An honest look at the state of equine veterinary practice in 2025Some veterinarians find balance by focusing on a specific niche of equine practice. | Courtesy John Eisele/Colorado State UniversityEquine veterinarians juggle a uniquely complex professionboth fulfilling and demanding. They care and advocate for large, voiceless, unpredictable flight animals, many of which are athletes. The industry expects those who pursue a career in equine medicine to act as ambulatory generalists and specialists, often working with limited staffing and resources, and sometimes under great pressure from the demands of owners and trainers. Their work carries inherent physical dangers1, and the constant travel to patients can compromise efficiency.These occupational hazards and sacrifices often pair with long hours, blurred boundaries, and modest pay. Todays equine practitioners have finally started to see the tide change in their favor, but the road to sustainability in equine practice remains under construction. To bring you an honest look at the current state of equine practice in an ever-changing landscape, weve gathered insight from aspiring and established equine veterinarians and their advocates.Defining the Role of the Equine VeterinarianThe American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP)the primary organization for horse vets in the U.S.describes equine veterinarians as highly trained medical professionals who specialize in the health and welfare of horses. While many horse doctors provide direct care in private practice, handling everything from physical and lameness exams to emergency colic surgeries, others contribute to research, regulatory medicine, education, and pharmaceutical sales. Horse vets can choose to become general practitioners (GPs) after pursuing a yearlong equine-specific internship following vet school, while others embark on a multiyear residency to become board-certified specialists in internal medicine, surgery, sports medicine and rehabilitation, diagnostic imaging, ophthalmology, or theriogenology (reproduction), for example.Post-Pandemic Practice: What the Numbers ShowUntil very recently, equine veterinarians earned significantly less than their small animal practitioner colleagues, despite bearing comparable educational debt burdensan average of $179,505 for those who took out student loans, as of 20222. This disparity in debt-to-income ratio has long been a driving force behind the difficult decision made by 50% of graduates to leave equine practice within five years post-graduation3. But promising shifts have emerged.Average salaries for veterinary graduates entering equine practice increased from $65,000 in 2021 to $95,000 in 2023, representing a 46% increase over just two years, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Business and Economic Forum. These numbers are the highest ever reported for equine practice, notes David Foley, CAE , who has served as executive director of AAEP since 2000. In the years leading up to the pandemic, average starting salaries for horse veterinarians had stagnated around $45,000-$65,000.Five years after the start of the pandemic, Foley says the AAEP sees some initial signs of improvement in retaining veterinarians and attracting veterinary students to equine practice but admits its too early to see trends in the data. The AAEP launched the Commission on Equine Veterinary Sustainability4 in 2022 to address the key areas impacting retentioncompensation, emergency coverage models, veterinary practice culture, internships, and student development, he explains.One thing is clear post-pandemic: Veterinarians, especially those pursuing equine practice, remain scarce and highly sought. Having the supply-and-demand curve skewed in their favor might give new graduates leverage when negotiating offers, potentially helping them secure better salaries, benefits, and work schedules.Creative Business Models: Relief Work, Solo Practice, and MoreIn todays market equine veterinary graduates have options. Popular choices include starting a solo ambulatory practice, joining an established, corporate-owned multidoctor hospital as an associate, and working as a specialist at a referral center (after residency and board certification). Relief and emergency-only arrangements have also gained traction as flexible, high-income alternatives to traditional practice.Each presents unique rewards and challenges, explains Foley. For example, solo practice offers complete autonomy and flexibility, but emergency coverage can be a frequent stressor unless a new way of providing after-hours care is established, such as collaborating with other veterinarians to share emergency coverage on a rotating schedule. Some solo practitioners find balance by focusing on a specific niche, such as dentistry or sports medicine, which may reduce the frequency of general emergency calls (for sick or injured horses).Aside from long, unpredictable hours and being expected to provide emergency coverage 24/7, equine veterinarians commonly face another challenge: time spent away from home and family. Those wanting to specialize in equine sports medicine, for instance, might perceive extensive travel requirements as an insurmountable obstacle. Living on the road, seasonal relocation to warmer southern states for the winter, and clients demanding show schedules across large regions can deter new graduates from pursuing this specialty.But it doesnt have to be that way, argues Andrea Sotela, DVM, owner of Cavallo Veterinary Services, an ambulatory equine practice based year-round in Red Hook, New York. Sport horses are sport horses, she says, and to practice equine sports medicine, all you need are horses and a local show circuit or pleasure riding community. It can be hunter/jumper or Western performanceit doesnt even need to be any one thing. They are all equine athletes.Now in her fourth year of practice ownership after initially working as an associate veterinarian at a multidoctor practice, Sotela says she enjoys her work. Local horses need good lameness vets, too, she says.Regardless of structure, Foley says the AAEP believes the most sustainable equine practices proactively address the core challenges affecting professional and personal balance and job satisfaction. There isnt a one-size-fits-all, most sustainable model, and our member research found that emergency coverage, fair compensation, and a supportive and respectful practice environment significantly impact retention and job satisfaction, he says.Supporting Veterinary Students With Equine AmbitionsAbigail Reilly, a fourth-year student at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine in Blacksburg, Virginia, says shes very optimistic about a career in equine medicine after graduation. Keenly aware the industry needs more equine veterinarians, shes seen new graduates receive more support than ever before, both emotionally and financially. There has been a big shift of focus onto a healthy work-life balance, which is vital in