Careers in Equine Sports Medicine

The world of sports medicine is not limited to two legged athletes. Equine athletes like the thoroughbreds running in the Kentucky Derby and the warmbloods competing in the Olympics also need sports medicine practitioners to keep them in top condition. From equine massage therapists and chiropractors to veterinarians and farriers, these top equine athletes have a full staff of medical professionals at the ready. Equine sports medicine careers run the gamut, from those working at the top levels to those working at boarding stables and training facilities around the country. That means that there are many opportunities for horse enthusiasts and experienced riders to transform their passions into lucrative careers.

  1. Equine Chiropractors

    • The world of chiropractic care is not limited to humans. In fact there are many equine chiropractors working in the field of sports medicine. These professionals help to isolate and alleviate performance issues by finding and fixing spine misalignments and other problems that cause the horses pain and interfere with their ability to compete. Since their patients can't talk, equine chiropractors need to be very adept at reading the signals from the horse as well as taking in what the owner reports. For that reason equine chiropractors need to be able to read body language. Previous horse experience can be a big plus in this regard.

    Equine Massage Therapists

    • Massage therapy is another important part of modern sports medicine. Many racetracks and training facilities use equine massage therapists to keep their four-legged athletes in top condition. No matter what the sport, it is critical that the horse's muscles be supple and strong, and massage therapists work with those muscles to make sure they are up to the stress of competition. For instance, it is very important for horses competing in dressage to have strong and supple shoulder muscles---these strong muscles are vital to performing those high level movements.

    Veterinarians

    • Equine athletes need special shoes

      In the world of equine sports, both the two-legged and the four-legged athletes need to be in top condition. There is always a need for qualified and experienced large animal veterinarians to take care of the horses at a training stable, race track and show ring. In addition to their medical training, it is important for equine veterinarians to have some prior experience handling horses. While many owners are able to handle their animals very well, others have issues when the vet arrives. Having some savvy and the ability to read equine body language will help a great deal.

    Farriers

    • While it is important for all horses to have proper hoof care, a good farrier is even more essential when it comes to equine competitions. Many equine sports require special shoeing, and many top trainers seek out the best farriers in the business to work with their animals. For instance, reining horses need to have special sliding shoes that enable them to do sliding stops, rollbacks and other maneuvers, while race horses need to have lightweight but durable shoes that can hold up for long distances. Farriers who want to work in the sports medicine arena will need to have experience with the special shoeing requirements of the horses they work with, as well as basic horse handling abilities.