Veterinarians are central to keeping horses safe and rides fair. If you’re a vet who would like to work at a VERA ride, we’d love to hear from you — this page explains what’s involved and who to talk to.
What vetting at a ride involves
- Pre-ride vetting — every horse is checked before it can start. Horses are presented unsaddled with their logbook; temperature, pulse and respiration are taken (by a TPR Steward or a vet), the other logbook parameters are checked, and the horse is trotted out on a loose rein to assess soundness.
- Vet checks during the ride — at the end of each leg the horse must meet the heart-rate parameter, then the vet checks metabolic parameters and lameness. The test is whether the horse is “fit to continue”.
- Final vet check — the same process at the finish. A horse that doesn’t pass is a “vet out”.
- Head Veterinarian — once a horse has been entered it is under the control of the Head Vet until its logbook has been signed off.
- Swabbing — at rides selected for swabbing, the Head Veterinarian is part of the process (see the Swabbing Policy in the Policies section).
Veterinary procedures and standards are set by the AERA Rule Book — please read the veterinary rules in the AERA Rules & Policies before your first ride. The riders’ view of vetting is described in the New to Endurance guide, which is handy background if you’re new to endurance.
Fees
Veterinarians are paid at the rates recommended each year by the AERA veterinary panel, published on the AERA website: Recommended Vet Fees. Ride Organisers are asked to check the recommended fee before they advertise a ride, so the cost of the vets can be covered by ride entries.
Becoming an accredited endurance vet
Head Veterinarians at affiliated endurance rides are AERA-accredited. The details, costs and forms are set by AERA and do change, so check their pages for the current requirements — in broad terms the pathway is:
- You’re registered with a Veterinary Board in an Australian state or territory.
- You’re nominated to AERA by a state association — for Victoria, that’s VERA, through our Vet & TPR Coordinator.
- You complete AERA’s online Endurance Vet Accreditation Course.
- You gain supervised experience at affiliated endurance rides, working under an accredited Head Veterinarian.
- You submit your accreditation application to AERA.
Vet nurses and technicians can also train as TPR (temperature, pulse and respiration) Stewards — AERA runs a separate TPR accreditation. See AERA’s Accreditation page for all the accreditation procedures. Not sure which applies to you? Ask the Vet & TPR Coordinator below.
State Honorary Veterinarians
VERA also has State Honorary Veterinarians who support the club and its rides — you’ll find them listed in the contacts section.
How to get involved
- Get in touch with our Vet & TPR Coordinator (below). Let them know where you’re based, which dates and distances suit you, and whether you’ve vetted endurance rides before.
- Or contact Ride Organisers directly. Each ride’s Ride Organiser arranges the vets for their own event — rides and organisers are listed on the Ride Calendar.
- Read the AERA veterinary rules so you know what to expect on the day.
Russel Gillingham – Vet & TPR Coordinator
Email: vetcoordinator@vicera.com.au
Interested in other accredited roles? See Take on an Official Role.