Business Briefs: Should You Build a Haul-in Facility?

This article originally appeared in the Winter 2025 issue of EquiManagement. Sign up here for a FREE subscription to EquiManagement’s quarterly digital or print magazine and any special issues.

Many ambulatory practice owners, eager to increase their efficiency, are considering building haul-in facilities to see patients. The time spent driving from farm to farm frequently limits the number of horses a practitioner can see each day, which constrains revenue production and increases fatigue. Research by the AVMA has shown that a companion animal veterinarian in general practice typically sees 20-30 patients per day, while an equine practitioner sees 22 patients per week.

Investing in an Equine Haul-in Facility

If you invest in a haul-in facility, you must use it regularly or you’ll be using your practice’s profit to support it. Facility and equipment costs for ambulatory practices typically run 6-8% of total revenue, while practices with haul-in facilities typically spend 9-11% of total revenue. If a solely ambulatory practice spends 6% of a total revenue of $600,000 for facility and equipment, the dollar amount is $36,000. If that $600,000 is supporting a small clinic building with a cost of 9%, expenses would run $54,000, potentially leaving $18,000 less profit for the owner.

Benefits of a Haul-in Facility

Having a facility for seeing regular appointments as well as emergencies is a huge time- and energy-saver for equine practitioners, especially those with large practice areas to cover. Instead of time spent driving, the doctor can get set up at the office. During after hours, a technician can more easily come in to help with complicated cases. When multiple urgent calls occur simultaneously, veterinarians might be able to complete one while the next is en route. For those who have sutured wounds with a headlamp in the cold of winter, having warmth and good lighting in a facility is like heaven. Clients generally appreciate the comfort factor as well, once they experience it.

In some regions, trailering to the veterinary office is the norm. In others, owners expect the veterinarian to come to the horses. Regional culture might impact the success of creating a facility where patients come to the doctors. You might need to offer an incentive to shift the traveling to the horse owner. This could include quicker appointment scheduling or lack of a farm call fee. Marketing the advantage of a climate-controlled setting with all the necessary equipment at hand can also help.

Building Considerations

Building a facility can be expensive, costing as much as $300 per square foot. Start modestly, and design in such a way that allows for additions. Most haul-in centers have at least two stalls; a treatment area with stocks; an area for pharmacy, equipment storage, and in-house lab equipment; as well as an office big enough for at least one or two desks. A restroom is also a necessity. In some municipalities, the requirements for a commercial building include multiple permits, variances, and accessibility measures. Explore these hurdles before making a final decision about a site or design. Interview contractors carefully, and seek one with experience navigating these kinds of difficulties. 

In no circumstance should you cut corners. All surfaces must be able to be washed and disinfected, which means having a drainage system under your concrete floor. Every stall and treatment area should have a drain, with the concrete in each space slanted toward it. Without this attention to detail, if you unwittingly have a horse show up with a communicable disease like Strep. equi or Salmonella, without having the means to eliminate the organism, your expensive facility could be unusable. In addition, surfaces must be nonslip, requiring a broom-swept finish or rubber mat ­solution. 

Final Thoughts

With attention to detail, a strong marketing plan, and a commitment to using the new asset to maximize efficiency, building a haul-in facility can be a great investment for many practitioners. 

Disclaimer from sponsor: This content is subject to change without notice and is offered for informational use only. All statements are the sole opinions of the author. Synchrony and its affiliates, including CareCredit, make no representations or warranties regarding the content. You are urged to consult with your individual advisors with respect to any information presented.

Related Reading

• Equine Veterinary Sustainability: Initiating Haul-In Policies for Emergency Care
• The Complexities of Rural Equine Practice
• The Business of Practice: Shifting to a Haul-in Emergency Model

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