HorseVeterinarian.AI is an educational resource — not a veterinary service. Everything on this site is designed to support the conversation with a licensed equine veterinarian, not replace it. Use the resources below to find the right veterinary team for your horse.
The American Association of Equine Practitioners member directory is the primary resource for finding a licensed equine veterinarian. Search by zip code, state, and specialty. AAEP members have made a professional commitment to equine medicine.
Search AAEP Directory →The Arizona State Veterinary Medical Examining Board licenses and regulates veterinary practice in Arizona. You can verify a veterinarian's Arizona license status and confirm they are in good standing through the board's online verification tool.
Verify Arizona License →Surgical emergencies (large colon volvulus, strangulating small intestinal obstruction) require immediate transport to a facility with an equine surgeon on call. Know the location and drive time to your nearest equine referral center before a colic — not during one.
Search for equine hospitals in your area through the AAEP directory. Ask your regular vet which referral center they work with and save that number now.
Breeding programs, breeding soundness examinations, pregnancy monitoring, and foaling management require a veterinarian with equine reproductive training. Many general equine practices offer reproductive services; complex cases benefit from a specialist.
Ask your primary equine vet for a referral to a reproductive specialist if your situation is complex — problem mares, stallion evaluation, frozen semen AI, or twins.
Complete equine dental care requires sedation and a veterinarian licensed to administer it. While veterinary dental technicians (EDT) operate in some jurisdictions, sedated dental procedures require veterinary oversight. Ask your primary vet or AAEP for a referral to a dental specialist for complex cases.
IAED Member Directory →Your barn, local riding club, and regional horse organization are excellent sources of veterinarian recommendations from people who use equine veterinary services in your specific area. Recommendations from riders in your discipline — who have comparable horses and needs — are particularly valuable.
Bridle & Bit Magazine's Arizona equestrian community is another resource — bridleandbit.com
Most horse owners benefit from having more than one veterinarian relationship: a primary equine veterinarian for routine and urgent care, and a specialist or referral center identified before you need them. The time to identify your emergency referral center is not during a 2am colic — it is at your next annual wellness exam.
In Arizona specifically, the distances between some facilities and the heat-related health challenges unique to the region make it especially important to have a plan before any emergency. Discuss the following at your next vet visit:
A licensed equine veterinarian provides a scope of services that no other professional is qualified or legally authorized to provide. Understanding this helps horse owners make appropriate decisions about who to call and when.
| Service Category | What It Involves | Why a Licensed Vet Is Required |
|---|---|---|
| Diagnosis | Physical examination, diagnostic nerve blocks, laboratory testing, imaging interpretation | Diagnosis is the practice of veterinary medicine — legally requires a licensed veterinarian |
| Prescription medications | Banamine, Regumate, omeprazole, antibiotics, pergolide, acepromazine, controlled substances | Prescription drugs require a valid veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR) and vet prescription |
| Sedation and anesthesia | All sedation (including for dental procedures and wound care) requires veterinary administration | Only licensed veterinarians can legally administer controlled sedatives in horses in most jurisdictions |
| Surgery | Colic surgery, joint lavage, laceration repair, castration, reproductive procedures | Veterinary license required; surgical emergencies require referral centers with surgical capability |
| Vaccination | Administration of vaccines (owner-administered vaccines are available but vet-administered preferred for reactions) | Modified live vaccines, some risk-based vaccines, and vaccination-associated medical decisions require veterinary involvement |
| Coggins test | Blood collection for EIA testing — required for interstate transport and most competitions | Blood must be collected by a licensed veterinarian for official Coggins test |
| Pre-purchase exam | Comprehensive soundness and health evaluation; radiographs; drug testing | Objective licensed professional assessment; findings become your purchase record |
The Veterinarian-Client-Patient Relationship (VCPR) is the legal and professional foundation of equine veterinary care. A VCPR exists when a veterinarian has examined your horse in person, understands the animal's health status, has accepted responsibility for medical judgment about the horse's health, and has made themselves available for follow-up care.
