Meet Ava Halloran
What the Next Generation of Equine Veterinarians Wants Today’s Profession to Know
Every experienced equine veterinarian remembers what it felt like before their first day in practice.
The excitement of finally graduating. The nerves of taking responsibility for your own cases. The quiet uncertainty of wondering whether you were truly ready for the profession you had worked so hard to join.
Those feelings haven’t changed, but what has changed is the profession itself.
Today’s graduates are entering equine practice at a time of workforce shortages, rapidly advancing technology, changing client expectations and increasing conversations around career sustainability and wellbeing. It’s a profession full of opportunity, but one that looks very different from the one many experienced veterinarians entered.
Rather than speculate about what today’s students are thinking, we decided to ask one.
Meet Ava Halloran, a fourth-year veterinary science student at The University of Queensland, accomplished dressage rider and President of the University’s Equine Special Interest Group.
Beyond her studies, Ava has immersed herself in the profession through leadership roles, practical placements and learning opportunities with experienced equine veterinarians, all while balancing university, work and competitive riding.
Our conversation wasn’t simply about one student’s journey. It became an insight into how the next generation views equine veterinary medicine, what they value in mentors and employers, and how they hope to build long, rewarding careers within the profession.
For practice owners, mentors and experienced equine veterinarians, Ava’s reflections offer something both reassuring and thought-provoking: a reminder that while every generation may approach the profession a little differently, the desire to become an exceptional veterinarian remains very much the same.
The Next Generation Isn’t Looking for an Easy Career
Ava sees today’s veterinary students as an incredibly motivated generation, prepared to work hard to build successful careers in the profession. Like many veterinary students, Ava Halloran’s days extend well beyond lectures and practical classes.
Alongside studying full-time, she’s balancing leadership responsibilities, practical placements, work and the demands of competing her own horses. It’s a schedule that requires discipline, commitment and careful time management, and she’s quick to point out that many of her fellow students are doing exactly the same.
“The veterinary students I know are incredibly motivated, passionate and committed to developing the skills required to become excellent clinicians.”
What has changed is the expectation of what a successful career should look like.
Previous generations often accepted that long hours, personal sacrifice and burnout were simply part of becoming an equine veterinarian. Today’s graduates still understand that equine practice is demanding, but they’re also asking an important question: How do I build a career that I can still love twenty or thirty years from now?
For today’s graduates, the challenge is finding ways to make that hard work sustainable throughout a long career.
Perhaps that’s one of the biggest shifts experienced veterinarians are seeing. This generation is more comfortable talking about wellbeing, seeking feedback and asking questions because they want to keep improving throughout their careers. They recognise that becoming an outstanding equine veterinarian isn’t a destination reached in the first few years after graduation. It’s a lifelong journey of learning.
For practice owners, that’s an encouraging message. The next generation isn’t looking for shortcuts. They’re looking for careers with purpose, opportunities to grow and workplaces where they can become the very best veterinarians they’re capable of being.
What New Graduates Really Want From Their First Employer
Spend a few minutes talking to veterinary students and you’ll quickly notice that salary isn’t the first thing they mention when discussing their ideal first job.
For Ava Halloran, and many of the students she studies alongside, the most important factor is finding a practice that is genuinely invested in helping them become excellent veterinarians.
“Most graduates aren’t necessarily looking for the easiest or highest paying job; rather, we are looking for somewhere and someone who will encourage us to become excellent veterinarians.”
That perspective is worth reflecting on.
The transition from university into equine practice is one of the steepest learning curves in any profession.
New graduates are looking for an environment where they can ask questions, receive constructive feedback and gradually build the confidence that only experience can provide.
She spoke about practices that invest time in teaching, encourage curiosity and recognise that confidence develops through good leadership, encouragement and repeated opportunities to learn.
Interestingly, it wasn’t just the big moments that stood out to her. Often, it was the smallest gestures that made the greatest impression.
Being introduced to clients instead of standing quietly in the background. Being asked about her interests and career goals. Feeling like part of the team rather than simply an extra pair of hands on placement.
Those seemingly minor interactions communicated something far more important than technical knowledge: they demonstrated that someone genuinely cared about her development.
For practice owners, that’s an encouraging message because these qualities come from intentional leadership and can be developed in practices of any size.
The practices that will attract and retain the best graduates over the coming decade are unlikely to be those offering the highest starting salary alone. They’ll be the ones known for producing confident, capable veterinarians because they’ve created a culture where learning, mentorship and professional growth are part of everyday practice.
Confidence Doesn’t Come From University. It Comes From Mentorship.
Every new graduate reaches a moment when the safety net disappears. At university/college, there’s always someone to sense-check your thinking. A lecturer, a clinical supervisor or an experienced veterinarian is there to guide your decision-making and help you work through the case.
Graduation changes that overnight.
Suddenly, you’re the veterinarian responsible for making decisions, often under pressure and with a client looking to you for answers. It’s a transition that Ava Halloran admits is both exciting and daunting.
“At university, there’s always someone to double-check your thinking. As a new graduate, you’re suddenly the person making decisions, often in high-pressure situations.”
Veterinary school provides the knowledge, develops clinical reasoning and exposes students to a wide range of cases. Genuine confidence then develops through repeatedly applying those skills in practice, making decisions, learning from mistakes and having experienced colleagues willing to guide rather than judge.
Every experienced equine veterinarian reading this article has lived through that same transition. Most can probably still remember their first emergency call-out, their first difficult conversation with a client or the first case that kept them awake at night.
