Dr. Leslie Schur Makes History as First Woman Named PRCA Veterinarian of the Year

The PRCA has named Dr. Leslie Schur the 2025 PRCA Veterinarian of the Year, marking a major milestone not just in her remarkable career, but in the history of rodeo. Schur is now the first woman ever to receive the honor, a recognition made even more meaningful as she enters her 30th Wrangler National Finals Rodeo as the official veterinarian.

For the Las Vegas based equine veterinarian, this award reflects decades of commitment, long nights, emergency calls, innovation in performance horse care, and a deep love for the western sports community. But when you ask her what this honor means, she immediately points to the people standing beside her.

Rodeo Roundtable got to catch up with Mrs. Leslie as she prepared for the 2025 NFR.

“I know it is pretty special for me, and my whole family has been really involved over the years,” Schur said. “There’s a lot of sacrifices that your family has to make to allow you to work at that level… So this is an award for all of us, not just me.”

Her husband, who has done the dirt work at the NFR longer than she’s known him, has been a huge part in the whole journey. Her daughters, too, who have helped organize treatment protocols and paperwork over the years, share in the pride as well.

“It means as much or more to my entire family than it does for me.”

A Lifelong Calling

Schur’s path to becoming one of rodeo’s most respected veterinarians began early on.

“I grew up in Washington. I have been involved with barrel racing and rodeo since I was a kid and never wanted to do anything else other than be a vet,” she said. “By the time I was six, I had my career plan ahead of me.”

After studying at Washington State and earning her veterinary degree from Michigan State University, she completed an internship in Arizona before joining Dr. Garth Lamb in Las Vegas in 1996. That same year, she worked her first NFR, an opportunity that helped shape the rest of her career.

“So I joined him in 1996. We opened Desert Pines Equine in 1997. I have kept building that practice since he retired,” she explained. This year marks 30 years working the National Finals Rodeo.

Over those three decades, Schur has helped transform how rodeo handles equine health and safety.

“We’ve been able to develop some protocols through professional rodeo for biosecurity at the NFR,” she said. “We’ve seen a lot of things change, better overall health for the animals.”

She has also helped create a program that brings veterinary students to the NFR, hoping to inspire the next generation.

“We sponsor a couple veterinary students to come and work during the NFR in hopes to light that fire to have a passion to cover some professional rodeos in the future.”

One of her daughters is now applying to vet school, just an extension of that legacy she has started. Although a difficult path to get there, Leslie says that she tells any aspiring vets that it is always worth it. "Never let someone tell you that this is not a great thing to do. It is the best profession in the world."

Inside a Day at the NFR

There is no typical day as the veterinarian at the Thomas and Mack.

“It depends on the day,” she explained. Her mornings begin with rounds through the livestock pens, checking bucking horses and visiting with stock contractors. She supports contestants’ personal veterinarians, helps with horses stalled at the Thomas & Mack, and stays available throughout the day for all ten days.

“We're really well prepared with a crash bag and anything we might need for an emergency,” she said. “Right behind Chute 7 is my seat inside and has been for the past 30 years.”

After the performance, she is back to the stock pens again. Then it all repeats for ten straight nights. But even with the long hours and pressure, she wouldn’t trade it.

“I’m blessed to be in the best profession in the world,” she said. “There’s just something about a horse that holds everything together for people.”

She talked about some of the behind the scenes there in Vegas too. “ I think what people don't realize is how much work goes into the draw and moving those rough stock animals up to the arena and getting them in there safely, back down safely, having to stop the pedestrian traffic so they can move animals through.” She explained the amazing crew that goes unnoticed by the crowds.

“There's so much that happens in the arena. It's such a small piece of what's happening outside. So many people worked to make that happen for contestants for that short hour and a half, two hours at night.”

A Well Deserved Honor

With a career defined by service and leadership, Schur’s recognition as PRCA Veterinarian of the year feels like such a fitting chapter in her story.

“All the phone calls and touching congratulations, it just meant the world to me,” she said. “There are so many people absolutely deserving of this, but it’s pretty special when you’re recognized.”