this line of work, she says. I personally think theres no better time to enter equine medicine.But despite her optimism, Reilly, like many of her peers, fully recognizes the challenges tied to her career path. She says her top concerns as a future equine veterinarian include facing client criticism, paying off student debt, and maintaining good mental health. Indeed, 25% of veterinarians graduating in 2022 had a debt-to-income ratio of 2:0 (the industry considers 1:4 serviceable for a new graduate to pay down debt without inducing serious financial stress), a slight improvement from the 2020 statistics. Even though new equine grads have salaries higher than ever before, that $80,000 per year still wont cover the debt we have from school or the cost of living nowadays, she says.On the mental health front, researchers reported a suicide rate in the veterinary profession four times higher than in the general population5. Programs such as Not One More Vet (NOMV), MentorVet, and AVMAs Workplace Wellbeing Certificate Program aim to address this crisis.For aspiring equine practitioners deterred by the substantial student debt and extensive, four-year veterinary education in which horses make up a small part of the curriculum, one university has created an equine-centric alternative: In the fall of 2023, Lincoln Memorial University, in Harrogate, Tennessee, launched its new Equine Veterinary Education Program. The degree consists of a two-and-a-half-year tailored undergraduate program followed by a four-year veterinary doctoral program with a strong emphasis on equine veterinary medicine6.The tailored undergraduate program replaces the four-year bachelors degree traditionally pursued before seeking veterinary school admission. While still in its infancy, this program represents a step toward making equine veterinary education more attainable and addressing the equine veterinary shortage crisis.Gen Z Veterinary Graduates Changing the WorkplaceThe workplace has transformed beyond just the equine and veterinary industries, with individuals prioritizing work-life balance, sustainable compensation packages, mental health, healthy boundaries, and personal achievement.Gen Z, generally defined as those born between 1997 and 2012, are both entering and graduating from veterinary school in 2025. Surveys show nearly 75% of all Gen Z professionals consider workplace flexibility the single most important employee benefit7.Again, historically, equine veterinary practice hasnt exactly been known for its flexibility. Late-night emergencies, 24/7 on-call responsibilities, and few days off have long been the standard. However, these expectations have evolved with a mindset shift combined with the rise of emergency coverage cooperatives, relief work positions, and part-time work options mentioned earlier.Reflecting on changes in equine practice since she graduated from veterinary school nearly 20 years ago, solo practitioner Sotela says shes observed a shift among new veterinarians. I have to tip my hat to the younger generation, she says. The face of veterinary medicine is ever-changing, and these young graduates arent taking no for an answer when it comes to finding their place in the industry and securing the position that makes them the best person and professional they can be. They wont struggle for 15 years to find their place; theyre just commanding it right out of the gate. This isnt always well-received, but maybe they have something figured out that our generation didnt.Sam Crosby IV, DVM, owner of Crosby Equine Services, in Arcadia, Oklahoma, says he has also noticed equine practice evolving. Crosby serves as a board member of Veterinarians Encouraging and Teaching (VET), a nonprofit organization based in Oklahoma City dedicated to enhancing relationships between vet students, private practice, and academia. Focusing on the clinical and technological evolution of the profession, he recounts that 30 years ago his ultrasound machine was so basic it was incapable of visualizing the elements we see regularly today, he says. We also had to develop X rays, and they werent even close to the quality of the worst digital X ray we have today.The increased availability and quality of the technology have been invaluable in equine practice, but Crosby says he believes they have also caused a decline in the quality of hands-on exams. Also, interestingly, in the 90s, horse vets had to be mixed-animal vets as there wasnt enough work to just be an equine sports medicine specialist, he explains. The amount of money involved in equestrian events today makes advanced veterinary care necessary for a horse to be competitive.Take-Home MessageAs equine veterinary medicine culture evolves, new graduates enter a profession now acknowledging and addressing sacrifices long accepted as the norm. Growing awareness, better compensation, and shifting expectations push equine practice toward a more sustainable future.To this rising generation of horse doctors, Sotela recommends keeping an open mind and exploring possibilities. To know what you want, you must go out there and see what it feels like to work in different parts of the industry, she says. Trust that there is happiness in equine practice. You just have to find yours.References1. Furtado T, Whiting M, Schofield I, Jackson R, Tulloch JSP. Pain, inconvenience and blame: Defining work-related injuries in the veterinary workplace. Occup Med. 2024;74(7):501507.2. Chart of the Month: Good news on student debt. American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA); 2023. Published May 25, 2023. Accessed Sept. 16, 2025. https://www.avma.org/blog/chart-month-good-news-student-debt3. AAEP Equine Veterinary Sustainability Initiative. American Association of Equine Practitioners. Publication date unavailable. Accessed Sept. 16, 2025. https://www.avma.org/news/aaep-develops-resources-recruit-retainequine-veterinarians4. AAEP develops resources to recruit, retain equine veterinarians. AVMA; 2024. Published March 27, 2024. Accessed Sept. 16, 2025. https://www.avma.org/news/aaep-developsresources-recruit-retain-equine-veterinarians5. Stoewen, DL. Suicide in veterinary medicine: Lets talk about it. Can Vet J. 2015;56(1):89.6. LMU debuts Equine Veterinary Education Program. Lincoln Memorial University; 2022. Published July 18, 2022. Accessed Sept. 16, 2025. https://www.lmunet.edu/news/2022/07/EquineVeterinaryEducationProgram7. Generation Z in the Workplace: A Changing Workforce. Publication date unavailable. Accessed Sept. 16, 2025. https://tinyurl.com/3r8ykbs5This article is from the Winter 2025 issue ofThe Horse: Your Guide to Equine Health Care. We at The Horse work to provide you with the latest and most reliable news and information on equine health, care, management, and welfare through our magazine and TheHorse.com. Your subscription helps The Horse continue to offer this vital resource to horse owners of all breeds, disciplines, and experience levels. 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