In this episode, Zach Loppnow, DVM, shared the results from a June 2025 survey of early-career equine veterinarians conducted by the AAEP Early Career Committee. The 446 respondents comprised AAEP members who graduated between 2015-2024. Almost 60% reported a caseload of 100% equine, and 78% reported a caseload of at least 75% equine. More than half the respondents worked at large group practices, with a smaller number of respondents in solo practice.
Loppnow reported that only 7% of respondents said their internship discouraged them from equine practice, and more than half felt their internship enhanced their desire to remain in equine practice. He said the average number of jobs since graduation was 2.5 and the average number of years before a move was about two. He noted this was one of the most important findings, showing that “we have a very short time to make an impact!”
The most common pain points, he said, are generational gaps, older practitioners’ resistance to change, and the expectation of constant contact from clients, along with long hours, emergency shift requirements, and lower pay than small animal practice.
In closing, Loppnow said one message to take from the survey is “a request for change is not a condemnation of the past.” He encouraged early-career veterinarians, saying “there’s a place for you in equine medicine.”
About Dr. Zach Loppnow
Zach Loppnow, DVM, is a Minnesota native who grew up on his family’s successful show pig farm. He completed a Bachelor of Science in animal science at the University of Minnesota and then earned his DVM from Minnesota’s College of Veterinary Medicine in 2017. After graduation, he did an internship at Anoka Equine, where he stayed on as an associate for three more years. During this time, his love for surgery grew and eventually led him down a path toward becoming a board-certified surgeon. He left private practice to complete another internship at Iowa State University’s Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center, after which he was accepted into a residency in Equine Surgery at Steinbeck Peninsula Equine Clinics, in Salinas, California.
After completing his residency, Loppnow accepted a position as the surgeon at Stillwater Equine Veterinary Clinics, in Stillwater, Minnesota. His professional interests lie in arthroscopic and soft tissue surgeries. He has published multiple academic papers and been a contributing writer for equine veterinary textbooks. Loppnow is an accomplished speaker who has presented nationally at the AAEP and ACVS Annual Conferences, regional continuing education events, and to students at veterinary schools across the country.
Outside of his career, Loppnow has been joyfully married to his wife, Krista, since 2018. Together, they enjoy traveling to national parks, hiking, cooking, and spending time with family and friends. Loppnow is still very active in his family’s show pig operation and occasionally accompanies his father to national shows.
Related Reading
- Equine Veterinary Sustainability: What Equine Vet Students, New Grads, and Interns Need
- The Business of Practice: Building Confidence in Entry-Level Veterinarians
- The Value of Mentoring Early Career Equine Veterinarians
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