College application season is well underway. Applicants who aspire to become equine veterinarians can choose from a long list of DVM programs for earning their degrees. It’s no secret that equine veterinary practitioners are in short supply in many areas of the United States and abroad. In addition, the equine veterinary industry is stepping up to make that career more attractive to vet school graduates.
According to AAEP data, “approximately 1.3% of new veterinary graduates enter equine practice directly each year, and another 4.5% pursue further training in equine internship positions. Within five years, however, 50% of all these veterinarians leave for small animal practice or quit veterinary medicine altogether.”
There are two main reasons for this: burnout from personal demands and financial struggles. New veterinarians’ mean educational debt is more than $183,000. Companion animal practices generally offer higher starting salaries, which pulls talented graduates into small animal practice rather than equine medicine.
The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) has formed the Commission on Equine Veterinary Sustainability to develop strategies to retain and recruit more veterinarians to equine practice.
Directory of AVMA-Accredited DVM Programs
Below is a list of DVM programs accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). There are more than 30 accredited schools in the United States, five in Canada, one in Mexico and 16 others worldwide. Institutions must meet minimum AVMA standards and are granted accreditation for up to seven years. The listing below includes veterinary programs found in North America.
A note about the listings: The “Equine Specialties” section of each listing highlights services noted on their respective websites.
Auburn University
College of Veterinary Medicine: (www.vetmed.auburn.edu)
Vaughn Large Animal Teaching Hospital: (www.vetmed.auburn.edu/animal-owners/jt-vaughan-large-animal-teaching-hospital/)
Equine Specialties: internal medicine, sports medicine and surgery, theriogenology, ambulatory, emergency and critical care, ophthalmology, infection control, large animal anesthesia and diagnostic imaging
1130 Wire Rd., Auburn, AL 36849
Phone: 334-844-4546
Colorado State University
College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences: (vetmedbiosci.colostate.edu)
Veterinary Teaching Hospital: (vetmedbiosci.colostate.edu)
Equine Specialties: surgery and lameness, emergency and critical care, ophthalmology, sports medicine, theriogenology, internal medicine and diagnostic imaging
300 W Drake Rd., Fort Collins, CO 80523-1601
Phone: 970-491-7051
Cornell University
College of Veterinary Medicine: (www.vet.cornell.edu)
Cornell Equine Hospital: (https://www.vet.cornell.edu/hospitals/equine-hospital)
Equine Specialties: anesthesia, cardiology, dentistry and oral surgery, dermatology, emergency critical care, farrier services, internal medicine, ophthalmology, regenerative therapies, sports medicine and rehabilitation, soft tissue surgery, theriogenology and imaging
602 Tower Rd., Ithaca, NY 14853
Phone: 607-2553-3000
Iowa State University
College of Veterinary Medicine: (www.iastate.edu/academics/veterinary-medicine)
Lloyd Veterinary Medical Hospital: (vetmed.iastate.edu/vmc/equine)
Equine Specialties: preventive care, ophthalmology, dentistry, dermatology, surgery and internal medicine
1809 S Riverside Dr., Ames, IA 50011
Phone: 515-294-4900
Kansas State University
College of Veterinary Medicine: (www.vet.k-state.edu)
Equine Medical Center: (www.ksvhc.org/services/equine)
Equine Specialties: internal medicine, performance medicine, theriogenology and surgery
1710 Denison Ave., Manhattan, KS 66506
Phone: 785-532-5660
Lincoln Memorial University
College of Veterinary Medicine: (www.lmunet.edu/college-of-veterinary-medicine/index)
Equine Veterinary Education Program: (www.lmunet.edu/college-of-veterinary-medicine/academics/equine-veterinary-education-program)
Equine Specialties: a fast-track equine veterinary program for students who have previous horse experience and are aspiring equine veterinarians
6965 Cumberland Gap Pkwy., Harrogate, TN 37752
Phone: 423-869-6600
Long Island University
College of Veterinary Medicine: (https://liu.edu/vetmed)
720 Northern Blvd., Brookville, NY 11548
Phone: 516-299-3679
Louisiana State University
School of Veterinary Medicine: (www.lsu.edu/vetmed)
LSU Equine: (www.lsu.edu/vetmed/ehsp)
Equine Specialties: diagnostic and therapeutic solutions for critically ill and injured horses, equine medication surveillance lab, gastrointestinal health, ophthalmology, orthopedics, regenerative medicine, surgery and theriogenology
Skip Bertman Dr., Baton Rouge, LA 70803
Phone: 225-578-9500
Michigan State University
College of Veterinary Medicine: (https://cvm.msu.edu/future-students)
Equine Services: (cvm.msu.edu/hospital/services/equine-services)
