Dr. Leonard Blach, 90, passed away October 26.

© Churchill Downs

ROSWELL, NM–NOVEMBER 1, 2024–On Saturday, October 26th, 2024, there was only one remaining set of footprints left in Leonard’s life as the Lord came and carried him home to rest. Leonard was 90 years old.

Leonard Paul Blach was born on July 30, 1934, in Yuma, Colorado. He was the fifth of eight children born to Herman and Ella Blach. He was also the first child to be born in a hospital. Leonard grew up on the family farm north of Yuma on the homestead of his grandparents Wenzel and Katherine Blach.

Leonard and his siblings attended primary school in the Blach schoolhouse, which his grandfather built. They traveled to school either on horseback, or in an old chevy carrying drinking water to the school. He would remind his children and grandchildren that he was always the smartest kid in his class, as he was the only one in his grade.

It wasn’t until 1948 that Leonard lived in a house with running water. His family farmed with a team of Percheron horses, sometimes with the aide of German prisoners of war. Leonard and his siblings grew up as hard-working kids learning everything from hand-hoeing weeds in summer fallow to rock picking fields before planting, driving tractors, combines or binders at very young ages, gathering and sorting eggs, and separating cream to sell in town.

Leonard was raised in a devote Catholic family and throughout his life his faith never waivered. He practiced and lived out his faith daily. We shall forever remember him telling us all that there are miracles every day – you just have to look for them.

After Leonard graduated from Yuma High School, he attended Colorado State University where he met his life partner, Joanne Fulenwider. They were married in June of 1957, and Leonard graduated with a doctorate in veterinary medicine in 1960. After graduation, they moved to Yuma Colorado and he practiced there for a year before an opportunity arose for him in Santa Fe, NM. He established the Santa Fe Equine Clinic, which was the first equine surgical center in NM. He also was a founder and director of Santa Fe Downs. In 1972, he sold his practice in Santa Fe and moved to Roswell, NM where he designed and built the Buena Suerte Ranch with Harriett Peckham and Walter Merrick. Buena Suerte Ranch would soon become the largest Quarter Horse Breeding ranch in the nation. While at Buena Suerte Ranch, Leonard worked in conjunction with Colorado State University and several other research organizations to develop advanced techniques in equine surgery and reproduction. He shared his education and expertise in lectures across the United States and in Canada, Australia, and Brazil.

In 1986, Leonard established the Buena Suerte Equine Clinic in Roswell where he practiced for 32 years. He finally decided to slow down to a state of semi-retirement in 2018 after practicing veterinary medicine for 57 years.

Leonard was a lifelong fan of horse racing. His interests led him to be involved in the breeding, raising, training, selling, and racing of both thoroughbreds and quarter horses. Some of the more notable racehorses he was involved with included World Champion Time For a Cigar – winner of the Ruidoso Derby; Carters Cookie and Tempting Dash - both winners of the Rainbow Futurity; and four other racehorses that qualified for the All- American Derby. The most famous racehorse of his career was Mine That Bird, the winner of the 2009 Kentucky Derby who he co-owned with his long-time friend Mark Allen.

Leonard’s professional career was filled with numerous awards and recognitions. Throughout his career he remained active in many professional organizations. He held multiple chair and director positions for over fifty years with the America Quarter Horse Association and was a lifetime member of the American Association of Equine Practitioners. He also held various positions within the NM Quarter Horse Association, NM Breeders Council, NM Horse Counsel, and State Racing Commission. He received lifetime achievement awards for his leadership and contributions to his field. Most notable was his tenure on the NM Board of Veterinary Examiners for 15 years and being inducted into the Ruidoso Racehorse Hall Of Fame in 2010. He also remained involved in many local charitable organizations and volunteered his time to help others out.

Leonard was preceded in death by his parents Herman and Ella Blach, his siblings Sherman Blach, Harold Blach, Donald Blach, Millard Blach, and Arlene Blach. Joanne Blach, his loving and devoted wife preceded him in death just less than two years ago. He missed her every day. They were married for 65 years.

He is survived by two sisters, Bethine Filion and Colleen Bates and by his daughter Serena Blach and her husband Jeff Villnow of Fall City, WA, his son Dr. Kevin Blach of Roswell, NM and his daughter Pamela Stonebreaker of Encinitas, CA. He considered his family the greatest blessing in his life and he so loved his grandchildren - Kayla McCaffrey and her husband Jim McCaffrey of Dallas, TX and their children Ella, Addie Jo, Sammie and Jesse; Jaden Villnow and his wife Kaley Villnow of Fall City, WA and their children Wyatt, Grace and Eli; Cassie Villnow of Seattle, WA; Chloe Carlyle and her husband Turner Carlyle of Roswell and their son Rohan; Ranin Blach of Fallbrook, CA; Abbie Blach and her wife Dana Blach of Fort Collins, CO and their twin boys Russell and Dean; Kristin Stonebreaker of San Diego, CA; Kelli Stonebreaker and her fiancée Jack Salcido of Issaquah, WA; and Ryan Stonebreaker of San Diego, CA. He so loved his twenty-three nieces and nephews. He leaves behind many loving friends and many loving relatives.

A Vigil service will be held Friday, November 8th at 7:00pm at Assumption Catholic Church. A funeral mass will be celebrated on Saturday, November 9th at 1:00pm at Assumption Catholic Church. A reception will follow at Roswell Country Club.

In memory of Leonard Blach, contributions may be made to MD Anderson Cancer Center, P.O. Box 4486, Houston, TX 77210-4486 or MDAnderson.org/Gifts or to the charity of your choice.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”