A VCPR is required before a veterinarian can legally prescribe medications for your horse — including Banamine (flunixin meglumine), which many horse owners have on hand for colic management. Obtaining prescription medications for your horse requires an established VCPR with a vet who has examined your horse. This is why the annual wellness exam is not just clinically valuable — it also maintains the VCPR that makes prescription access legally appropriate.
| Visit Type | When You Need It | What to Expect |
|---|---|---|
| Annual wellness exam | Once a year; twice yearly for horses over 15 | Full physical exam, BCS, vaccinations, deworming review, bloodwork discussion, ACTH if indicated |
| Emergency call | Colic, severe lameness, wound, eye injury, respiratory distress, foaling emergency | Urgent response; triage and stabilization; referral if needed; emergency fees typically apply after hours |
| Lameness evaluation | New or progressive lameness; pre-purchase; performance decline | Systematic evaluation; flexion tests; nerve blocks; imaging; may be a scheduled multi-hour appointment |
| Dental procedure | Annual; every 6 months for under 5 or over 15 | Sedation, speculum exam, floating; may be combined with annual wellness or separate appointment |
| Reproductive services | Breeding soundness exam, pregnancy check, foaling assistance, post-foaling care | Range from single ultrasound to intensive management; many practices offer reproductive services |
| Pre-purchase exam | Before buying any horse; scope of exam depends on price and intended use | Physical exam, flexion tests, possible radiographs and/or scope; buyer's agent, not seller's; budget 1–3 hours |
| Referral / specialist | Surgical colic, complex lameness, ophthalmology, reproduction specialist, internal medicine | Referral hospital or specialist practice; your primary vet coordinates and communicates |
Not all equine veterinary practices are identical — some specialize in large horse barns, some in reproduction, some in lameness work, some in western performance horses. Finding a vet whose practice aligns with your horses' needs improves the quality of care you receive. The following questions are worth asking when establishing a new veterinary relationship:
Are you primarily a large animal / equine practice, or do you see mixed species?
Dedicated equine practices typically have more equine-specific equipment and experienceDo you offer 24/7 emergency coverage, and what is the after-hours protocol?
Know the emergency process before you need it — who covers, what number, response timeWhat imaging is available in your practice — digital radiographs, portable ultrasound?
In-practice imaging capability affects how quickly diagnosis can happenWhich referral or surgical facility do you work with for colic surgery?
Your vet should have an established relationship with a surgical center and be able to communicate during transportDo you have experience with [your specific discipline] horses?
A vet familiar with reining, cutting, endurance, or other specific demands understands the injury profileWhat are your dental services, and do you perform sedated dental procedures in the field?
Confirm whether dental is offered in-practice or referred; confirm sedation is includedWhat does an annual wellness exam include, and what is the typical cost?
Understand what's included and what costs extra — vaccinations, bloodwork, Coggins are often additionalHow do I reach you after hours, and what is your response time for colic?
The answer to this question — and your comfort with it — matters more than almost anything elseDo you have experience with PPID (Cushing's disease) management in older horses?
If you have horses over 10, endocrine management experience is importantA pre-purchase examination is a veterinary evaluation performed by a licensed equine veterinarian on behalf of a potential buyer, before the purchase decision is finalized. It is the single most important step in any horse purchase, regardless of price — and it should always be performed by a veterinarian selected by the buyer, not the seller.
The scope of a pre-purchase exam is negotiable and should be proportional to the purchase price and intended use. A basic exam includes a thorough physical exam, flexion tests, and observation at walk and trot. A comprehensive exam may add radiographic survey (hocks, stifles, coffin joints, front feet), endoscopy, bloodwork, and drug testing for competition horses.
The single most impactful thing a horse owner can do for their horse's emergency outcomes is prepare before any emergency occurs. Know these things now — not during a 2am colic:
HorseVeterinarian.AI is a free educational resource produced by Bridle & Bit Magazine — Arizona's premier equestrian publication since 1978. Every guide on this site is designed to help horse owners understand conditions, recognize signs, prepare for veterinary visits, and participate more effectively in their horse's care.
Nothing on this site replaces examination, diagnosis, or treatment by a licensed equine veterinarian. The information on this site does not constitute veterinary advice. When your horse has a health concern, the right response is always to call your veterinarian — not to search for answers online and manage the situation independently.
The practice of veterinary medicine in Arizona is regulated by the Arizona State Veterinary Medical Examining Board. Only licensed veterinarians may legally diagnose, prescribe, or treat animal diseases in Arizona.