The Piedmont Equine Practice offers a student externship program that provides both clinical and ambulatory experience for veterinary students only. Our client base consists primarily of English riding disciplines of eventing, dressage, show hunters, foxhunters, show jumpers, pleasure and race horses. We also see a number of horses of the western discipline.

As a private practice the amount of “hands-on” experience is somewhat limited. The benefit of an externship at a private practice as opposed to a larger hospital is a student will receive much more one-on-one time with the veterinarian for case discussion. All the veterinarians enjoy having students visit and have a wealth of knowledge to share.

Since our clinic opened in Fall 2006, The Piedmont Equine Practice has offered specialized surgeries by a boarded surgeon such as arthroscopy, laryngeal surgery, soft tissue and emergency surgery. Piedmont Equine Practice also offers nuclear scintigraphy, video endoscopy and advanced reproductive procedures. There is also a boarded internist and ophthalmologist that make biweekly visits to the clinic to perform specialized exams and procedures.

Typically the externships last from 2-3 weeks. Students are asked to participate in weekend emergencies and assist with in-house patient care.

Housing is available to the student onsite at no charge. A car for transportation is not required once at the clinic however students will be responsible for transportation to and from the airport. Dulles (IAD) is our closest airport.

The Piedmont Equine Practice limits the number of externships to not exceed two students at any given time. This enables us to give more experience and time to each individual student. Please contact us as soon as possible when setting up externships as space is limited. The practice is the busiest from April through October. Application requirements are a letter of intent, resume and at least one letter of recommendation from an equine veterinarian (private practitioner or clinical professor).