Careers Articles

Discover a Career as an Equine Veterinarian

Discover a Career as an Equine Veterinarian
by Written by: The American Association of Equine Practitioners
Do you own or ride horses, or simply admire the beauty of the horse? Do you enjoy the
biological sciences? If so, choosing a career as an equine veterinarian may be the most
rewarding decision you ever mae! "o other profession provides such satisfying daily interaction
with the horse while offering the unique opportunity to care for one of man#s most majestic
friends!
$ %orld of &pportunity
'rom world(class equine athletes to a child#s pri)ed pony, equine veterinarians ensure the health
of a variety of horse breeds involved in a broad range of disciplines! %ith nearly * million horses
in the +nited ,tates and just as many enthusiasts, the need for quality health care for the horse
has never been stronger! It is anticipated that more equine veterinarians than ever before will be
needed in the coming years to provide the care that owners desire for their horses as well as to
continue the tremendous advances in equine research!
Employment opportunities are endless for the equine veterinarian! -ost practitioners are
employed in private equine practice, where they may run a solo practice or be on staff at a multi(
doctor surgical or referral hospital! -any private practitioners mae farm calls to visit their
patients! Especially in rural areas, an equine veterinarian#s office may truly be his or her
veterinary vehicle, as much of the worday is spent traveling from client to client! Equine
veterinarians in private practice can e.pect to wor a five to si.(day wee! /ust lie all medical
professionals, long hours are often required to care for each patient and provide after(hours
emergency treatment!
&ther career paths for the equine veterinarian include teaching and research, regulatory
medicine, public health or military service! 0echnical sales and services, agribusiness and
pharmaceutical companies also provide opportunities for practitioners to use their veterinary
training!
Veterinarians employed in research at universities, colleges and governmental agencies or in
industry positions are dedicated to finding new ways to prevent and treat equine health disorders!
Veterinarians also serve as epidemiologists in city, county, state and federal agencies,
investigating animal and human disease outbreas such as influen)a, rabies, 1yme disease and
%est "ile virus! 0he +nited ,tates Department of $griculture and its veterinarians within the
$nimal and 2lant 3ealth Inspection ,ervice 4$23I,5 monitor the testing and development of new
vaccines and are also responsible for enforcing humane laws for the treatment of animals!
6etting ,tarted
,tudents that are interested in a career within the equine veterinary field should perform well in
general science and biology in junior high school and pursue a strong science, math and biology
program in high school! +pon entering college, students must successfully complete pre(
veterinary undergraduate course wor! 7e sure to spea with your college advisor regarding the
classes that are required for a pre(veterinary major, since each college8school of veterinary
medicine establishes its own pre(veterinary courses! 0ypically, these include demonstrating basic
language and communication sills as well as courses in the social sciences, humanities,
mathematics, biology, chemistry and physics!
$dmission to veterinary school is highly competitive! $pplicants may be required to tae a
standardi)ed test nown as the 6raduate 9ecord E.amination! 0he number of qualified
applicants that are admitted to veterinary schools nationwide will vary from year to year, but
typically one third of all applicants are accepted!
0here are currently :: colleges or schools of veterinary medicine located in the +nited ,tates,
Canada and the %est Indies! Each of these institutions also has a student chapter of the
$merican $ssociation of Equine 2ractitioners 4$$E25, which provides students with additional
opportunities to e.plore equine veterinary medicine! 'or a complete list of schools and lins to
their %eb sites, visit the $ssociation of $merican Veterinary -edical Colleges at www!aavmc!org!
$ 9ewarding Education
$fter admission to veterinary school, it typically taes four years to complete the required
veterinary medical curriculum to earn a Doctor of Veterinary -edicine degree, or DV-! 6raduates
then may choose to pursue employment opportunities or to gain additional education in various
specialties such as surgery, internal medicine, animal behavior, dentistry, ophthalmology,
pathology, laboratory equine research or preventive medicine!
'or those graduates who want to receive additional training, internships present an e.cellent
post(graduation option! 0he $$E2#s $venues Internship8E.ternship 2rogram aligns the recent
veterinary school graduate with an e.perienced equine practitioner to gain the necessary ;hands(
on< e.perience for seeing their first patient or dealing with their first client! Veterinary students
who have not yet graduated may apply for an e.ternship to gain practical nowledge during the
summer months or other school breas!
$ 7right 'uture
'or those considering a career involving horses, there has never been a better time to become an
equine veterinarian! 'rom providing the daily health needs of the horse to developing new and
improved treatment options through research, the equine veterinarian plays a vital role in the life
of the horse and those who own them! 0o learn more about this rewarding profession, chec out
the following online resources=
$merican $ssociation of Equine 2ractitioners
www!aaep!org
$merican Veterinary -edical $ssociation
www!avma!org
+nited ,tates Department of $griculture > $nimal and 2lant 3ealth Inspection ,ervice
www!aphis!usda!gov
$ssociation of $merican Veterinary -edical Colleges
www!aavmc!org
?$merican $ssociation of Equine 2ractitioners, @AA:!
posted= B8@C8@AA:! 1ast updated= B8@C8@AA: