Randy Lewis: Horse Vet

For heeler Randy Lewis, DVM, becoming a horse doctor wasn’t a choice he made. Instead, it was just a fact of life since as long as he can remember.

- G.R. Schiavino

In addition to being an equine veterinarian in Abilene, Texas, for the last two decades, Dr. Randy Lewis is also quite the comedian. His bio on the West Texas Equine Clinic’s website certainly hints at this characteristic, but, when asked if he’d be interested in an interview about what he does outside of the arena, Lewis, 49, didn’t skip a beat.

“I had no idea you all knew I was a male gigolo.”

He followed up the icebreaker with a hefty chuckle, leaving the impression that it’s probably mighty fun to sit arena-side with this 6 heeler, who emphasizes the value of relationships when it comes to his actual professional endeavors.

“That’s my favorite part, for sure. I mean I enjoy the horses, no doubt, and I truly do, but I enjoy the relationships I make with people as much as anything. I graduated in 1997, so it’s been 22 years. The personal relationships that I’ve made with my clients and seeing their kids grow up and compete with their horses and be successful, those are the ones that stand out—when I get to see those kids go from play days to junior high school rodeo to high school rodeos and some go on to rodeo professionally and to see those transitions and be around those families as they’re on their journey, that’s what I remember the most.”

Lewis shares his life with his wife—a small animal veterinarian whom he met in vet school—and their teenaged son, 19, and daughter, 16; but his love of roping is all his.