What it takes to stay grounded in a demanding profession
Working with horses requires a particular kind of presence. They are sensitive, perceptive animals, attuned to subtle changes in body language, tone, and energy. In equine veterinary medicine, this sensitivity shapes daily work and influences how care is delivered. For Registered Veterinary Technologists (RVTs), learning to move calmly, think clearly, and adapt to changing situations becomes as important as technical skill itself.
That same steadiness is often expected of RVTs beyond their hands-on responsibilities. Alongside patient care, they navigate an emotional landscape that includes animal behaviour, client concerns, and the quiet pressure of doing right by both. Emotional resilience develops as RVTs learn how to care deeply while staying grounded and thoughtful, aware of their own limits while remaining fully present in the work.
Over time, emotional resilience is shaped through experience, reflection, and an understanding of one’s own limits. It develops as RVTs learn when to step forward, when to slow down, and how to remain present without carrying every outcome with them. Two Alberta-based Equine RVTs, Amy and Shelby, spoke candidly about how this process has unfolded in their own careers.
Their experiences highlight that resilience develops gradually and intentionally. Supported by self-awareness, boundaries, and meaningful work, it allows RVTs to continue caring for both patients and people with intention, compassion, and confidence.
The Emotional Weight of Responsibility
The responsibility carried by Equine RVTs extends far beyond technical skill or clinical competence. It is present in everyday interactions, quiet decisions, and moments where attentiveness matters as much as action.
In equine medicine, RVTs are involved in a wide range of clinical and technical responsibilities that go well beyond basic care. They assist veterinarians with physical examinations and diagnostic procedures such as collecting blood samples, monitoring vital signs, and helping with advanced imaging like x-rays or ultrasound, all while observing subtle changes in a horse’s behaviour and comfort level. Working closely with the Veterinarian, RVTs administer prescribed medications provide care for their patients and monitor patients under anesthesia or sedation, ensuring patient stability before, during, and after procedures.
They also play a key role in communicating treatment plans and homecare instructions to owners, maintaining detailed medical records, and being part of emergency responses when horses need immediate attention. Across both routine care and high-stress situations, this work demands sustained focus, physical effort, and careful judgment.
Amy, an Alberta-based Equine RVT, describes this reality clearly:
“There’s a weight of responsibility that comes with high-stress cases.”
That weight shows up most visibly during emergencies, but it is shaped by much more than those moments alone. It comes from the need to remain composed while navigating multiple layers at once: patient comfort and stability, owner concern, time constraints, and the inherent risks of working with large, sensitive animals. In these situations, RVTs are often the steady presence horses respond to first, and the familiar face owners turn to for reassurance, explanation, and clarity.
As Amy explains:
“In emergencies, you’re not just helping manage the medical situation, you’re also managing fear, grief, urgency, and sometimes unrealistic expectations from the owner.”
Providing that support requires emotional awareness as much as technical skill. Over time, carrying this responsibility without space to acknowledge it can become challenging, underscoring the importance of emotional resilience in equine practice.
Working Within Limits You Can’t Control
One of the most difficult realities in equine medicine is that care is shaped by more than medical knowledge alone. Financial limitations, logistics, and owner circumstances all play a role in determining what is possible, even when the medical path forward feels clear.
As Amy shared,
“Unfortunately, the reality of veterinary medicine is that we can help as much as financial limitations allow.”
For equine RVTs, this reality is especially complex. Horses often hold a dual role in their owners’ lives. They are deeply loved companions, but they may also be working partners, athletes, or a source of livelihood. When ideal treatment options are not feasible, the emotional weight of those decisions can be heavy for everyone involved.
Shelby, an Alberta-based Equine RVT working in equine sports medicine, describes these moments as some of the most challenging:
“The cases I find the hardest are patients needing medical assistance… however the owners have a budget that does not allow full treatment… instead results in euthanasia.”
Situations like these can create a deep sense of internal conflict. RVTs may understand what could be done medically, while also recognizing the limits placed on the situation. Emotional resilience does not come from becoming numb to this reality. Instead, it develops through learning how to accept what cannot be changed while continuing to advocate thoughtfully for the patient within the circumstances that exist.
As Shelby explains,
“Recognizing that doing the right thing for the animal is sometimes the only thing within our control.”
Holding onto that perspective allows RVTs to remain compassionate and engaged, even when outcomes are not what they hoped for. It is a difficult balance, but one that sits at the heart of emotional resilience in equine veterinary medicine.
