Employment Information
Practice name
Idaho Equine Hospital
Last Updated
September 10, 2025
Internship Type
In-Hospital
% of time spent on ambulatory vs in-hospital
3 % Camelid
| Idaho Equine Hospital offers three internship positions each year to recently graduated veterinarians. The goal of the internship is to provide strong mentorship from a team of experienced equine veterinarians, while offering extensive hands-on experience in a structured and supportive environment. Idaho Equine’s internship program has a long-standing reputation for producing confident, well-rounded equine veterinarians. Past interns have gone on to pursue residency training in surgery, internal medicine, and anesthesia, as well as specialization in imaging, sports medicine, reproduction, and dentistry. Many have gone on to join or establish successful equine practices across North America.
The Idaho Equine Hospital internship is designed to provide high-quality training and practical experience within a supportive and collaborative team environment. Our goal is to help interns develop a strong foundation in equine medicine, surgery, and health management through exposure to a diverse and challenging caseload in a high-quality equine practice. In return, we value the fresh perspectives interns bring, including insights into new procedures, research, and protocols. Interns will gain experience managing a wide variety of patients and clients, while building confidence and effective communication skills. Under the guidance of experienced veterinarians, interns will learn to critically assess cases and formulate diagnostic and treatment plans. Active research into cases is encouraged, and weekly rounds presentations are structured to deepen clinical knowledge and address real-world questions. This internship is intended to provide the skills, experience, and mentorship necessary for interns to pursue competitive residency programs or thrive in high-quality equine practices. For questions regarding the internship, please contact Internship Coordinator Dr. Pete Knox at pknox@idahoequine.com or (208) 899-2361. The three interns at Idaho Equine Hospital rotate every two weeks between internal medicine, surgery/sports medicine, and an emergency rotation, allowing for exposure to all aspects of equine health management and the opportunity to work closely with each senior veterinarian. Interns gain hands-on experience in dentistry, anesthesia, podiatry, and ophthalmology, and while on medicine or surgery rotations, they work directly with senior clinicians on both referral and primary care cases. Responsibilities include assisting with case work-ups, overseeing the assessment and treatment of hospitalized patients under supervision, maintaining accurate medical records, and ensuring hospital orders are properly completed. The surgery/sports medicine rotation includes scrubbing in on all surgeries and assisting with lameness evaluations and surgical cases. Primary emergency call is shared equally among the three interns; after a period of direct supervision, interns will handle emergencies independently, with senior veterinarians available for consultation. Technical staff support is available for overnight care and patient monitoring. The internship runs from June 1, 2026, to May 31, 2027. Interns receive five vacation days, with additional time off available for residency interviews, and the practice covers professional dues (state license, AAEP membership), health insurance, and a $1,200/month housing stipend. While on primary emergency duty, interns are expected to stay onsite in provided housing. |
3
- Equine general practice
Start date
June 1, 2026
End date
May 31, 2027
Application Deadline
October 15, 2025
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?
Yes, required
Contact Information
Nampa
[USA] Idaho
Canyon
83687
16080 Equine Dr.
Practice Mailing Address
16080 Equine Dr. - Nampa - Canyon - [USA] Idaho - 83687
Clinical Experience and Responsibilities
Yes
Service rotation description
There will be three rotations that each intern will alternate between on a two week basis
Emergency-
Responsibilities include fielding emergency phone calls, admitting emergency cases and attending to in hospital cases after-hours and on weekends
The intern will have backup from a primary on call veterinarian as well as an on call surgeon and internist.
As the year progresses and the intern’s comfort level/competency increases, more autonomy with case management will be given.
At least one technician will be on duty to perform treatments, assist with emergencies and monitor patients at the hospital during the emergency shift.
The emergency intern will be required to stay at the hospital during the emergency shift.
The apartment upstairs is available for the Emergency intern.
The emergency rotation requires weekends and weeknights on site at the clinic.
The emergency rotation will consist of 2 weeks starting Friday noon through Monday am (following case transfer) and Monday through Thursday from 4pm though the following morning (after case transfer). This is repeated for the second week of the rotation. On the second Friday of the rotation the emergency intern will stay until noon (when the next emergency intern comes in) to assist with in hospital appointments and emergencies.
After each emergency shift the intern is free of any hospital duties (Monday through Friday during the day).
The Emergency intern has the option of coming to the hospital during the day to get more experience in the area of their choice (Sports Medicine, Internal Medicine, Surgery, Reproduction, Dentistry etc). This is not required.
Following the second Thursday overnight shift of each 2 week rotation the Emergency intern will have a 2 ½ day weekend (Friday noon until Monday morning) free of any duties.
-Internal Medicine/Reproduction rotation
Monday through Friday 7 AM to end of day for both weeks of rotation
Primary duties include management, care, and assessment of hospitalized medicine, isolation, and reproduction patients
Assisting/performing in house procedures on hospitalized patients
Assisting medicine/reproduction doctors with daily appointments and emergencies
Relied on heavily for in house assessment, treatment, and care for critical ICU patients when doctors are pulled into other appointments
Formulating treatment plans for individual cases
Triaging daytime emergencies involving colic, acute abdomens, diarrhea, etc.