Those experiences shape us, but they don’t have to be faced alone. For new graduates, knowing there’s someone they can call for advice or reassurance helps build their confidence as they gain experience.
Good mentors understand when to step in, when to let graduates think for themselves and when to simply remind them that becoming a capable veterinarian is a process, not an expectation of the first few months.
Perhaps that’s the greatest gift an experienced veterinarian can offer the next generation: the confidence to keep learning and eventually find the answers for themselves.
Technology Will Change Veterinary Medicine. Relationships Never Will.
No generation has had greater access to information than today’s veterinary students.
Research papers, webinars, podcasts, online learning platforms and artificial intelligence have transformed the way students learn. If they encounter an unfamiliar condition or want to better understand a procedure, the answer is often only a few clicks away.
For Ava Halloran, technology has become an invaluable learning tool, allowing students to explore topics in greater depth and take greater ownership of their education.
Yet one of the most refreshing parts of our conversation was hearing what she doesn’t believe technology can replace.
“I don’t think technology will, or should ever replace the importance of experience, clinical judgement and the relationship between veterinarians, animals and owners.”
That perspective should reassure many experienced equine veterinarians.
There is sometimes concern that younger graduates, having grown up surrounded by technology, may rely too heavily on digital tools or artificial intelligence.
Ava sees it very differently. In her view, wearable technology should support learning and decision-making while working alongside the critical thinking and experience that comes from years spent working with horses and their owners.
In many ways, that’s exactly how the profession has always evolved. Advances in diagnostic imaging, laboratory testing and portable ultrasound have all improved the information available to veterinarians, but none have replaced the judgement required to interpret that information or the conversations needed to help owners make difficult decisions.
Perhaps that’s what the future of equine veterinary medicine looks like: combining the wisdom and experience of seasoned clinicians with the opportunities created by emerging technology.
As these tools continue to evolve, trust, communication and sound clinical judgement will remain at the heart of great equine practice, just as they always have.
The Question Every Practice Owner Should Start Asking
Towards the end of our conversation, we asked Ava Halloran a simple question.
If experienced equine veterinarians could ask students one question more often, what should it be?
Her answer was immediate.
“What kind of veterinarian do you hope to become, and how can I help you get there?”
It’s a deceptively simple question, but one that has the potential to change the relationship between employers and new graduates.
Too often, conversations with students revolve around the cases they’ve seen, the procedures they’ve performed or the grades they’ve achieved. While those things certainly matter, they only tell part of the story. They don’t reveal what motivates someone, where they hope their career will lead or what opportunities might help them get there.
As Ava Halloran points out, every student enters the profession with different ambitions. Some dream of general practice, others of sports medicine, surgery, reproduction, internal medicine, research or teaching. Understanding those aspirations allows mentors to tailor opportunities, share relevant experiences and help students build a career that aligns with their interests.
Perhaps that’s one of the defining characteristics of great mentorship. The best mentors recognise the strengths and ambitions of the individual standing in front of them and help shape a path that is uniquely their own.
It becomes clear that this generation values guidance, honest conversations and experienced veterinarians who are genuinely interested in their future.
For practice owners, that’s a powerful reminder. Recruitment doesn’t end when a graduate accepts a position. It continues every day through the conversations you have, the opportunities you create and the interest you take in helping that person become the veterinarian they aspire to be.
Perhaps the future of our profession won’t be shaped solely by the knowledge we pass on, but by the questions we’re willing to ask.
Why the Future of Equine Veterinary Medicine Looks Bright
After spending time talking with Ava Halloran, one thing became abundantly clear.
Despite the differences between generations, the values that underpin great equine veterinarians remain remarkably consistent.
Today’s students still want to become exceptional clinicians. They still want to earn the trust of clients, make a difference to the horses in their care and continue learning throughout their careers.
What has perhaps changed is that they’re more willing to have open conversations about mentorship, wellbeing and building careers that remain fulfilling for decades.
Throughout our conversation, Ava repeatedly returned to the importance of curiosity, lifelong learning and the generosity of experienced veterinarians who have shared their knowledge with her along the way. She hopes those qualities never disappear from the profession because they’ve played such an important role in shaping the veterinarian she hopes to become.
“Medicine and science will continue to evolve, but generosity with knowledge is something I hope never changes.”
Looking ahead, Ava hopes to build a career in equine sports medicine, working alongside owners, riders and trainers to help high-performance horses enjoy long, healthy and successful careers. At the same time, she hopes to one day mentor veterinary students herself, passing on the encouragement and opportunities that others have given to her.
Perhaps that’s the most encouraging takeaway from this conversation.
The future of equine veterinary medicine is being shaped by young veterinarians who deeply respect the profession, value the experience of those who have gone before them and are eager to contribute their own ideas, energy and curiosity.
If Ava Halloran’s reflections are representative of the next generation entering equine practice, then the future of our profession is in very capable hands.
Meet Ava Halloran at AAEP 2026
If you’re a veterinary student or new graduate attending the AAEP Convention in Las Vegas later this year, you’ll have the opportunity to meet Ava in person.
Ava will be attending the convention with The Equine Practice Company, and she’d genuinely love to meet fellow students, recent graduates and aspiring equine veterinarians from around the world.
Whether you’d like to introduce yourself, chat about veterinary school, discuss career opportunities or simply expand your professional network, don’t hesitate to stop by and say hello.
One of the wonderful things about the equine veterinary profession is its willingness to share knowledge and support the next generation. Every conversation has the potential to open a new door, create a new friendship or introduce you to a future mentor.
So, if you see Ava at AAEP, make sure you stop by, introduce yourself and, as we say in Australia, come and say g’day!
