The Year’s Top Business and Wellness Articles for Equine Veterinarians 

Many of the topics that resonated with our audience this year weren’t about diagnosing and treating horses; they were about sustaining the people and practices behind the care. In this roundup, we’re revisiting the top business and veterinary wellness topics that captured attention in 2025.  

1. Understanding Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs  

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is a model American psychologist Abraham Maslow created to understand the motivations for human behavior. He based this theory of psychological health on a pyramid of needs that must be fulfilled from the base upward. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs provides a practical framework for maximizing employee engagement and well-being. 

2. Horse Industry Statistics Veterinarians Should Know  

This article features important statistics about the U.S. horse population and global perspectives on horse sports that equine veterinarians should know. The data come from the American Horse Council’s Equine Economic Impact Surveyand two FEI surveys on social license to operate. 

3. Important Equine Veterinary Industry Statistics  

Despite the small number of equine veterinarians relative to total veterinarians, dedicated researchers continue to give us important insights into our industry. In this article, we share important insights from the AAEP Commission on Equine Veterinary Sustainability’s Compensation Subcommittee survey of equine practitioners and the AVMA AAEP Report on the Economic State of the Equine Veterinary Profession. 

4. 10 Common OSHA Violations in Equine Practice 

Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) compliance is not optional for equine veterinarians—it’s mandatory. Each violation could cost you dearly, as the fines levied per violation have increased dramatically. We listed the 10 most common ways practices fail to comply. 

5. Making Higher Compensation Possible for Equine Practitioners 

When veterinarians explain why they have left or are considering leaving equine practice, they repeatedly cite the lifestyle, number of hours worked, challenging work-life balance, burden of emergency-coverage responsibilities, and low compensation. To increase compensation for equine veterinarians, the revenues they produce must rise. This can result from increased efficiency, higher fees, more complex services, or additional hours worked. 

6. Practicing While Pregnant 

If you are or are trying to become pregnant, undoubtedly you are thinking about taking precautions for your developing child. Veterinary medicine has numerous hazards, some of which are unique to the profession and others that are common in all workplaces. Each woman is an individual, and some will have higher risk tolerances than others. Ultimately, every pregnancy is different, and flexibility and good communication go a long way in creating a smooth experience for equine practitioners.  

7. 10 Common DEA Compliance Violations 

Compliance with the Drug Enforcement Agency’s regulatory and reporting requirements for controlled substances is crucial for avoiding significant penalties. Whether used for sedation, anesthesia, euthanasia, or treating chronic medical conditions, controlled substances are part of most practitioners’ daily lives. Because they are so ubiquitous, it is easy to become casual about their use. As a result, few veterinary practices are fully compliant with DEA regulations.   

8. Understanding Compassion Satisfaction 

Compassion satisfaction is the pleasure and fulfillment people derive from helping others. Many veterinarians find positive meaning in alleviating their patients’ suffering, as well as their owners’ concerns. The positive emotions that accompany this work can bring joy, a sense of purpose, and the feeling of making a meaningful difference. Although compassion satisfaction is common in the helping professions, if practitioners feel too heavy a demand to be compassionate and effective, they might experience compassion fatigue, burnout, or secondary traumatic stress.  

9. What Equine Vet Students, New Grads, and Interns Need  

Veterinary students, interns, and new graduates need support and mentoring of a type that is different from the past. Every professional concerned about the sustainability of equine practice should champion new approaches and be the change they want to see. 

10. USDA Programs to Address Rural Veterinary Shortages  

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has determined that nearly every U.S. state has at least one rural or livestock-producing region lacking adequate veterinary services. The Veterinary Services Grant Program and the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program were developed over a decade ago to mitigate veterinarian shortages. In this article, we discuss the goals and current status of these two programs, as well as the newly announced Rural Veterinary Action Plan. 

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