The license of Texas-based equine veterinarian, Joshua Harvey, D.V.M., has been temporarily suspended by the Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners (TBVME). Founder of Outlaw Equine (OE) in Decatur, Harvey has been the subject of recent scrutiny and this major development occurred on July 1, 2025.
Following a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and TBVME investigation that was prompted by an outbreak of equine infectious anemia (EIA), the Order of Temporary Suspension details the findings of the investigation.
TBVME records, per websiteIn April 2024, a compliance inspection revealed incomplete and inaccurate controlled substance logs. Controlled substances were also stored in a manner that did not meet TBVME security requirements.
According to this same document, in February 2025, a horse named “Sissy” in the intensive care unit (ICU) at OE was improperly administered an antibiotic intravenously rather than intramuscularly. The error resulted in a violent seizure, but Sissy recovered.
Throughout 2024, a deadly EIA outbreak raged on in the U.S. As a result, 21 horses were euthanized and 22 were infected, across four states. It is unusual for an outbreak of EIA to spread in such a manner, as the U.S. requires testing of transported equines. Ultimately, the investigation led the USDA to OE. It was determined that the outbreak was related to contaminated heparinized saline bottles and reused syringes.
The TBVME received “multiple complaints” regarding horses testing positive for EIA following hospitalizations at OE. These incidents ranged from approximately May 2024 to March 2025.
Harvey stated in both a response to the TBVME and in letters to clients that the outbreak likely originated from a contaminated bottle of heparinized saline in OE’s ICU. Through an epidemiological investigation, the USDA determined that bulk bottles of heparinized saline used to routinely flush IV catheters had been blood contaminated with EIA positive blood.
According to the order, “a lapse in sterile technique by one or more employees at the clinic allowed repeated blood contamination of the heparinized saline bottles. Specifically, reuse of syringes in the ICU and continued reuse of a single needle/syringe to draw heparinized saline out of the common heparinized saline bottle and then directly inject into catheter ports on multiple horses led to blood contamination of multiple bottles of heparinized saline over a period of months.”
The order further stated that a former OE ICU employee stated in an interview with the TBVME that it was “routine practice for veterinary assistants at OE to double dip and reuse syringes but this practice changed after the EIA outbreak was discovered.”
Further allegations state that Dr. Danielle Araujo Barbosa practiced veterinary medicine at OE, without a veterinary license in the state of Texas. Barbosa drew blood for Coggins testing, but with Harvey’s name and signature on the testing form.
The Order details how Harvey obtained and distributed controlled substances in violation of TBVME rules and federal regulations. Harvey issued prescriptions for one of these medications, Stanozolol, an anabolic steroid, on “numerous occasions” to obtain the substance and then dispensed or administered the drug to other patients (not listed on the prescription). On one occasion, a large quantity was dispensed in “amounts that were dangerous” for performance enhancement and “not to treat a specific medical condition.”
The controlled substance logs were “incomplete and inaccurate,” with multiple instances of Stanozolol, Ketamine, and Butorphanol Tartrate improperly accounted for in the logs. Ketamine is a Schedule III controlled substance, typically classified as a general anesthetic and an NMDA receptor antagonist. Butorphanol Tartrate is an opioid and a Schedule IV controlled substance. Stanozolol is a Schedule III controlled substance.
In May 2025, the TBVME was notified of the alleged sexual assault of an employee and alleged physical assault of a former employee. A police report from the Wise County Sheriff's Office regarding a sexual assault on July 24, 2024, as well as a report of a physical assault on May 13, 2025, were obtained. The criminal case for the physical assault incident is pending, with a former employee reporting that Harvey grabbed and choked him. Harvey was subsequently arrested.
Since 2009, Harvey has been issued four disciplinary orders from the TBVME. Two incidents involved violations of Board Rule 573.52, Veterinarian Patient Record Keeping. The most recent, in 2019, was for a violation of Board Rule 573.50, Controlled Substances Record Keeping for Drugs on Hand. In three of these cases, financial penalties were ordered and a formal reprimand was issued in the most recent case.
Harvey surrendered his Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) Certificate of Registration on June 30, 2025. The Order concludes by stating that an informal conference would be held within 14 days of July 1 to determine if formal disciplinary proceedings would be initiated.
The Order states, “The findings of fact listed above indicate gross malpractice or a pattern of acts that indicate consistent malpractice, negligence, or incompetence in the practice of veterinary medicine by Respondent (Harvey).” It further states, “Respondent’s continued practice of veterinary medicine constitutes a continuing imminent threat to the public welfare.”