Equine Specialties: integrative medicine, emergency and critical care, internal medicine, sports medicine, surgery, dermatology, cardiology, ophthalmology, diagnostic imaging, neurology and rehabilitation
736 Wilson Rd., East Lansing, MI 48824
Phone: 517-432-7776
Midwestern University
College of Veterinary Medicine: (www.midwestern.edu/academics/our-colleges/college-of-veterinary-medicine)
Animal Health Institute Large Animal Clinic: (www.mwuanimalhealth.com/large-animal-clinic)
Equine Specialties: acupuncture, cardiology, dental surgery, digital radiograph, endoscopy, elective and laser surgery, endocrinology, gastroscopy, internal medicine, lameness, lower respiratory diagnosis, theriogenology, tumor diagnosis and treatment, ultrasound, upper airway diagnosis and surgery, and video endoscopy
19555 N 59th Ave., Glendale, AZ 85308
Phone: 623-572-3215
Mississippi State University
College of Veterinary Medicine: (www.vetmed.msstate.edu)
Equine Unit: (www.ads.msstate.edu/equine)
Equine Specialties: The Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences Equine Unit is known for its breeding program.
240 Wise Center Dr., Mississippi, MS 39762
Phone: 601-550-9964
North Carolina State University
College of Veterinary Medicine: (https://cvm.ncsu.edu/)
Equine Hospital: (https://hospital.cvm.ncsu.edu/services/equine)
Equine Specialties: emergency, internal medicine, ophthalmology, surgery and theriogenology
1052 William Moore Dr., Raleigh, NC 27607
Phone: 919-513-6461
The Ohio State University
College of Veterinary Medicine: (www.vet.ohio-state.edu)
Equine Clinic: (vet.osu.edu/clinical-sciences/clinical-specialties/equine-services)
Equine Specialties: emergency and critical care, surgery, radiation oncology, internal medicine, ophthalmology, orthopedic surgery, soft tissue surgery, performance evaluation, radiology and theriogenology
1900 Coffey Rd., Columbus, OH 43210-1092
Phone: 614-292-1171
Oklahoma State University
College of Veterinary Medicine: (https://vetmed.okstate.edu/)
OSU College of Veterinary Medicine Ranch: (https://vethospital.okstate.edu/services/cvm-ranch)
OSU Boren Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital: (vethospital.okstate.edu)
Equine Specialties: emergency and critical care, internal medicine, anesthesia and pain management, acupuncture, behavior, cardiology, dermatology, dentistry, diagnostic imaging, tomography, endoscopy, geriatric medicine, theriogenology, neonatology, neurology, oncology, ophthalmology, orthopedic surgery, soft tissue surgery, preventative care, sports medicine and exotic equids such as zebras
Stillwater, OK 74078
Phone: 405-744-6961
Oregon State University
Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine: (vetmed@oregonstate.edu)
Equine Hospital: (vetmed.oregonstate.edu/file/equine-hospital-veterinary-medicine)
700 SW 30th St., Corvallis, OR 97331
Phone: 541-737-2141
Purdue University
College of Veterinary Medicine: (vet.purdue.edu/dvm/)
Equine Hospital: (vet.purdue.edu/hospital/equine)
Equine Specialties: cardiology, dermatology, ophthalmology, theriogenology, clinical pathology, diagnostic imaging, internal medicine, performance testing and surgery
625 Harrison St., West Lafayette, IN 47907
Phone: 765-494-7607
Texas A&M University
College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences: (www.cvm.tamu.edu)
Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital: (vethospital.tamu.edu/large-animal)
Equine Specialties: anesthesiology, internal medicine, lameness, surgery, orthopedics, soft tissue surgery, sports medicine and imaging, emergency medicine, ophthalmology and theriogenology
College Station, TX 77843
Phone: 979-845-6098
https://equine.tamu.edu/degrees-majors/
Texas Tech University
School of Veterinary Medicine: (www.depts.ttu.edu/vetschool)
7671 Evans Dr., Amarillo, TX 79106
Phone: 806-742-3200
Tufts University
School of Veterinary Medicine (https://vet.tufts.edu/)
Equine Center: (vet.tufts.edu/tufts-equine-center)
Equine Specialties: sports medicine, internal medicine, field surgery, reproduction and field diagnostic imaging
200 Westboro Rd., North Grafton, MA 01536
Phone: 508-839-5302
Tuskegee University
College of Veterinary Medicine: (www.tuskegee.edu/vetmed)
Medical Teaching Hospital: (www.tuskegee.edu/programs-courses/colleges-schools/cvm/vmth-large-animal-equine)
Equine Specialties: overall health and well-being of horses, including vaccinations, deworming, dentistry, reproductive services and daily management of medical conditions
1200 W. Montgomery Rd., Tuskegee, AL 36088
Phone: 334-727-8174
University of Arizona
College of Veterinary Medicine: (vetmed.arizona.edu)
Campus Agricultural Center: (taac.arizona.edu/Campus-Agricultural-Center)
Note of Interest: The three-year program runs continuously across nine semesters and provides students with the knowledge and clinical experiences needed for veterinary medicine in multiple species. The university has more than 300 partnerships with clinics across the United States for students to focus on a species specialty during their third year.
