About

Becoming an equine veterinarian was a shared dream between Dr. Mason and his grandfather. Dr. Mason received a BS in Animal and Veterinary Sciences (Pre-vet) in 2002 from West Virginia University before attending the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, where he received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) in 2006.

I have always been amazed at the bond between humans and animals, and cherished the thought of having an important role in bolstering that relationship,” he explains.

Dr. Mason is a founding partner of Lexington Equine Medical Group, where he has a special interest in perinatology, advanced reproduction (the management of breeding stallions and mares), internal medicine, preventative and herd health, and performance horse medicine and lameness. Dr. Mason provides care for everything from racehorses and polo ponies to eventers, gaited mountain horses – and everything in between.

When asked about his favorite thing about working in the Bluegrass, Dr. Mason said that the plethora of horses here afford him the opportunity to call on and use his knowledge, experience and training in a variety of ways. “Because of the vast case load, I get to treat the uncommon cases commonly!” he explains.

Dr. Mason grew up riding cow horses and competed in youth team penning. He has several family members who trained Thoroughbred racehorses, so he had exposure to the industry early on. He currently owns some Thoroughbred breeding stock (mare and foals) and he’s in the perpetual dream market for a polo horse, a foxhunter and a cow pony.

Outside of work, Dr. Mason enjoys being outdoors; he competes in ultra endurance events (running, biking, kayaking, Ride & Ties) and enjoys traveling, fly fishing, upland bird hunting and backpacking. He also has a classic 1970 Ford Bronco and enjoys motorsports.

Dr. Mason is married with two daughters, Addison(15) and Ainsley (13), and one four-legged daughter, Molly (7), a German Shorthaired Pointer who can be found sleeping in the back seat of his truck most days.

Dr. Mason sits on the Kentucky Horse Council Board of Directors and is the chair of the Equine Health and Welfare Committee. He’s co-authored a paper published in the Journal of Veterinary Dentistry and has presented at the American Association of Equine Practitioners convention. He is also part of the Breeders’ Cup Treating Veterinary Team and is licensed in Kentucky, California, New York, and Florida.

He’s grateful for the professional horseman in the industry and the quality of stock he gets to see. “The centralized location for all farms that Lexington offers requires less time in the truck and more time to be a vet,” he explains. “The roads we travel and farms we are on daily are beautiful and not taken for granted.”

Dr. Smith team roped a bit through high school, and he’s been involved in the Thoroughbred business with mares, foals and yearlings. He currently doesn’t own any horses, but does have one pony named Rooster his daughters hop on from time to time.

Dr. Smith is married with two daughters; he enjoys spending time watching his kids in their various sports activities, along with hunting, fishing, hiking and the outdoors.

Dr. Ford is a founding partner of LEMG who is particularly passionate about equine reproductive medicine, though he loves all aspects of practice in Central Kentucky. His favorite thing about working in the Commonwealth is the natural beauty of the land and the horses the land produces.

Dr. Ford is married with four children, and he owns and breeds Thoroughbreds of his own. When not working with horses, he is an avid upland hunter and enjoys fly fishing and other outdoor activities.

Dr. Ford sits on the Kentucky Association of Equine Practitioners board of directors.

She returned to Kentucky to practice and holds licenses in Kentucky, Florida and New York. Dr. Heitz joined the LEMG team in August 2022.

Dr. Heitz enjoys working with equine athletes in all phases of their life, from the time they’re born, throughout their racing careers and into retirement. “Being a part of each milestone in their career is very rewarding to me,” she explains. Her areas of interest include lameness, racetrack and herd health.

Outside of work, Dr. Heitz enjoys playing golf, flag football and other sports, spending time with her family, and watching the UK athletics (go Cats!). She also sits on the Kentucky Veterinary Medical Association (KVMA) Government Relations Committee and volunteers with the Boys and Girls Haven as the head of their Equine Programs Advisory Council.

She has three fur babies: a Golden Retriever named Rollo, and two cats, Gepetto and Lightning McQueen.

Dr. DeBolt joined the LEMG team in 2019 as an import/export specialist. With so many horses in the Commonwealth traveling overseas to race, compete and breed, Dr. DeBolt’s knowledge is key to ensuring each horse arrives with all its paperwork, testing and other protocols in place.

Dr. DeBolt’s love of animals was fostered by her parents; her father is a small-animal veterinarian whom she grew up working with on their 40-acre farm. “I developed a deep love for taking care of animals [on the farm],” she says. “I loved the animal-care aspect, but I also loved helping owners care for their pets. Watching my father as a valuable member of our community was inspiring, too.”

