An honest look at the state of equine veterinary practice in 2025

Equine veterinarians juggle a uniquely complex profession—both 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. Today’s 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, we’ve gathered insight from aspiring and established equine veterinarians and their advocates.

Defining the Role of the Equine Veterinarian

The 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 Show

Until very recently, equine veterinarians earned significantly less than their small animal practitioner colleagues, despite bearing comparable educational debt burdens—an 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 it’s 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 retention—compensation, 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 More

In today’s 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