L & M Equine Services

Leah and Mark are both cum laude graduates of Sul Ross State University in Alpine, TX. Leah graduated in 1990 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science and in 1992 with a Master Of Science degree in Agriculture (emphasis in Animal Science with thesis over Muscle Fatigue in Horses Due To the Angle and Length of the Hoof). Mark graduated in 1993 with an Associates Degree in Farrier Technology and a Bachelor Of Science degree in Animal Science. They were married in 1994.

Mark is a full time farrier and in 2001 became an AFA Certified Journeyman Farrier. He also does equine chiropractic work. To read a more extensive bio about Mark checkout his website at www.markjohnsoncjf.com.

Beginning in 2012 Mark and Leah will be running a Laser Therapy Service in conjunction with the Equine Chiropractic work. For more information on this business or for an appoinment please check out the website at www.johnsonsequineservice.com

Leah has been showing horses since the age of 9 and giving riding lessons since the age of 13. She has competed in many events and trained her own horses throughout high school including competing at class A Arabian shows in western pleasure, showing all around in 4-H (both english and western) and competing in Rodeo Queen Contests. During college she trained young horses to help pay for school and started showing in APHA shows at that time, going to her first APHA World show (and earning two Top Tens) in 1992.

After graduating college in 1992 she began working for the USDA as a Market News Reporter, working first in the Fruits and Vegetable Division in McAllen, TX and Chicago, Il and later in the Livestock Division working in Louisville, KY. During this time she continued on a part time basis training and showing horses, competing at the APHA World show in team penning (placing 6th) and also started showing in NSBA classes, AQHA shows and continued to show APHA.

In 1996 the opportunity to work on an APHA farm back in Texas came along and Leah and Mark moved to Northeast Texas. She became a full time trainer and breeding manager on a large APHA farm and later moved on to her own facility. With hard work from Mark and other family members a barn was built in Quitman, TX. Leah began showing in earnest and coaching youth and amateur riders in western pleasure, showmanship, horsemanship and trail class. They had many successes on all levels in APHA, AQHA, NSBA and PHBA.

In 1999, the first American Shetland pony came into the barn for training...at that time who would have known what a difference this one pony was going to make! That pony was Bar Gs Rock E Fashionable Ladys Esquire (HOF). Leah fell in love with the pony and purchased him and showed him to his Hall Of Fame status. More Shetland ponies came in for training and the big horses were slowly phased out with L & M Equine Services becoming "pony only" in 2003. Leah travels approximately 12,000 miles a year to ASPC/AMHR shows throughout the US and has shown many Shetland ponies to their hall of fame status and to top National All-Star awards in halter, hunter in hand, jumper in hand, obstacle in hand, and liberty. She started training and showing a few AMHR miniatures in 2007 with several earning their Hall of Fame in halter and placing well at the AMHR National shows.

"Squire" has went on to become a very good sire with foals winning the National Shetland Congress, earning their Hall of Fame and winning National All-Star awards. Squire was sold in 2011 to Jackie Davis of Arkansas where he will be the cornerstone of her breeding program for Shetland ponies.

L & M Equine Services raises several Shetland foals each year. Those ponies have the LMJ prefix on their names. We currently have 7 ASPC broodmares with 3 of those mares being sound to breed, the other 4 are old "retirees" that are in their mid-20's. Two of the mares are Squire daughters.

In January 2012 Leah was diagnosed with Celiac Disease. Due to the problems she is currently having because of the disease she is no longer able to train and show ponies. She will however still plan on raising a couple of Shetland foals each year. In 2012 we may possibly have three foals since two of the 20+ year old mares look like they might be in foal!

Below are a few photos of the horses and ponies. The first photo under ponies is with Squire when he was a yearling in 1999. 

Horses

Ponies and Minis