Lead Equine Veterinarian Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation

A Founding Equine Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Opportunity in theCarolina Sandhills EQUESTRIA is developing a veterinarian-led equine rehabilitation, prehabilitation, structured-recovery, and return-to-performance campus in the Sandhills of North Carolina. The planned 58-acre, 38-stall campus will provide a destination where sport horses can receive coordinated clinical oversight, individualized rehabilitation, structured recovery, and progressive conditioning in one setting. While the Sandhills' deep equestrian roots make it a natural home base, EQUESTRIA is designed to draw referrals from across North Carolina and neighboring states — not just the immediate local community. Residential programs are expected to accommodate horses recovering from injury, surgery, or time away from work, as well as performance horses participating in proactive prehabilitation and conditioning programs. The Clinical Model EQUESTRIA is being designed as a referral-focused program that complements — not competes with — equine ambulatory practices, surgeons, and referring hospitals. Each horse will receive an initial clinical assessment and an individualized treatment or conditioning plan. EQUESTRIA's veterinarian will oversee the horse's clinical care throughout its stay, monitor and document progress, adjust the plan when necessary, and collaborate with the referring veterinarian, owner, trainer, farrier, and other members of the horse's care team. The objective is to return each horse to its referring veterinarian and care team with clear clinical documentation and practical discharge or return-to-work recommendations. The Campus and Rehabilitation Capabilities The property includes established equine rehabilitation infrastructure, including an AquaPacer underwater treadmill, incline treadmill, hot walker, cold saltwater leg spa, TheraPlate, solarium, treatment areas, arenas, turnout, and residential recovery stalls. The final diagnostic and therapeutic package will be established with the founding veterinarian. Planned capabilities may include digital radiography, ultrasound, Class IV laser, shockwave, PEMF, objective gait and progress assessment, and other clinically appropriate technologies. All equipment and imaging capabilities remain subject to verification, clinical prioritization, regulatory requirements, and final capital planning. The Founding Clinical Role EQUESTRIA is seeking a full-time Lead Equine Veterinarian to become the program's founding clinical leader. The veterinarian will have independent authority over: Patient assessment and clinical decision-making Admission and case-acceptance standards Individualized rehabilitation and prehabilitation plans Clinical reassessments and treatment modifications Discharge and return-to-performance recommendations Medical records and referral communications Clinical protocols, biosecurity, medication management and regulatory compliance Supervision and development of the veterinary and rehabilitation team This is a hands-on clinical position, but the veterinarian will not be expected to run EQUESTRIA's finance, HR, marketing, facilities, technology, or routine barn operations. Those functions will be supported by the founder and CEO, barn manager, finance and facilities leadership, and outsourced administrative resources. The initial staffing plan includes a registered veterinary technician and dedicated rehabilitation personnel, with the clinical team expanding as caseload grows. The founding veterinarian will have meaningful input into staffing levels, clinical workflows, equipment priorities, and the services offered at launch. Schedule and Scope The position is intended to have a primarily daytime schedule with limited, structured after-hours responsibility for horses already admitted to the program. EQUESTRIA is not being developed as a routine primary-care ambulatory practice or emergency hospital at launch. The founding veterinarian will help establish appropriate after-hours coverage, emergency escalation, transfer, and referral-hospital protocols. Required Qualifications DVM/VMD with an active North Carolina veterinary license, or eligibility for North Carolina licensure Strong equine-focused clinical experience, ideally gained through equine practice, a rigorous internship, advanced training, or comparable hands-on experience Demonstrated experience or advanced training in equine sports medicine, rehabilitation, lameness evaluation, diagnostic imaging, or performance-horse care Strong clinical judgment and comfort managing a referral-based, non-primary-care caseload Ability to lead a multidisciplinary team and communicate effectively with referring veterinarians, owners, and staff Ability and willingness to satisfy applicable North Carolina requirements for the facility's supervising veterinarian and veterinarian-in-charge Preferred Qualifications Three or more years of equine clinical experience and/or completion of a rigorous equine internship Diplomate, residency training, board eligibility, or advanced certification in equine sports medicine and rehabilitation is welcomed but not required Experience establishing or managing a rehabilitation facility or multi-modality clinical program Experience with diagnostic imaging, radiation-safety processes, and objective outcome measurement Interested in helping shape clinical protocols and services as the program grows, without responsibility for running EQUESTRIA's finance, HR, marketing, facilities or daily barn operations What We Offer A founding clinical leadership opportunity with meaningful authority over standards of care, patient care, and program development A 58-acre, 38-stall campus designed to bring diagnostics, rehabilitation, prehabilitation, and performance conditioning together in one setting Dedicated operational support from EQUESTRIA's CEO, barn manager, finance lead, and facilities/equipment/technology lead, with HR, payroll, and bookkeeping outsourced A referral-focused role based in the Sandhills of North Carolina, drawing referrals from across the region and beyond, with a primarily daytime schedule and no routine primary-care ambulatory call The opportunity to recruit, mentor, and lead a high-performing veterinary and rehabilitation team as demand grows Competitive base compensation, performance-based incentive opportunity, health insurance, paid time off, retirement benefits, North Carolina licensure and professional-dues support, continuing-education allowance, and relocation/signing assistance Potential to discuss a longer-term leadership incentive or partnership structure as the program matures, subject to performance, mutual agreement, and applicable law #J-18808-Ljbffr American Osteopathic Academy of Sports Medicine