The majority of equine veterinarians go into private practice. Typical duties include, preventative, maintenance, and surgical procedures, and will likely involve travel to the animal, often under harsh working conditions, and with tools and medical supplies carried in a vehicle or "mobile office".
Working with one of these agencies could entail evaluating new drugs, administering treatments, caring for military horses, evaluating zebras and other equine species at national zoos, or doing scientific research or teaching. Some veterinarians even work with NASA. There are many opportunities to pursue, in more than veterinarian positions within the federal government.
Of course, education, location, experience, and specialty are all factors to consider. For those who love horses, becoming an Equine Veterinarian can be a promising career choice; but not without hard work, dedication, competitiveness, and sacrifice. Those who have the determination and skills to succeed will be met with many opportunities by specializing in equine medicine. Account Sign in Sign in Join.
Financial Report. Please sign in to access your education expenses portfolio. Forgot your password? Not Registered Yet? Register Now ». Already a Member? Get as much experience as you can and do and learn as much as the veterinarians will let you. Yes No. Not Helpful 1 Helpful 9. I've been working with horses for a while, and I'd like to become an equine vet.
What's the total number of years I will need to go to school for? You will need to be in school for 8 years 4 years of under grad, and 4 years of graduate school plus usually a 1 year internship if you'd like to become an equine vet. Not Helpful 0 Helpful 7. Not Helpful 1 Helpful 3. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Make sure you have horse handling experience before you start vet school to be an equine vet.
Many schools do not teach horsemanship because their focus is on veterinary medicine and expect you to already have the knowledge of how to handle a horse safely and humanely. Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0. Join your veterinary program or local area's chapter of the American Association of Equine Practitioners AAEP for networking and professional development opportunities.
Go to source. You can further specialize within equine veterinary medicine by focusing on internal medicine, surgery or another specialty. While most students are admitted to a veterinary program after obtaining a four year degree, some veterinary schools will admit students who have not completed a Bachelor's degree.
Be sure to consult a specific program's prerequisites before leaving your undergraduate program. Before applying to veterinary school to be an equine vet, become a member of 4H or Pony Club to get as much horsemanship experience as possible. It is not easy to become a veterinarian of any specialty. Working hard, keeping your grades up, and gaining experience through volunteering are all necessary steps to becoming a veterinarian.
Helpful 2 Not Helpful 1. Trending Articles How to. How to. About This Article. Co-authored by:. Co-authors: Updated: May 25, With over nine million horses in the United States, equine veterinarians play an important role in the life of the horse and those who own them.
For those who dedicate their professional career to the care of the horse, the paths are exciting. Most equine veterinarians are employed in private practice, where they may own a solo practice or be on staff at a multi-doctor surgical or referral hospital.
General practice is a popular and rewarding choice for many veterinarians. Others choose to focus on a specific breed or discipline for which they have a personal passion, such as racehorses or western pleasure horses. Many private practitioners are ambulatory veterinarians, spending much of their day traveling to clients. Ambulatory practice is the norm in both urban areas and rural communities.
Depending on the needs of their clients, some practitioners find it beneficial to expand beyond equine medicine to offer mixed animal or large animal veterinary care. For those who love independence, a daily change in schedule and working outside, ambulatory practice can be the perfect career fit. Equine medicine today is as sophisticated as human medicine. Although ambulatory practice is the backbone of the profession, many veterinarians decide to specialize in one area of equine practice, such as surgery, internal medicine, reproduction or radiology.
Pursuing a career in a specialized field requires additional education and training beyond veterinary school. As the sophistication of equine medicine continues to increase, so will the need for equine veterinarians with specialty training.
Horses are large, strong animals, and a frightened or injured horse needs to be safely and humanely restrained so the veterinarian can treat it. You may need to hold a horse still for X-rays or walk or trot the horse for a soundness exam. Some vet techs may be asked to occasionally ride a horse, so riding skills are also essential. The hours an equine veterinary technician works are typically long, but there can be a great deal of variety in what you accomplish from day to day.
Most equine veterinary technicians go on barn calls, which can mean rising at dawn and accompanying the vet on calls to check on horses, conduct pre-purchase exams, administer vaccinations and worming medications, and respond to emergencies. Most work on rotating shifts within a practice, which means that for one day out of every three or four days, they may respond to calls at any time—day or night.
Some days are longer. Equine veterinary technicians working at a teaching hospital or large breeding or racing facility typically make rounds to check on their patients.
Equine veterinary medical technicians must take special care in preparing for surgeries, which may include clipping and cleaning the surgical site on the horse.
They are also responsible for setting up the site for surgery, including:. Equine vet techs may hand equipment to the veterinarian during surgery. Often a second vet tech is in the room to circulate and replenish supplies or assist as needed. Equine veterinary technicians working at a large animal hospital may be asked to hand walk, graze or ride the horses at the hospital. For people who love horses, science and a changing daily schedule, becoming an equine veterinary medical technician may be the perfect job.
Equine VMTs study equine health, anatomy, physiology, feeding and nutrition, and animal husbandry. Many also help veterinarians with the business end of their practice, so they may want to include business courses in their education.
Equine VMTs also must learn to ride horses, and colleges like Wilson that have VMT programs often offer equestrian programs, where students can learn to ride or become more proficient riders. Regardless of when you learned to ride, as an equine VMT, you should be comfortable in the saddle and around horses of various training levels—you may be asked to hop onto a green prospect in the morning and school a seasoned champion later that day.
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