Only 8% of equine vets with less than 10 years’ orthopaedic experience would recommend the profession to veterinary students without hesitation, according to new international research.
The Equine Lameness Insights 2026 report, based on a global survey of veterinarians in the ISELP community, reveals a marked difference according to experience. Among respondents with more than 20 years’ orthopaedic experience, 62% would recommend equine practice without hesitation, compared with 33% of those with 10–20 years’ experience and 8% of those with less than 10 years’ experience.
The same pattern emerges when vets are asked whether they have considered leaving equine practice due to workload or stress. Some 68% of respondents with less than 10 years’ experience say they have considered leaving, compared with 32% of those with more than 20 years’ experience.
Across respondents, 77% believe young vets need more support from the profession.
Despite these concerns, respondents point to a strong sense of purpose in the profession, with solving complex cases and improving horse welfare among the things they value most about their work.
Dr Elin Hernlund, veterinarian, biomechanics researcher and co-founder of Sleip, said, “What stands out is not a lack of commitment to equine practice. Vets clearly value the clinical challenge and the difference they can make for horses. What is striking is how much more hesitant those earlier in their careers are to recommend the profession — and what that may say about how sustainable equine practice feels to them.”
Respondents point to a strong sense of purpose in the profession, with solving complex cases and improving horse welfare among the things they value most about their work.
Dr Erik Bergman, veterinarian at Sporthorse Medical Diagnostic Centre in the Netherlands and board member of the International Society of Equine Locomotor Pathology (ISELP), said:
“We need to take seriously what younger colleagues are telling us. Good mentoring is part of the answer, but so are workload, professional boundaries and creating working environments where vets can build sustainable careers. If we want talented young veterinarians to stay in equine practice, supporting them through those early years has to be a priority.”
When asked what would make equine practice more sustainable for the next generation, recurring themes included stronger mentoring and collegial support, more sustainable working patterns, clearer client expectations and boundaries, and a more sustainable financial model.
The findings build on Sleip’s first Equine Lameness Insights survey in 2025, which identified earlier intervention as a major opportunity in equine lameness care. For the second year running, the large majority of vets surveyed report seeing horses where earlier intervention could have prevented more serious issues — 87% in 2026.
The 2026 research looks more closely at the environment around those decisions, including workload, changing client expectations and the future of the profession.
Download the Equine Lameness Insights 2026 report here.
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