Dr. Debolt rode on her family farm and moved into hunter/jumper competition as a teenager. In college she began eventing, competing mainly on Thoroughbreds. “I currently have a mustang that is showing a lot of promise as an eventer, if I can ever find time to ride him!” she says. “My kids enjoy our pony sporadically when time away from other sports permits.” Dr. DeBolt also owns two miniature donkeys.

When not working or riding, Dr. DeBolt enjoys hiking, running, reading, kayaking and canoeing, time with her family and her animals, and anything outdoors. Her family includes four boys, ages 11, 8, 6 and 4, and a husband “who is my partner in running this circus” she says.

One of Dr. DeBolt’s favorite things about Lexington is its beauty, as well as the ability to have land, yet still be close to the city – a far cry from San Francisco, where she lived before. Also important to her is the sense of camaraderie, both equine and otherwise: “We have found a community here full of great friends” she comments.

Dr. Morrison didn’t grow up with horses or in a horse family, but she fell deeply in love with horses the fist time she saw them over a decade ago. “I’ve never looked back” she explains of her decision to pursue equine vet med. She’s passionate about the horses and the veterinarian lifestyle suits her. “They [the horses] never allow me to be bored!” she says. “I enjoy medicine cases, specifically neonatology cases. I enjoy lacerations. I enjoy anything that makes you think a little extra.”

Dr. Morrison owns a Standardbred broodmare named KitKat, who she also raced. She co-owns the mare’s 2019 and 2020 foals, and keeps them with a friend in Canada who is training them. “I am anxiously awaiting the newest addition out of her this spring,” she says. When she’s not working, Dr. Morrison enjoys hiking or relaxing with a good movie and some ice cream.

Dr. Mauk completed both her undergraduate and graduate degree at the University of Tennessee. Her favorite cases are those that are a challenge, but that are resolvable. “I love when a nasty laceration comes together well; I love the dystocia that I can get fixed; I love the dummy foals that turn around; I love the abscess that pops and gives instant relief,” she explains.

Dr. Mauk loves living in the Bluegrass. “I have so much respect for the athletes that we create here and I have enjoyed working with them at different stages throughout both their careers and mine,” she says. “With that said, I think my favorite part about working in Central Kentucky is the hope. There is so much potential in each new foal, with each sale, with each new stallion. It’s so exciting to follow these horses and hope for their success.”

When she’s not working, Dr. Mauk enjoys riding her OTTB and spending time outdoors with her family: husband Fletcher, daughter Aurie and son Miller, along with Airedale Terrier Waylon.

Dr. Growette grew up in Cannon Falls, MN, where she enjoyed trail riding on Paint Horses. She completed her undergrad work at the University of North Dakota, where she majored in Biology with a Pre-Health emphasis. From there she went to Kansas State for vet school, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude before embarking on an internship at Peterson Smith Equine Hospital and Complete Care.

Dr. Growette really enjoys reproduction and foal medicine; she has recently become interested in sales work, as well. She’s particularly fond of working in the Bluegrass for a plethora of reasons, among them “the landscape, the prestige of the industry as a whole and the unique opportunities available to me simply by practicing veterinary medicine in this area,” she explains. “I love driving through the rolling countryside and seeing beautiful and historic horse farms everywhere, and getting to participate in events [either as a veterinarian or a spectator] like the horse sales and race meets. I love that so much of the way of life in the Bluegrass surrounds the horse. The bourbon isn't too shabby either!”

When not working or riding her own horse, Banana, Dr. Growette enjoys reading, knitting, listening to true crime podcasts and spending time with her animals, dogs Apollo and Aurora and cats Linus and Lucy.

Dr. Spengler started with LEMG in July of 2023. She particularly enjoys “providing a sense of stability for clients and patients in stressful situations. I enjoy coming up with solutions and an agreeable plan of action in times of need (i.e., emergency situations).”

Dr. Spengler appreciates all outdoor activities and particularly enjoys hiking.

Dr. George completed her undergraduate degree in Equine Science from the University of Kentucky and pursued her veterinary degree from Lincoln Memorial University.

She enjoys the array of experiences interning at LEMG offers her: “I love that my job allows me to be involved in many different aspects of patient care, including wellness, sports medicine, reproduction, and emergency care. Not one day on the job is like the other and that’s what I love most about being a vet.”

Dr. George currently owns two Quarter Horses she competes in reining and breeds. Outside of work and riding, she enjoys reading, hiking and traveling with husband Tanner George and their two dogs, Lady and Paisley: “National parks are some of my favorite destinations,” she says.

Her favorite thing about the Bluegrass? “My office views! Having the opportunity to drive through the beautiful horse farms every day makes each commute to and from farms so enjoyable.”