Dr. Leatherwood is an Assistant Professor of Equine Science in the Department of Animal Science. She earned her B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. in Animal Science from Texas A&M University. Prior to her return to campus in 2016, Dr. Leatherwood served as the Equine Science Coordinator at Sam Houston State University in the Department of Agricultural Sciences and Engineering Technology. In addition to her teaching responsibilities, she focused on enriching undergraduate students through the coordination of competitive teams such as the intercollegiate stock horse and horse judging teams. Here she began her appointment as the national advisor to the American Collegiate Horsemen’s Association. She also worked alongside the America Quarter Horse Association to conduct international horsemanship programs throughout Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and China. In addition to student development, Dr. Leatherwood has advised multiple graduate students in the area of research in equine nutrition and physiology. Her former students have been successful in admissions into doctoral programs as well as secure multiple industry and academic positions. Dr. Leatherwood enjoys mentoring graduate students over multiple areas of equine research. Her interests are primarily directed toward developing diets that may be effective in mitigating the over-stimulation of inflammatory processes within articulating joints of young performance horses, and continues to evaluate biomarkers that may be indicative of cartilage turnover, to be utilized in the early detection of equine orthopedic disease. In addition to bone and soft tissue development, her other areas of research interests include modulating immune responses of horses through the diet in order to reduce pharmaceutical administration, the impact of mare obesity on reproductive performance, and the role of nutrition in late gestation. She is a native to the Brazos Valley and enjoying spending time with her husband Cole, whom is also an Aggie. The couple met while conducting the summer horsemanship program that is offered by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. They spend their free time with their two dogs and enjoy traveling together and showing in AQHA Ranch Horse Versatility and Stock Horse of Texas competitions. She is currently a member of the Equine Science Society, American Society of Animal Science, North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture, and has received accreditation as a Professional Animal Scientist.

Equine Science