Equine Surgical Intern

General Information

Last Updated

September 1, 2026

Internship Type

Combined

% of time spent on ambulatory vs in-hospital

50/50

Position Full Description

Equine Surgical Internship – Bluegrass Equine Surgery
Lexington, Kentucky

Bluegrass Equine Surgery, located just outside of Lexington, Kentucky, is a specialty equine referral hospital providing comprehensive surgical and medical care to equine patients. Established with a strong commitment to excellence in patient care and client service, the practice serves both local and international clients and provides ambulatory services to many of the region’s premier Thoroughbred farms. Our hospital is equipped with advanced diagnostic and therapeutic technologies, supporting a full spectrum of equine health care throughout all stages of life.

Program Description
In response to the evolving demands of the equine industry, Bluegrass Equine Surgery has established a structured Equine Surgical Internship Program. The program is designed to provide interns with extensive clinical training and practical experience in equine surgery and related disciplines. Interns will gain direct exposure to case management under the supervision of board-certified specialists, with the goal of preparing them for residency training or advanced clinical practice.

Clinical Rotations

Surgery: 13 weeks
Radiology & Imaging: 10 weeks
Anesthesia: 5 weeks
Lameness: 10 weeks

Eligibility Requirements

Candidates must be eligible for licensure to practice veterinary medicine in the United States.
Please note that visa sponsorship is not available for graduates who are not license-eligible.

Number of intern positions of this type

This internship is a good fit for prospective interns wanting to pursue:

["Equine general practice","Racetrack practice","Sports medicine practice","Equine\/LA surgical residency","Equine\/LA medicine residency"]

Anticipated Start date

June 1, 2027

Flexible

Anticipated End date

June 1, 2028

Preferred Application Date

May 24, 2027

Does the practice offer externships?

Yes, please email the practice contact for details

Is an in person visit or externship with the practice required to be considered for an internship?

No, but recommended

Contact Information

Practice City

Versailles

Practice State

[USA] Kentucky

Practice County

Woodford

Practice Zip Code

40383

Practice Address

3550 Lexington Road, Versailles, KY 40383

Practice Mailing Address

3550 Lexington Road, Versailles, KY 40383 - Versailles - Woodford - [USA] Kentucky - 40383

Clinical Experience and Responsibilities

Intern rotates between services

Yes

Service rotation description

Intern will rotate between services

Intern is primary case responsibility for first opinion and emergency cases

Intern has primary case care responsibility for complex cases with supervision

Yes

Intern is primary doctor performing entry-level procedures

Yes

Intern is primary surgeon on any procedures

Percentage of time intern is directly supervised

75-90%

Patient rounds held daily with senior clinicians

Teaching rounds held

Weekly journal clubs held

Yes

M&M or other specialized rounds held

Intern has opportunity to attend a professional CE meeting

Intern has opportunity to complete a study or publication

Yes

Intern has access to current medical textbooks

Yes

Intern has access to online journals

Yes

In the past 5 years, how many studies/cases have been published by interns as the primary author from work pursued primarily during their intern year?

Equipment the intern has exposure to within the practice

["Digital radiography","Endoscopy","Fracture repair sets","Nuclear scintigraphy","Shockwave","Ultrasound endorectal probe","Ultrasound linear probe","Other (please list)"]

Any additional information the practice would like to share on their internship program:

Exposure to the Thoroughbred sales industry, wet labs are held within the clinic

Caseload

Total number annual cases

10508

Total number ambulatory cases

6345

Total number in-house cases

2892

Avg number of after hour emergencies per week in the busiest time of year

Less than 5

Avg number of after hour emergencies per week in the least busy time of year

Less than 5

Significant seasonality to the caseload

Yes

Seasonality description

Thoroughbred sales and breeding seasons

Species other than equids

Number of specialty certified clinicians

Number of clinicians in direct support of program

Diplomats of the following specialties (including their European Equivalents)

ACT - American College of Theriogenologists - 0

ACVA - American College of Veterinary Anesthesiologists - 0

ACVECC - American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care - 0

ACVIM - American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine - 0

ACVO - American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists - 0

ACVR - American College of Veterinary Radiology - 0

ACVS - American College of Veterinary Surgery - 2

ACVSMR- American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation - 0

AVDC - American Veterinary Dental College - 0

Diplomates of other specialties

Other personnel of note (outside specialists, farriers, dentists, etc)

n/a

Additional certifications/area of expertise represented in the practice ["Acupuncture certification"]

Technician present on ambulatory calls

Yes

Overnight technical staff (if hospital present)

Yes

Other details about technician support of intern doctors

There are plenty of technicians at the hospital that are available to help interns and doctors 24/7. Technicians are trained for both field procedures and in house surgical procedures

Compensation

Annual Salary

$56-60K

Total benefits package
Download the Benefits Worksheet

Additional opportunity for emergency compensation

Opportunities for additional income (production bonuses, working horse shows, etc).

Benefits

Benefits offered

Yes

Click here to download the Benefits Worksheet

Value of total annual compensation

n/a

Housing offered

Housing Type

Other

Housing Amount

$0.00

Paid time off (PTO) offered

Yes

# of PTO days

PTO stipulations

Taken at times consistent with the reasonable business needs

Health insurance offered

Yes for employee

Amount of health insurance premium intern is responsible for

n/a

Dental insurance offered

Yes

Life insurance offered

Yes

Short-term disability insurance offered

Yes

Long-term disability insurance offered

Yes

Liability insurance offered

Yes

CE stipend offered

Yes

License/DEA fees reimbursed / stipend offered

Yes

State license required

Yes

USDA license required

DEA license required

Association fees reimbursed / stipend offered

Yes

Student loan payments reimbursed / stipend offered

401K program offered

Clothing / logo wear stipend offered

Phone or phone stipend offered

Maternity / paternity leave offered

Discounted pet care and / or a pet medications policy offered

Practice vehicle or mileage reimbursement offered

Yes

Other benefits offered

n/a

Contract

Non-compete clause required

Yes

Non-compete details

12 months

Non-US residents may apply

Method internship offers are made

Following interviews

Earliest date of internship offer made in the last 3 years

February

Latest date of internship offer made in the last 3 years

May

Average time provided to internship candidates to consider an offer

2-3 weeks

Outcomes Assessment

How long has the practice offered internships?

2 years

Avg number of interns who completed the program per year for the past 5 years

Number of interns from this program who applied for a residency in the past 5 years

Number of interns from this program who entered a residency position directly out of the internship in the past 5 years

Number of interns from this program who accepted a second or specialty internship in the past 5 years

Number of interns from this program who accepted a residency position in the past 5 years

Number of interns retained by the practice as associates in the past 5 years

Of the interns that started the program in the past 5 years, how many are still in equine practice (and/or in an advanced training program targeted at specialty equine practice)?

100%

Number of former interns currently employed by the practice

Are current or former interns from the practice available for reference?

Yes, email the practice contact for details.

Additional information about the internship program

Jobs

Bluegrass Equine Surgery