Find Jobs
Find Jobs Near You – Available Work in Your Location
Skip to job details
PE
Performance Equine Vets
Sports Medicine Veterinary Technician / Assistant
Career Insights for Veterinary Assistant
See where this job fits in the broader career landscape. Knowing your career path helps you see what's possible from here.
Scorecard
Based on South Carolina data
Review key factors to help you decide if this role fits your goals. How is this calculated?
What they do
A Veterinary Assistant assists with animals under veterinary care or in laboratories. Feeds animals, cleans cages, and administers medical treatment under the supervision of a veterinarian or veterinary technician. Works in a veterinary clinic, animal hospital, or laboratory.
$33,705 / year median in South Carolina
+29% projected growth
Job Description
Performance Equine Vets is seeking an experienced Veterinary Technician or Veterinary Assistant to work directly alongside one of our Sports Medicine Surgeons at our equine hospital in Aiken, South Carolina. This is a dedicated, one-on-one support position and a unique opportunity for someone interested in equine sports medicine, lameness, performance horses, and surgery. You will serve as the veterinarian's right hand, working together both in the hospital and in the field and becoming an integral part of the management of our equine athletes. Our Sports Medicine service evaluates performance and lameness problems in horses across a variety of disciplines. Cases may involve detailed orthopedic and lameness examinations, diagnostic nerve and joint blocks, digital radiography and ultrasound, advanced diagnostic imaging, therapeutic procedures, rehabilitation planning, and surgical cases. As the dedicated technician or assistant, you will be involved throughout this process. You will prepare horses for examinations and procedures, safely restrain and handle patients, jog horses in hand for lameness evaluations, assist with flexion tests and diagnostic procedures, prepare equipment and treatment areas, maintain sterile technique, assist with surgical cases and procedures, and help coordinate the veterinarian's schedule and daily caseload. You will learn to consistently present horses for gait evaluation—walking and trotting horses in hand, maintaining the appropriate pace and positioning, assisting with flexion examinations, and helping the veterinarian evaluate subtle changes in movement throughout a lameness workup. Additional responsibilities include patient treatments, maintaining complete and accurate medical records, communicating professionally with clients, preparing for farm calls, managing the equipment and inventory specific to the Sports Medicine service, and ensuring the veterinarian has what is needed before the next appointment or procedure begins. This position requires more than simply completing assigned tasks. We are looking for someone who can develop an understanding of the doctor's workflow, anticipate the next step, prepare ahead, and help keep a demanding specialty service running efficiently and professionally. Reliability, attention to detail, discretion, organization, and excellent horsemanship are extremely important. Equine handling experience is required. Previous veterinary technician or veterinary assistant experience is preferred. Experience in equine sports medicine, lameness, surgery, or a specialty hospital is a significant plus, but we are willing to develop the right candidate who has excellent horse skills, professionalism, and a strong desire to learn. For someone interested in advancing their career in equine veterinary medicine, this position offers exceptional exposure to specialty-level sports medicine and surgery and the opportunity to work closely with an experienced veterinarian rather than rotating between multiple services. Schedule Monday-Friday, approximately 8:00 AM-5:00 PM Shared on-call responsibilities Hospital and field-based work Dedicated position with one Sports Medicine Surgeon This is an opportunity to become a trusted member of a specialized veterinary team and to develop advanced skills in the evaluation and treatment of equine athletes while working in a busy referral and performance-horse environment.