received the thorough and transparent documentation that I do from this clinic.
Let’s be honest: Josh built an empire through sheer grit, skill, and around-the-clock commitment. Has he walked the line? Maybe. But what’s happening now feels less like accountability and more like a punishment for success.
To those quick to criticize—ask yourself this: Who are you going to call at 2 AM in North Texas when your horse needs emergency colic surgery? Because I’m genuinely scared. If one of my horses falls ill, I may be forced to choose euthanasia—not because it’s best for the animal, but because I don’t know who else I can trust.
So what can we do?
1. Pay your bill. This is one of the most immediate and impactful ways we can help Josh and the clinic continue to operate under immense pressure.
2. Write to the Texas Veterinary Medical Board. Share your experiences. Speak from the heart. Let them know what this clinic means to you and your animals.
3. Stand up publicly. The internet can be a cruel place, but it can also be a powerful force for good. Let’s use our voices to support those who have supported us.
Outlaw Equine isn’t just a clinic. It’s a lifeline. Let’s not let that go without a fight.
Josh Andrews Saddles and Horses
Outlaw Equine Hospital and Rehab Center
PLEASE EMAIL
We would also like to share discussions that are being had on Social Media that are not supporting Dr. Josh Harvey, however have concerns that many do have.
Statement from Aimie Barton: (Above is the statement on Facebook)
I don’t incite drama on here, but I feel strongly about this issue. Any of my friends who want to continue to defend Josh Harvey/Outlaw Equine are invited to read the full suspension document from the Texas Veterinary Board. Not only was there a massive cross contamination issue, he was suspended for drinking while practicing, allowing unlicensed people to practice and perform surgery, multiple controlled substance violations, physical assault, and sexual assault, both were employees. If you support this garbage human you can go ahead and remove me from your friends.
Official document from the Texas Veterinary Board 
(The Document is above at the beginning of the article)
Statement from Kaizen Equine: (Above is the statement on Facebook)
When I first saw that Dr. Joshua Harvey had been suspended by the Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners, I assumed it was because of the equine infectious anemia (EIA) outbreak that happened at Outlaw Equine. That alone is heartbreaking, 22 horses infected, 21 of them euthanized. But when I read the actual suspension order, it became clear the outbreak was just the tip of the iceberg.
According to the Board’s findings, Dr. Harvey prescribed and stockpiled performance-enhancing drugs like Stanozolol, a controlled anabolic steroid, by writing fake prescriptions under horses’ names who never received the drug. He then administered those drugs to other horses, including one calf-roping horse, not for a medical condition, but purely to enhance performance. In some cases, he shipped these controlled substances across state lines to other vets. He also prescribed Butorphanol Tartrate, a potent narcotic, without exams or proper veterinary relationships, just after a phone call. In multiple cases, he couldn’t produce any patient records. Drug logs were missing, incomplete, or flat-out wrong, and controlled substances were being stored in safes that didn’t meet even basic legal standards.
At the same time, serious lapses in sterile technique led to one of the most devastating veterinary outbreaks in recent history. According to the USDA and Board reports, staff at Outlaw Equine were reusing the same syringes and needles on multiple horses to draw from bulk bottles of heparinized saline, which caused blood contamination and spread EIA across four states. This wasn’t one mistake, it was a months-long breakdown in basic, life-saving protocols.
Dr. Harvey also allowed an unlicensed (in the state of Texas) individual to perform surgeries and draw Coggins samples under his name. He’s been accused of drinking alcohol while treating patients, something multiple witnesses confirmed. He’s currently under criminal investigation for sexually assaulting an employee at the clinic and physically assaulting another. One former employee told police that Harvey grabbed and choked him, and Harvey was arrested at the clinic that day. These criminal cases are still pending, but they are documented and part of the public record.
What’s even more alarming is Dr. Harvey refused to provide the Board with critical information during the investigation. They asked for patient records, staff lists, appointment logs, and more. He didn’t respond. When the Board sent a formal notice about a complaint alleging intoxication on the job, sexual assault, and physical assault of staff members, he didn’t respond. Even after being arrested for allegedly choking a former employee at the clinic, he still failed to comply.
This isn’t about gossip. It’s not about bullying. It’s not about cancel culture. It’s about transparency, accountability, and protecting horses. You don’t have to believe every detail, but you should know what’s publicly available and what the Board has already confirmed. This isn’t a few paperwork errors. This is a long pattern of dangerous, unethical behavior that put horses and people at risk.
I’m sharing this because we deserve to know who we’re trusting with our animals. I’m not here to start drama, I’m here to advocate for better standards in equine care. When something like this happens, we don’t look away. We look closer.
If you’re a horse owner, read the suspension order. Don’t take my word for it. Don’t pick or reject a vet based on a Facebook post. It’s all public. Make up your own mind. But please, stay informed. This information exists so that we can make responsible choices about the people we trust with our animals.
Tenn Texas Statement on Dr. Joshua Harvey’s Temporary Suspension
At Tenn Texas, we understand the critical role that trust and professionalism play in the healthcare and well-being of our equine community. We are aware of the temporary suspension issued to Dr. Joshua Harvey, DVM, the founder of Outlaw Equine, by the Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners (TBVME). This decision follows serious allegations, including a potential connection to the recent multi-state Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) outbreak, which has raised significant concerns within the veterinary and agricultural communities.
We fully support the investigative process being carried out by the TBVME and recognize the importance of holding professionals accountable to the highest standards of care. However, it is important to note that as of now, Dr. Josh Harvey has not been arrested or formally charged with any criminal offenses. We believe that the informal conference scheduled within the next 14 days will provide clarity on the next steps, and we trust that the appropriate measures will be taken to ensure the safety and integrity of the veterinary profession.
As a company committed to fostering transparency, professionalism, and accountability, Tenn Texas will continue to monitor this situation closely and will support the ongoing investigation. We stand with the entire equine community as we collectively work towards upholding the trust and standards that are essential to our shared values.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Dr. Josh & Family, the entire Outlaw Equine Team & Customers.
ABOUT DR. JOSH HARVEY
Dr. Josh Harvey is the owner and founding veterinarian of Outlaw Equine. Dr. Harvey, originally from Florida, received his degree from Auburn University and has been practicing since 2006. Dr. Harvey established Outlaw Equine Hospital and Rehabilitation center in 2007 and has continuously developed his practice into what it is today. In 2016 he started the #OETour and went nationwide with OE vet services traveling all around the country. Dr. Harvey is licensed in Texas, New Mexico, Virginia, Florida, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nevada, Georgia, Arizona and North Carolina. He is continuing to expand his skills to innovate the veterinary world. (Source)