No on call obligations
More in depth description of rotation during in person orientation
-Surgery/Sports medicine rotation
-Monday through Friday 7AM-end of day on first week of rotation
-Monday through Thursday 7AM-end day on second week of rotation
-The Surgery intern will have the afternoon of the second Friday of the rotation off prior to going
onto the Emergency rotation at 3 pm on Friday.
-Primary duties include management of the hospitalized surgery and sports med patients
– Preparing surgery patients for procedure
– Helping run anesthesia at the beginning of the rotation followed by scrubbing into surgery
– Observing and assisting in lameness exams and radiographic studies to increase accuracy and proficiency
-No on call obligations
-During the breeding season (March-May) the Surgery/Sports medicine intern
has the option of working with the IEH reproduction service or spending
increased time with the sports medicine service if they are looking to
gain more experience in those areas. This does not need to be decided until that time comes.
-All days off for CE and vacation days need to be taken prior to March 1st. Exceptions
can be made for personal emergencies.
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Patient rounds held daily with senior clinicians
Yes
Teaching rounds held
Yes
Frequency of teaching rounds
Monthly
Weekly journal clubs held
Yes
M&M or other specialized rounds held
Yes
Intern has opportunity to attend a professional CE meeting
Yes
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?
3
Equipment the intern has exposure to within the practice
- Arthroscopy
- Laparoscopy
- Fracture repair sets
- Gastroscopy
- Endoscopy
- Stat CBC analyzer
- Stat whole blood chemistry analyzer
- Blood gas analysis
- On site diagnostic lab
- MRI
- Digital radiography
- Ultrasound linear probe
- Ultrasound macroconvex probe
- Ultrasound microconvex probe
- Ultrasound endorectal probe
- Nuclear scintigraphy
- ECG
- ETCO2 monitoring
- Shockwave
- Stall side orthobiologics
- Stem cell capability/utilization
- Embryo Transfer
- Advanced podiatry/therapeutic farriery
- Power dentistry
- Other (please list)
Ophthalmic equipment (tonopen), MRI standing (low field) and recumbent (high field)
Any additional information the practice would like to share on their internship program:
Yearly training for interns and technicians with board certified anesthesiologist
Caseload
Total number annual cases
10000
Total number ambulatory cases
500
Total number in-house cases
9500
Avg number of after hour emergencies per week in the busiest time of year
10-25
Avg number of after hour emergencies per week in the least busy time of year
5-10
Significant seasonality to the caseload
Yes
Seasonality description
Fewer cases in winter
Species other than equids
Yes
Percentages of non-equids by species
3 % Camelid
Number of specialty certified clinicians
Number of clinicians in direct support of program
10
Diplomats of the following specialties (including their European Equivalents)
ACVECC – American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care - 1
ACVIM – American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine - 2
ACVO – American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists - 1
ACVS – American College of Veterinary Surgery - 2
Other personnel of note (outside specialists, farriers, dentists, etc)
Board certified anesthesiologist and radiologist available for consultation
Additional certifications/area of expertise represented in the practice
Acupuncture certification, Chiropractic certification
Technician present on ambulatory calls
Yes
Overnight technical staff (if hospital present)
Yes
Other details about technician support of intern doctors
Compensation
Annual Salary
$41-45k
Additional opportunity for emergency compensation
No
Opportunities for additional income (production bonuses, working horse shows, etc).
No
Benefits
Benefits offered
Yes
Value of total annual compensation
$42,000
Housing offered
Yes
Housing Type
Stipend
Housing Amount
$1000
Paid time off (PTO) offered
Yes
# of PTO days
5
PTO stipulations
None
Health insurance offered
Yes for employee
Amount of health insurance premium intern is responsible for
Dental insurance offered
No
Life insurance offered
No
Short-term disability insurance offered
No
Long-term disability insurance offered
No
Liability insurance offered
Yes
CE stipend offered
Yes
License/DEA fees reimbursed / stipend offered
Yes
State license required
Yes
USDA license required
No
DEA license required
No
Association fees reimbursed / stipend offered
Yes
Student loan payments reimbursed / stipend offered
No
401K program offered
Yes
Employer matching offered
No
Clothing / logo wear stipend offered
Yes
Phone or phone stipend offered
Yes
Maternity / paternity leave offered
No
Discounted pet care and / or a pet medications policy offered
Yes
Practice vehicle or mileage reimbursement offered
No
Other benefits offered
None
Contract
Non-compete clause required
No
Non-US residents may apply
Yes
Is visa support provided?
Yes
Method internship offers are made
Phone call
Earliest date of internship offer made in the last 3 years
June
Latest date of internship offer made in the last 3 years
October
Average time provided to internship candidates to consider an offer
2 weeks
Outcomes Assessment
How long has the practice offered internships?
Since 1999
Avg number of interns who completed the program per year for the past 5 years
3
Number of interns that haven’t completed the program over the past 5 years, with explanation
One for personal reasons
Number of interns from this program who applied for a residency in the past 5 years
1
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
2
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
3
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)?
70-99%
Number of former interns currently employed by the practice
5
Are current or former interns from the practice available for reference?
Yes, email the practice contact for details.
