Hometown: Salt Lake City, UT
Undergraduate Degree: Bachelor of Science, Major in Biology, Minor in Chemistry (Eastern Washington University)
Area of Interest: Equine Medicine
Meet Leanne Poole, a non-traditional fourth-year veterinary student who walked away from a successful career in finance to pursue what has always been a constant in her life — horses.
“As long as I can remember, I have been driven by a strong sense of responsibility toward the health and well-being of animals. This has been my primary motivation and has inspired my pursuit of a career into veterinary medicine,” Leanne said. “Making the decision to align my work with my values and seeking a career that brings fulfillment and purpose was the best decision I’ve ever made. I know I belong here.”
For her, the barn is more than a workplace, it’s her happy place.
“I wasn’t born in a barn, but I ran there as fast as I could! It’s where I go to celebrate the good days and find calm when life feels overwhelming. Spending time with horses is truly my form of therapy,” she said.
Away from her studies, Leanne enjoys horseback riding, traveling, and scuba diving with her husband, Jason, and she is an avid reader who has read more than 100 books so far this year. She also shares her home and barn with a lively menagerie, including three quarter horse geldings, two dogs, a barn cat, and eight chickens.
Following graduation, she will begin her career in Utah as she has officially accepted an internship position at South Valley Equine, where she will focus exclusively on equine care.