Staying Grounded in High-Pressure Moments
High-pressure moments are an inevitable part of equine veterinary medicine. Emergencies, unexpected complications, and rapidly changing situations require RVTs to remain focused and composed while working with large, unpredictable animals and emotionally charged environments. In these moments, technical skill alone is not enough. Staying grounded becomes essential for both patient safety and effective decision-making.
For Equine RVTs, staying grounded means focusing on what needs to be done in the moment rather than becoming overwhelmed by everything happening at once. In high-pressure situations, this approach allows RVTs to move forward with clarity while working with unpredictable animals and heightened emotions.
Amy explains:
“I would manage stress by staying focused on what needs to be done in that moment and trusting my training. Breaking things down step by step also helps keep the situation from feeling overwhelming.”
That sense of grounding is reinforced through preparation, experience, and repetition, but it is also closely tied to teamwork. Equine medicine is inherently collaborative, and knowing that responsibility is shared helps reduce both clinical and emotional strain.
“I lean heavily on teamwork and communication, knowing I’m not handling it alone is huge so having a team that you like to work with can make all the difference.”
The Role of Team Culture and Psychological Safety
The environment an RVT works in can have a profound influence on how they experience stress and how well they are able to manage it over time. Team culture shapes whether individuals feel comfortable asking questions, admitting uncertainty, or reaching out for support after difficult cases. In a profession where responsibility is shared and emotions can run high, feeling supported by those around you matters.
As Amy shared:
“Teamwork and workplace culture are essential for staying emotionally strong. Being able to share both the successes and the stresses with colleagues helps you process tough cases and feel supported.”
Being part of a team where communication is open allows RVTs to process challenging situations rather than carrying them alone. Informal conversations, check-ins, and debriefing after tough cases can make a meaningful difference in how experiences are understood and carried forward.
“Encouraging teamwork, checking in on each other’s well-being, and creating a culture where it’s okay to ask for support helps everyone stay resilient… In my opinion, psychological safety is one of the most important things.”
Psychological safety creates space for RVTs to speak up, ask questions, and acknowledge when something feels heavy without fear of judgment. Feeling heard and respected within a team reinforces trust and belonging, which is essential in a profession that carries both physical and emotional demands.
As Shelby shared:
“Have a go-to person within your workplace or at least within the industry who you feel comfortable and safe to talk to.”
In equine veterinary medicine, resilience is not built in isolation. Supportive teams and healthy workplace cultures help ensure that RVTs can continue to show up for their patients, their clients, and each other in a way that is steady, connected, and sustainable.
Choosing Curiosity Over Frustration
Emotional strain in equine veterinary medicine can come from many places. Interpersonal challenges, heavy cases, and caring for sick or injured horses all contribute to the emotional weight RVTs carry. One approach that can help RVTs navigate these moments is a shift in perspective.
As Amy shared:
“The best advice I ever received is to lead with curiosity in everything you do… rather than feeling frustrated or annoyed, I approach situations by asking ‘why’ and seeking to understand.”
Approaching situations with curiosity creates space for understanding rather than immediate reaction. Instead of responding from frustration or defensiveness, it encourages RVTs to pause and consider what may be driving a behaviour, concern, or conflict. Over time, this mindset supports clearer communication, more thoughtful problem-solving, and greater emotional steadiness in long-term practice.
Why RVTs Continue to Show Up
Despite the challenges, equine veterinary medicine remains deeply meaningful for those who choose to stay. The work is demanding, often emotionally complex, and shaped by factors that cannot always be controlled. Yet it is also grounded in connection, purpose, and moments that quietly reaffirm why RVTs entered the profession in the first place.
For many, fulfillment grows beyond the patient alone. It develops through relationships built over time, opportunities to educate and support owners, and the knowledge that their skills make a tangible difference.
As Amy shared:
“Seeing a patient recover, educating an owner on something new, or knowing I’ve used my skills to provide the best care possible reminds me why I love this work.”
Emotional resilience makes it possible to continue caring deeply without losing oneself in the process. Throughout equine practice, RVTs learn how to carry responsibility thoughtfully, work within limits they cannot control, lean on their teams, and approach challenges with curiosity rather than frustration.
As Amy emphasized:
“Taking care of your own well-being is essential to being able to care for your patients and maintain a sustainable, fulfilling career.”
Resilience is not about being unaffected by the work or distancing oneself from its emotional realities. It is about learning how to remain present while setting boundaries, accepting support, and acknowledging limits. For equine RVTs, resilience becomes a way of carrying the work forward with honesty, steadiness, and intention, allowing them to continue showing up for their patients, their clients, and themselves.
This article was written by Madison Furness, Marketing and Communications Coordinator, Alberta Veterinary Technologist Association.