Equine
Veterinary
Scholarships
Our Mission:
Our mission is to empower individuals with a shared passion for horses, enabling them to fulfill their dreams of healing and caring for our cherished equine companions. We are committed to building a supportive network that eases the financial burden of equine veterinary education.
AAEP President Dr. Emma Read:
“The equine veterinary profession is in crisis,”
Horse Illustrated:
Equine Vet Shortage – Sara E. Coleman
Horse Ilustrated: The Equine Vet Shortage
“Amy Grice, VMD, a veterinary business consultant in Virginia City, Mont., and current treasurer of the AAEP, notes that well under 2 percent of vet school graduates take equine practice associate positions each year.“
Multiple factors play into many vets’ decision to forgo the equine side of veterinary medicine—and why they leave. Often cited are:
– Lack of work/life balance
– Frequent on-call time
– High stress
– Low pay
The draw to companion animal medicine is real: Better pay (the average starting salary for an equine vet is about half what a companion animal vet makes), limited or no emergency duty, and shorter work weeks are all enticing, specifically to veterinarians who might be interested in starting and spending time with a family.
Quarter Horse News:
The Equine Veterinarian Shortage Isn’t Coming, It’s already here – Dr. Justin High, DVM
Quarter Horse News: The Equine Veterinarian Shortage Isn’t Coming, It’s already here
“The current population of equine vets in practice looks like this: 40 % are solo practitioners with two-doctor practices being the next-highest demographic. The student population is 80% female and 20% male, and that changes somewhat to 53% female and 47% male in clinical practice.
By the year 2030 it is estimated the U.S. market will require 5,300 equine veterinarians to just stay even.
Remember, we only have about 3,700-4,000 currently with a near-negative rate of replacement, while 30% of the current AAEP membership is 59 years of age or older.
“There are No Quick Fixes”
Be willing to invest in the education of a young person who has chosen to dedicate their life to the health and well-being of your horse.
BloodHorse.com:
Declining Number of Equine Vets a Cause for Concern – Joe Perez
Declining Number of Equine Vets a Cause for Concern
The world of equine medicine is facing a crisis and if steps aren’t taken soon to correct the course, the damage may be beyond repair.
“The cost of the education has just skyrocketed,” said Dr. Mary Scollay, the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit chief of science. “It is not unusual for students to graduate with $300,000 or more in debt (from) student loans between undergraduate and vet school. And what veterinarians make when they graduate, it is a very daunting prospect the thought of paying that off over decades.
Meanwhile, a 2020 Nerd Wallet report states that an in-state doctorate in veterinary medicine costs as much as $247,455. All told, a student could spend nearly $340,000.
She added, “We’ve got to stop referencing, ‘Well, when I was young.’ … That’s not a marketable premise anymore.”
“offer students an opportunity to achieve their dream to become equine veterinarians at a lower cost and with a much more targeted focus,”
Stacy Anderson, DVM, MVSc, PhD, DACVS-LA. – Dean College of Veterinary Medicine – Lincoln Memorial University
Fourth-year veterinary student Olivia Reiff:
“I want to work with horses but I simply can’t afford it,”
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.
Helping our youth jump the industry barriers
to enter Equine Veterinary Medicine…
Mentorship
Acknowledge and embrace their love for horses, nature and rural blessings.
Encourage them to embrace their passion.
Empower them to pursue a future.
Involvement
Recognize the knowledge they’ve gained. Support their current passion and empower their future equine journey to the next phase of… what next?
Finances
Validate the financial struggle ahead. Educate them on opportunities. Nurture them along their path of all things equine including financial discussions.
Educational Mentorship
Harness your experience! Show them your successes. Nurture them. Empower them to improve the world… One horse at a time!
We are actively seeking Mentors, Sponsors and Inspirational Thought Leaders
Our Focus
Equine Youth Involvement
Equine Education
Equine Veterinary Education
Post Equine DVM Support
Hours
Closed Monday
Tuesday through Sunday
Open 8am – 5pm