An equine vet is a veterinarian who treats horses, from routine vaccinations and dental exams to surgery and emergencies. Some work from a truck at your barn, some from a clinic, and some in a referral hospital with surgeons and advanced imaging. To find an equine veterinarian, check who serves your area, confirm that they travel to your barn if you need that, ask how after-hours calls work, and book a routine visit before an emergency. Barnmap lists 554 equine vets across the US, based on what each business publishes on its own website as of October 2026.
Key takeaways
- 554 equine vets listed across the US; California has the most, 57.
- 424 of 554 say they travel to the client’s barn.
- 339 of 554 announce 24/7 emergency service.
- Only 15 of 554 publish a price, so ask about fees.
- Book a routine visit before you ever have an emergency.
Find equine vets near youPrices checked on each business's own website.
- Check coverage
- Confirm farm calls
- Ask about emergencies
- Book a routine visit
- Save the numbers
What does an equine vet do?
An equine vet looks after a horse’s health, from prevention to emergencies. Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine says good care starts with the annual wellness visit, and its equine hospital lists specialties such as internal medicine, orthopedic and soft tissue surgery, reproductive medicine, sports medicine and rehabilitation, cardiology and dentistry.
In practice, the work falls into three groups:
- Prevention. Wellness exams, vaccines, dental exams and parasite monitoring (see the routine visit section below).
- Diagnosis and treatment. Examining a horse that is unwell or injured, using tools such as ultrasound, endoscopy and radiography, and at a hospital such as Cornell’s, CT and MRI.
- Emergencies. Cornell’s equine hospital is open around the clock every day of the year for emergency and critical care cases, and some private practices announce 24/7 service too.
Which of these a practice offers, and where it offers them, is what separates one practice from another.
Is there such a thing as an equine vet?
Yes. Some veterinarians treat only horses, and some earn board certification in equine practice. The University of Missouri’s College of Veterinary Medicine notes that veterinarians who pursue equine certification through the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (ABVP) may work in equine-only practices or simply prefer horses as patients. Its equine ambulatory service is led by three faculty clinicians who hold that certification. On Barnmap, “DVM” (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine) is the credential listed vets cite most often (47 listings), 37 list “AAEP member” and 5 name the American Association of Equine Practitioners in full.
How many years does it take to become an equine vet?
Veterinary school is the first stage. The University of Missouri describes the DVM degree as a four-year course of study, with the first two years mostly in classrooms and laboratories and the last two mostly clinical. Board certification in equine practice goes further: Missouri’s article says it requires at least five years of full-time, high-quality practice with horses, documented continuing education and an exam.
Ambulatory, clinic or referral hospital: which equine vet do you need?
Many practices mix these settings, so treat them as a rough map. The first question to settle is whether the vet comes to your horse or your horse goes to the vet.
Ambulatory (farm calls)
The vet comes to your barn.
- Routine and emergency care where your horse lives
- Equipment travels in the vet’s truck; Missouri’s service uses fully stocked trucks
- Service areas are limited; Missouri’s covers a 35-mile radius
Clinic or hospital visit
Your horse goes to the vet.
- You need a trailer or a ride from a hauler
- Imaging can go further: Cornell’s hospital lists CT and MRI alongside ultrasound and radiography
- Cornell’s routine services run on weekdays, with emergencies covered around the clock
Referral hospital
Your regular vet sends a case on.
- Cornell’s hospital lists board-certified specialists, residents and technicians on its team
- It has a section for referring veterinarians, so outside practitioners can send cases
- Missouri describes continuity of care for certain referral horses through its ambulatory service
Tip: Ask a practice which setting it would use for your horse’s situation before you book. A farm call and a hospital visit call for very different planning on your side.
What happens at a routine equine vet visit?
Horse veterinary care is built around prevention. Cornell’s College of Veterinary Medicine says it all starts with the annual wellness visit. According to Cornell, that visit can include:
- Physical exam. Heart and lungs checked with a stethoscope, body condition, an oral exam, hoof health and an eye exam.
- Coggins test. A blood test for equine infectious anemia, a disease that has to be monitored and reported to prevent its spread.
- Vaccines. Core vaccines cover respiratory viruses and mosquito-borne and environmental diseases, and extra vaccines depend on where you live and your horse’s exposure risk.
- Dental exam. The vet looks for sharp enamel points and other problems that can cause ulcers and discomfort in the gums.
- Parasite control. Cornell points to fecal egg counts for each individual horse.
- Extras. Sheath cleaning for some geldings, and screening blood work for some horses, for example a geriatric horse.
Tip: Which vaccines, tests and visit schedule suit your horse is a decision for your veterinarian, based on age, use and location. Our horse vaccination schedule guide helps you prepare questions for that visit.
How many equine vets are listed on Barnmap?
Barnmap lists 554 equine vets in 47 states. The figures below are what the establishments publish on their own websites, as listed on Barnmap as of October 2026, so confirm details with the practice before you rely on them.