1580 East Hanley Blvd., Oro Valley, AZ 85737
Phone: 520-621-2355
University of California, Davis
School of Veterinary Medicine: (ceh.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/)
Center for Equine Health: (ceh.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/)
Equine Specialties: dentistry and oral surgery, farriery, sports medicine, internal medicine, emergency and neonatology, ophthalmology, theriogenology and surgery
1 Garrod Dr., Davis, CA 95616
Phone: 530-752-1393
University of Florida
College of Veterinary Medicine: (www.vetmed.ufl.edu/)
Large Animal Hospital: (largeanimal.vethospitals.ufl.edu)
Equine Specialties: cardiology, dermatology, lameness, neonatal intensive care, internal medicine, neurology, ophthalmology, theriogenology and surgery
2015 SW 16th Ave., Gainesville, FL 32610
Phone: 352-392-2229
University of Georgia
College of Veterinary Medicine: (www.vet.uga.edu)
Department of Large Animal Medicine: (vet.uga.edu/education/academic-departments/large-animal-medicine)
Equine Specialties: emergency and critical care, internal medicine, lameness, ophthalmology, soft tissue surgery, podiatry and farriery, reproductive medicine and dentistry
501 D.W. Brooks Dr., Athens, GA 30602
Phone: 706-542-3000
University of Illinois
Urbana, IL 61801
Phone: 217-333-2760
http://www.vetmed.illinois.edu
University of Missouri
College of Veterinary Medicine (http://vetmed.missouri.edu/)
Equine Clinic: MU Equine Hospital (https://vhc.missouri.edu/equine-hospital/)
Equine Specialties: ambulatory, anesthesiology, internal medicine, lameness, ophthalmology, radiology, theriogenology and surgery
900 E Campus Dr., Columbia, MO 65211
Phone: 573-882-3554
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
College of Veterinary Medicine: (www.vetmed.illinois.edu)
Veterinary Teaching Hospital: (vetmed.illinois.edu/hospital/veterinary-teaching-hospital/veterinary-specialties/equine-med-surgery/)
3505 Veterinary Medicine Basic Sciences Building
2001 S Lincoln Ave., Urbana, IL 61802
Phone: 217-333-2760
University of Minnesota
College of Veterinary Medicine: (vetmed.umn.edu/dvm)
Leatherdale Equine Center: www.equine.umn.edu
Equine Specialties: anesthesiology and pain management, cardiology, dermatology, dentistry, emergency care, internal medicine, lameness and orthopedics, medical imaging, neonatology, neurology, oncology, pathology, primary care, reproduction, equine sports medicine and surgery
1801 Dudley Ave., St. Paul, MN 55108
Phone: 612-626-5482
University of Missouri-Columbia
College of Veterinary Medicine: (cvm.missouri.edu)
Columbia, MO 65211
Phone: 573-882-3877
University of Pennsylvania
School of Veterinary Medicine: (www.vet.upenn.edu)
New Bolton Center: (www.vet.upenn.edu)
Equine Specialties: lameness, digital radiography, reproduction services, dental, internal medicine, neonatal care, field surgeries, upper airway and dynamic endoscopy, chiropractic and acupuncture
3800 Spruce St., Philadelphia, PA 19104
Phone: 215-898-8841
University of Tennessee
College of Veterinary Medicine: (www.vet.utk.edu)
Equine Hospital: (vetmed.tennessee.edu/vmc/equinehospital/)
Equine Specialties: acupuncture and chiropractic, anesthesiology, emergency medicine, farriery and podiatry, internal medicine and neonatology, ophthalmology, performance and rehabilitation, regenerative medicine, surgery and theriogenology
2407 River Dr., Knoxville, TN 37996
Phone: 865-974-8387
University of Wisconsin-Madison
School of Veterinary Medicine: (www.vetmed.wisc.edu)
Morrie Waud Large Animal Hospital: (https://uwveterinarycare.wisc.edu/large-animal/equine/)
Equine Specialties: sports medicine, neonatal care, orthopedic and soft tissue surgery, and farriery
