The Equine Vet Shortage

USDA as shortage areas. The vet must work in such an area for a minimum of three years to receive the 75000 loan repayment.
The NIFA creates a Veterinarian Shortage Situations map each year. At press there are only two states that dont have rural vet shortages Massachusetts and Rhode Island as well as the District of Columbia see map below left.
Interested veterinarians may apply for the VMLRP grant once funding is given the applicant must secure employment in a rural clinic within 90 days. At the conclusion of three years a vet working in a shortage area can apply for a VMLRP extension for as long as he or she still has veterinary school debt. While this program doesnt address the salary of an equine veterinarian its use will hopefully alleviate some of the stress of mounting student loan debt.
However this program has its pitfalls Both the loan and tax payments made on the VMLRP recipients behalf are considered taxable income by the Internal Revenue Service IRS. This means that this grant could increase federal taxes and possibly state and local taxes owed by the recipient. To offset these potential taxes VMLRP provides supplementary funds.
An additional financial assistance program available is the Veterinary Services Grant Program VSGP which provides grants to entities that carry out programs or activities that develop implement and sustain veterinary services through education training recruitment placement and retention of veterinarians and vet students. Grants are available to private practices nonprofits and veterinary schools and can be used to establish or expand veterinary practices.
Other Solutions
However addressing student debt alone wont solve all vet shortagesnor will simply churning out more equine veterinarians as logical as this may seem. The innate lack of a worklife balance and the stress that it creates will still be the root cause of

reluctance for vets to join or stay in equine practice. Wellbeing and mental health are directly tied to stress and its management. Burnout is real and is taking its toll on the veterinary population.
Many vets who start as part of an equine practice eventually strike out on their own. Though security is a draw for recent graduates many eventually find themselves unhappy with certain aspects of their job or their employer. Opening their own practice allows them to create new business models and a work culture that best suits their lives.
Some new practices are working to create businesses that will