California, Texas and Florida hold 150 of the 554 listings, a little over a quarter. Virginia follows with 31, then Oregon with 24, Washington with 21 and North Carolina with 20. Sixteen states have 5 or fewer. The chart shows the 12 states with the most listings; the table covers every state.
| State | Vets listed |
|---|---|
| California | 57 |
| Texas | 51 |
| Florida | 42 |
| Virginia | 31 |
| Oregon | 24 |
| Washington | 21 |
| North Carolina | 20 |
| Colorado | 19 |
| New York | 19 |
| Pennsylvania | 18 |
| Oklahoma | 17 |
| Ohio | 16 |
| Georgia | 12 |
| South Carolina | 12 |
| Illinois | 12 |
| New Jersey | 12 |
| Arizona | 11 |
| Massachusetts | 11 |
| Kentucky | 10 |
| Michigan | 10 |
| Maryland | 10 |
| Montana | 8 |
| Utah | 8 |
| Missouri | 8 |
| Kansas | 7 |
| Wisconsin | 7 |
| Connecticut | 7 |
| Tennessee | 6 |
| Indiana | 6 |
| New Hampshire | 6 |
| Minnesota | 6 |
| Alabama | 5 |
| New Mexico | 5 |
| Iowa | 5 |
| Mississippi | 5 |
| Vermont | 4 |
| Nevada | 4 |
| Louisiana | 4 |
| Idaho | 4 |
| South Dakota | 3 |
| Rhode Island | 2 |
| Wyoming | 2 |
| Maine | 2 |
| Arkansas | 2 |
| Nebraska | 1 |
| Delaware | 1 |
| West Virginia | 1 |
| All 47 states | 554 |
How many equine vets travel to the barn?
Of the 554 listed vets, 424 say on their own websites that they travel to the client, about 3 in 4. That leaves 130 that do not say so. Equine vet services differ from practice to practice, so confirm that a practice will come to your barn before you count on it.
The chart shows how the 554 listed vets describe themselves, as a share of the total.
Do equine vets offer 24/7 emergency service?
Some do. 339 of the 554 listed vets announce 24/7 emergency service on their websites, about 61 percent. The share varies by state: in Kentucky, 5 of the 10 listed vets announce it, in Alabama, 3 of 5, and in Ohio, 9 of 16. The table names two that say so in each of the 8 states with the most listings, taken in alphabetical order from the Barnmap lists. Each state name links to that state’s full list, and you should confirm availability by phone.
| State | Examples that announce 24/7 emergency service |
|---|---|
| California | A Pereira Ranch (Danville), ABJ Equine Practice (Rancho Santa Fe) |
| Texas | Austin Equine Hospital (Driftwood), Becker Equine (Navasota) |
| Florida | AVS Equine Medical and Surgical Hospital (Tallahassee), Brandon Equine Medical Center (Brandon) |
| Virginia | Blue Ridge Equine Clinic (Staunton), Blue Ridge Equine Clinic (Earlysville) |
| Oregon | Bend Equine Medical Center (Bend), Cascade Equine Sports Medicine LLC. (Rainier) |
| Washington | Central Washington Equine Hospital (Ellensburg), Countryside Equine Veterinary Service (Ridgefield) |
| North Carolina | 3H Equine Hospital and Mobile Veterinary Services (New Hill), Cane Creek Animal Clinic and Equine (Fletcher) |
| Colorado | CSU Johnson Family Equine Hospital (Fort Collins), Castlewood Canyon Equine (Franktown) |
Watch out: A 24/7 line is not a guarantee. Penn State Extension notes that practices often cannot send an emergency vet if you do not already have an established relationship with the practice (a VCPR) for that animal. It also advises keeping a list of emergency contacts in the barn and calling your vet before giving any medications.
For a plan you can put on the barn wall, read our horse emergency vet guide.
How do you find and choose an equine vet?
Start with who covers your area and who travels, then compare the practical points that matter on a bad day. A horse vet you already know is easier to reach in an emergency than one you are meeting for the first time.
- Shortlist practices
Start from your state’s page in the table above or the list of all equine vets, and ask your barn manager and nearby owners whom they call. For recommendations, see Barnmap Picks.
- Confirm the service model
Ask whether the vet comes to your barn, how far the service area reaches, and where horses are seen when they have to come in.
- Ask about emergencies
Find out who answers after hours, whether the practice announces 24/7 service, and which hospital it refers to when a case needs surgery or advanced imaging.
- Book a routine visit
Penn State Extension calls an established relationship with a veterinary practice critical. A wellness or vaccination visit lets the practice meet you and your horse before you need help.
- Save the numbers and a plan
Penn State Extension suggests deciding ahead of time how much you are willing to spend and who you will call for help and trailering, and keeping the contacts in the barn.
Questions to ask a practice before you book
- Are you taking new equine clients, and do you serve my barn’s location?
- Do you come to the barn, or do horses come to you?
- Who answers after hours, and is the emergency line staffed 24/7?
- Which hospital do you refer to for surgery and advanced imaging?
- How do you handle estimates and payment?
How much does an equine vet cost?
Barnmap cannot give you a typical price. Only 15 of the 554 listed vets publish a price on their websites, which is too few to compare, so this guide shows no fee figures. Fees are set by each practice, so ask what a visit, a farm call and an after-hours call would involve.
Watch out: Decide your spending limits before an emergency, not during one. Penn State Extension recommends having that plan in place ahead of time.
What should you do next?
Browse all equine vets on Barnmap, or go straight to your state: California, Colorado, Florida, North Carolina, Oregon, Texas, Virginia or Washington, or pick any other state from the table above. For recommendations, see Barnmap Picks, and find more horse owner reading in the Barnmap guides. Counts in this guide are what establishments publish on their own websites, as listed on Barnmap as of October 2026.
Sources
- Mizzou Equine Ambulatory Service Provides Next Level Teaching and Care, University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine
- Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Program, University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine
- Equine Hospital, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine
- Equine wellness: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine
- When to Call the Equine Vet, Penn State Extension
This guide is general information for horse owners, not veterinary or legal advice. Prices come from what establishments publish on their own websites, as listed on Barnmap on the date shown. How we check