2015 Linden Dr., Madison, WI 53706
Phone: 608-263-6300
Virginia Tech
Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine: (vetmed.vt.edu/index)
Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center: (emc.vetmed.vt.edu)
Equine Specialties: dental, diagnostic imaging, emergency and critical care, internal medicine, neonatal and theriogenology, ophthalmology, regenerative medicine, sports medicine, surgery and therapeutic farriery
205 Duck Pond Dr., Blacksburg, VA 24061
Phone: 540-231-7666
Washington State University
College of Veterinary Medicine: (www.vetmed.wsu.edu)
Veterinary Teaching Hospital: (hospital.vetmed.wsu.edu/large-animal/equine)
Equine Specialties: emergency and critical care, surgery and theriogenology
P.O. Box 647010, Pullman, WA 99164-7010
Phone: 509-335-9515
Western University of Health Sciences
College of Veterinary Medicine: (www.westernu.edu)
Note of Interest: Offers a dual degree DVM and Master of Public Health (MPH) degree in partnership with the University of Minnesota
309 E Second St., Pomona, CA, 91766
Phone: 909-623-6116
CANADA
ALBERTA
University of Calgary
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine: (www.vet.ucalgary.ca)
Equine Interaction: (www.vet.ucalgary.ca)
Equine Specialties: sports medicine and respiratory diseases. Inflammatory lung disease research, IAD and exercise physiology of show jumpers and chuck wagon horses
Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 4N1
Phone 403-210-3961
ONTARIO
University of Guelph
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine: (www.uoguelph.ca/programs/doctor-veterinary-medicine/)
Ontario Veterinary College Large Animal Hospital: (www.ovchsc.ca/large-animal-clinic)
Equine Specialties: internal medicine, isolation facility, sports medicine, theriogenology, diagnostic imagery and orthopedic surgery
50 Stone Rd. East, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 2W1
Phone: 519-824-4120
PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
University of Prince Edward Island
Atlantic Veterinary College: (www.upei.ca/programs/doctor-veterinary-medicine)
Large Animal Surgery: (vth.upei.ca/services/large-animal-surgery)
Equine Details: Year One and Year Two students receive general science instruction with focused coursework on animal behavior, welfare, production systems and disease processes. In Years Three and Four, students transition to a core-elective structure for large and small animals, and complete at least 39 weeks of clinical instruction.
550 University Ave., Charlottetown, Canada PE C1A 4P3
Phone: 902-566-0882
MONTREAL
Université de Montréal
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine: (www.umontreal.ca/en/our-campuses/saint-hyacinthe-campus)
Veterinary University Hospital Center: (www.fmv.umontreal.ca.services)
Specialties: surgery, medical imaging, internal medicine, dentistry, dermatology, sports medicine, reproduction, ophthalmology and neurology
C.P. 5000 Saint Hyacinthe, Canada PQ J2S 7C6
Phone: 450-773-8521
SASKATCHEWAN
University of Saskatchewan
Western College of Veterinary Medicine: (wcvm.usask.ca)
Ryan/Dubé Equine Performance Centre: (vmc.usask.ca/services/equine)
Equine Specialties: dentistry, internal medicine, lameness, medical imaging, ophthalmology, reproduction, surgery and field services
52 Campus Dr., Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada SK S7N 5B4
Phone: 306-966-7447
MEXICO
Universidad Nacional Autonoma de México
Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia: (www.fmvz.unam.mx)
Department of Medicine, Surgery and Animal Husbandry for Equids
C.P. 04510 Coyoacan, Mexico, D.F.
Phone: 52 (55) 5622 5855
