William Johnson, DVM

Dr. Johnson grew up in the Hudson Valley region of New York. He graduated from Cornell's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences in 1983 and from the college of Veterinary Medicine in 1986. He married a classmate, Lisa, in 1985.

Bill returned to the Hudson Valley and worked in a mixed animal practice in Pine Plains, NY until 1989 when he and his wife purchased Pittsfield Veterinary Clinic in Edmeston, NY. They operated as a mixed animal practice until 1999 when they found it impossible to attract mixed animal veterinarians to a rural area. Bill joined a large animal practice in New Berlin with two other partners until October 2004 when he opened Leatherstocking Equine Center (LEC). LEC is on the site of the old Borden Farm which tragically burned in 1997. The creamery building, where milk was once bottled, still stands and serves as the farm shop.

Dr. Johnson has been involved in breeding Standardbred horses since 1990. The facilities at LEC have allowed him to pursue this interest in equine reproduction to a higher level. Bill and his wife, Lisa, along with their three children, David, Rebecca, and Daniel, live on the farm. The family has a small flock of Dorset sheep which are shown at local fairs. They also own numerous horses. In his free time, Bill likes to travel, work on the farm and build furniture.

Dr. Johnson is a member of the AVMA, NYS Veterinary Medical Society, American Association of Equine Practitioners, American Association of Bovine Practioners, USTA, Harness Horse Breeders, Society for Theriogenology, and the Academy of Rural Veterinarians

Rachel Fraser, DVM

Dr. Fraser joined Leatherstocking Equine Center as an associate veterinarian in June 2005 after graduating from St. George 's University. She is a proud Canadian, originally from Nova Scotia. Rachel enjoys downhill skiing, sailing, playing the piano, and spending time with her dog Penny. Rachel completed her first three years of veterinary school at St. George's in Grenada, West Indies and her clinical year of studies at Purdue University in Indiana.

Caitlin McIntosh, DVM

Cait is a graduate of the Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine (2009) and completed her undergraduate studies at Connecticut College (2005) where she majored in English and Chemistry. Originally from New England, she is happy to be closer to home and surrounded by beautiful country and great skiing. Cait's interests include small ruminant medicine, bovine and equine surgery, and ophthalmology. In her spare time, Cait enjoys outdoor sports, reading, and playing ice hockey. She lives with her husband Mike and their two cats & two dogs.

Nancy Herrick, Breeding Manager

As a founding member of the team, Nancy is responsible for managing the daily activities of the breeding facility. Growing up on a Morgan horse farm, she was always involved with breeding and foaling duties. She graduated from Colorado State University in 1990 with a bachelor's degree in Equine Science. With a position established at Oriskany Creek Farm in Clinton, New York, she took on the management responsibilities of their Standardbred and Morgan breeding operation.

After several years at Oriskany Creek, the farm was downsized due to the owner's health and Nancy worked in the medical field for several years while maintaining her own small breeding operation, Rose Hill Farm. During these years she enlisted the veterinary services of Dr. Johnson and from there became enthusiastically involved in the planning of Leatherstocking Equine Center.

When she is not busy at the clinic, Nancy enjoys spending time on her own farm with her Morgan horse and numerous other livestock. Her daughter, Victoria, is also an animal lover and can usually be found in the barn. Nancy sits on the New York Morgan Horse Society Board of Directors and competes her family's Morgans at a few shows each year.

ADDITIONAL STAFF:

Joe Gasparek, Farm Manager

Samantha Chamberlain, Vet Tech

Sandy Maguire, Inventory Control Specialist

Chase Lord, Account Representative, Harness Racing Expert

Gail Young, Receptionist