SASKATOON — Since classes began at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) in mid-August, staff and students may have wondered if they’re seeing double when they pass by first-year veterinary students Kaylee and Madisyn Fulcher in the hallway.
Born three minutes apart, the identical twins, along with their older sister Jessilyn and parents Mike and Amanda, lived in Birtle, Man., where they were surrounded by a large extended family that played a significant role in their lives.
“The best thing about growing up with a twin is that I will always have a forever best friend. So if there are times in life that we ever feel lonely, we always have each other to lean on,” says Madisyn.
“Whenever I did something new, I always had her to do the new thing with,” adds Kaylee. “It was nice to have someone who has lived the same life as me because I always had her by my side in case I needed help.”
The twins shared many interests while growing up. One mutual passion was their family dogs — Labrador retrievers that they helped their dad train for bird hunting. Another common activity was western riding lessons, and both Kaylee and Madisyn became enthusiastic competitors at local horse shows.
By age 12, the girls had added English riding to their list of common interests. Their riding lessons led to eventing — a sport where horse and rider teams compete in three disciplines: dressage, show jumping and cross-country jumping.
“When I got into eventing, it opened my eyes to another community of amazing and supportive people,” says Madisyn, who was part of a group called Pegasus Equestrian. She and other riders competed in events and shows around Manitoba, including show jumping competitions in Winnipeg and Brandon. Madisyn owned her own horse, a red roan quarter horse named Cutter, but she also competed on various horses owned by family friend Sherry Baydak.
Kaylee was 14 when she got her horse — a sorrel quarter horse named Penny. Although Penny didn’t seem to enjoy barrel racing, she came into her own once Kaylee decided to try jumping with her. She and Penny eventually participated in the same eventing trials as Madisyn.
Although Madisyn and Kaylee often compete against each other, they have similar approaches to competition: both women like to be mentally prepared, and no matter what happens during the competition, neither of them blames their horse for the outcome.
Riding also offered opportunities for Madisyn and Kaylee to become involved in the local 4-H club and the local branch of the Canadian Pony Club. Madisyn credits the 4-H public speaking program for improving her communication skills while Kaylee enjoyed the challenges presented by the Canadian Pony Club as she progressed through the various riding levels.
Animals were always an integral part of Madisyn’s childhood — whether she was training the family dogs, riding horses or rescuing and rehoming stray animals — and she had always considered a veterinary career. However, her volunteer experiences at the Russell and District Veterinary Clinic inspired her to imagine herself as a practising clinician.
“I just had this feeling inside of me that this was something that I would be able to do if I put in the time and the effort that was needed,” says Madisyn, who has witnessed how a shortage of rural veterinarians has affected access to veterinary care in her community. “Even though I might not be able to improve the overall problem, I can be a step in the right direction and help the people in my community to have more reliant and faster access to vet care.”
As a pre-veterinary student on the University of Saskatchewan (USask) campus, Madisyn volunteered at the WCVM Veterinary Medical Centre (VMC) where she assisted with the pet rehabilitation program. In addition to her volunteer work, Madisyn spent two summers working at McBurney Veterinary Services, an equine practice owned and operated by WCVM alumnus Dr. Meagan Peats (DVM’07). While Madisyn admired the excellent care that Peats provided for her patients, she also appreciated the connections that Peats has established with her clients and with the community.
Kaylee became interested in veterinary medicine when she was a child accompanying her pets to the local veterinary clinic. Once she enrolled in university, her classes in anatomy, animal physiology and diseases in livestock reinforced that interest and built confidence in her ability to succeed in veterinary school.
However, it was her volunteer and work experiences that validated Kaylee’s interest in veterinary medicine. In addition to volunteering at Russell and District Veterinary Clinic, she also assisted with the VMC’s pet rehabilitation service and worked at McBurney Veterinary Services for two summers.
“After working alongside various veterinarians, I could envision myself in that role,” says Kaylee, adding that their coworkers always encouraged the twins as they learned more about animal health care. “While watching surgeries, being in the appointment rooms and seeing different cases, I learned so much about how these vets deal with difficult situations and how they provide care for the families and the people involved with those animals.”
Since Kaylee and Madisyn volunteered and worked at the same places, they often spent time together.
“I enjoyed working with her [Madisyn] because we have similar work styles so we could rely on each other to get work done on time and divide the work between ourselves,” says Kaylee. She adds that she also appreciates Madisyn’s sense of humour and her ability to make people laugh.
One of Madisyn’s favourite memories is the weekend that the twins took care of clients’ horses at McBurney Veterinary Services: “It gave Kaylee and me a glimpse of what it would be like to operate our own clinic and how well we work together in a professional setting, allowing us to envision our future as practice owners.”
While Kaylee sees a mixed animal or equine practice in her future, Madisyn is looking at a career in a rural mixed animal practice — an opportunity to make a difference in a rural community. Both girls plan to return to Manitoba, and at some point, they hope to open a practice together.
Whatever their future holds, the girls agree that they will always be present in each other’s lives — an expectation that’s been strengthened through their shared interest in veterinary medicine.
“We have gone through life together, even before we were born, and we have grown up with the same experiences in life,” says Madisyn. “That has allowed us to understand what each other is going through and be there for each other.”
