Veterinary Extern - Equine

Massachusetts Equine Clinic Externship

At Massachusetts Equine Clinic, our externship goal is to provide veterinary students with a high-quality, hands-on learning experience in equine ambulatory medicine and sports medicine. Through 12 week immersive placement, externs work closely with our veterinarians to gain practical exposure to a diverse caseload while building confidence in clinical decision-making, diagnostics, and client communication.

As a full-service equine ambulatory practice with haul-in capabilities, we serve a broad range of equine disciplines throughout Massachusetts and northern Rhode Island. Our four-doctor team is committed to mentoring the next generation of equine veterinarians through meaningful case involvement and individualized teaching.

During your externship, you will gain experience in:

• Wellness and preventative care
• Sports medicine and lameness evaluations
• Emergency medicine and wound management
• Field surgery and anesthesia
• Infectious disease management
• Client communication and practice workflow

Externs are exposed to a wide variety of cases and depending on caseload and comfort level, students may observe or assist with:

• Lameness workups and nerve blocks
• Joint injections
• Regenerative medicine treatments
• Shockwave therapy
• Gastroscopy and endoscopy procedures
• Colic evaluations, including rectal exams and abdominal ultrasound
• Wound repair and bandage management
• Power dental floating
• Specialty farrier collaboration and imaging for shoeing cases

Students will also gain valuable insight into the day-to-day operations of a busy equine practice, including scheduling flow, medical record documentation, emergency triage, and client communication.

Program Details

Duration: 12 week rotations available year-round, with flexibility for longer stays depending on clinic scheduling.

Eligibility: Open to students currently enrolled in a college of veterinary medicine, with preference for 3rd- and 4th-year students.

Housing: Housing available.

Practice Type: 100% equine practice, primarily ambulatory.

Facilities & Equipment

Our clinic includes a four-stall barn and office and is equipped with advanced diagnostic and treatment tools, including:

• Digital radiography
• Ultrasonography
• Gastroscopy and endoscopy
• Shockwave therapy
• Power dental equipment
• Biologic therapy systems (PRP, IRAP, Pro-Stride)

Caseload & Patient Population

Our caseload is primarily performance horses, with a local population that includes:

• Pleasure & trail horses
• Dressage horses
• Hunter/jumpers
• Show horses
• Saddle seat horses

Typical Case Distribution:

• 50% General Practice
• 30% Lameness & Sports Medicine
• 20% Medicine & Emergency

Location

We are located in Uxbridge, Massachusetts, with a practice area spanning southern Massachusetts and northern Rhode Island. Our clinic is also located less than 20 minutes from the Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, providing externs exposure to a region with strong referral and specialty support.

Massachusetts Equine Clinic has proudly mentored veterinary students and interns for decades, and we are passionate about helping students build the clinical skills, confidence, and professional foundation needed for a successful career in equine medicine.