_A career in the equine industry is not for everyone; therefore, we only allow applicants who already have the necessary horse skills to safely and proficiently handle horses. We recommend that all prospective students visit the school as well as going with an experienced equine dentist to see if a career in equine dentistry is right for you.

Many students ask what it is like to be a dentist and we believe that the closest occupation to an equine dentist is a farrier. Like a farrier, equine dentists will be responsible for starting their own business, which entails:

• attracting and managing clients
• traveling to a client's facility
• keeping detailed and organized records (in the form of charts)
• maintaining and buying instruments
• staying abreast of the latest techniques and laws that may affect them
• manage finances of the business
  

A career as an equine dentist can be very rewarding, though it does require a significant investment in time and money for you to develop your own business. Some of the pros of working for yourself include:

• flexible hours
• unlimited income based upon how hard you work & how well you attract clients (averaging $80-$300/horse for work done)
  
• you are your own boss
• ability to travel
• helping horses perform and live better
• educating clients

Some of the cons of working for your own business:

• no job security
• no benefits
• increased responsibility
• potential unpaid debts by clients
• start up time can take years to become established
• working in all types of weather (horses still need teeth done in inclement weather!)
• must be physically fit to work with horses

We strongly urge prospective students to carefully consider their exact situation and decide if they think that a career in the equine industry is right for them. In addition, it would be best to plan on working part/full-time at another job while developing clientele and skills. Like any other small business, it does take time for you to cultivate customers and we advise students to plan on it taking 1-3 years for you to make enough money to work full-time, which of course, depends on how well you network and how quickly you develop competence in floating horses' teeth. All things considered, with an investment in equipment and an education at the Texas Institute of Equine Dentistry, you can be a successful, independent businessman working in the industry you best love.

 If you have any questions, please feel free to e-mail us or give us a call at (940) 682-2131 (M-F, 9am to 4pm CST).