Equine Healthcare Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented By Product (Vaccines, Pharmaceuticals, Medicinal Feed Additives, Diagnostics, Software & Services, Others), By Indication (Musculoskeletal Disorders, Parasite Control, Internal Medicine, Equine Herpes Virus, Equine Encephalomyelitis, Equine Influenza, West Nile Virus, Tetanus, Others), By Activity (Sports/Racing, Recreation, Others), By Distribution Channel (Veterinary Hospitals & Clinics, E-commerce, Others), By Region and Competition, 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 3.69 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	8.32%
Fastest Growing Segment	Diagnostics
Largest Market	North America
Market Size (2031)	USD 5.96 Billion

Market Overview

The Global Equine Healthcare Market will grow from USD 3.69 Billion in 2025 to USD 5.96 Billion by 2031 at a 8.32% CAGR. Equine healthcare comprises the specialized sector of veterinary medicine dedicated to the development and administration of pharmaceuticals, biologics, diagnostics, and medical devices for the prevention and treatment of equine diseases and injuries. The growth of this market is fundamentally supported by the increasing economic valuation of competitive equestrian sports, which necessitates rigorous physical maintenance for performance animals, and a deepening global commitment to animal welfare standards that drives investment in preventative medical regimens.

Despite these positive momentum factors, the industry encounters a significant obstacle in the form of rising operational costs and professional shortages. According to the American Horse Publications, in 2025, 50.3 percent of equine owners and managers identified the escalating cost of horsekeeping as the most critical issue facing the industry, while 35.5 percent cited difficulties in accessing veterinary care. This financial pressure and scarcity of qualified practitioners poses a substantial challenge to market expansion, as it limits the frequency and scope of medical interventions that owners can afford or obtain.

Key Market Drivers

The Expansion of the Global Equestrian Sports and Racing Industry serves as a formidable engine for market growth, necessitating high-performance veterinary care to maintain the athletic integrity of competition animals. As the economic stakes in disciplines such as show jumping, dressage, and thoroughbred racing rise, owners are increasingly investing in comprehensive preventative regimens and rehabilitation services to prolong the competitive lifespans of their equine assets. This surge in industry engagement is quantitatively evident in participation metrics; according to British Equestrian, June 2025, in the 'State of the Nation 2024' report, federation memberships across its member bodies rose by 11.7 percent between the previous year and the reporting period. This growing base of active participants directly correlates to heightened demand for routine vaccinations, nutritional supplements, and specialized sports medicine services required to keep horses competition-ready.

Simultaneously, Advancements in Equine Veterinary Diagnostics and Therapeutic Technologies are revolutionizing treatment outcomes, particularly through the adoption of novel biologics and regenerative medicine. The industry is witnessing a tangible shift from symptomatic management to curative interventions, driven by significant capital allocation toward pharmaceutical innovation. According to Boehringer Ingelheim, April 2025, in the '2024 Results', the company increased its Research and Development investments to EUR 6.2 billion, underscoring the aggressive pursuit of next-generation medical solutions that benefit animal health sectors. This focus on advanced innovation is translating into robust financial performance for key market players, indicating a healthy ecosystem for product adoption. According to Zoetis, in 2024, the company reported a third-quarter revenue of $2.4 billion, reflecting the strong commercial uptake of its diversified animal health portfolio.

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Key Market Challenges

The dual pressures of rising operational costs and a critical shortage of qualified professionals constitute a formidable barrier to the expansion of the Global Equine Healthcare Market. This scarcity of veterinary practitioners creates a severe supply-side bottleneck, preventing the industry from adequately responding to the growing demand for specialized medical services. As practices struggle to maintain necessary staffing levels, the remaining workforce faces unsustainable workloads, which further accelerates attrition rates and physically limits the number of cases that can be treated.

Consequently, this reduced availability of medical professionals forces service fees upward and extends wait times for non-emergency treatments, causing horse owners to ration veterinary visits. This dynamic directly restricts market revenue growth by capping the volume of medical interventions that can be delivered efficiently. To illustrate the severity of this workforce strain, according to the Society of Practising Veterinary Surgeons, in 2025, 37 percent of veterinarians reported working out-of-hours shifts during the week, a sharp increase from 20 percent the previous year. This metric highlights the intensifying pressure on existing infrastructure, which significantly hampers the market's ability to scale operations in line with global demand.

Key Market Trends

The Integration of Artificial Intelligence in Diagnostics is reshaping clinical workflows by automating image analysis and enhancing decision-making precision. This trend addresses the industry's critical workforce shortage by allowing practitioners to expedite case reviews and reduce errors through machine learning algorithms that detect subtle pathologies invisible to the naked eye. By leveraging these digital tools, clinics can significantly increase patient throughput and diagnostic confidence without proportionally increasing staffing levels. According to Vetel Diagnostics, July 2024, in the 'Intelligent Digital Radiography For Equine Veterinarians' article, their proprietary AI software utilizing intelligent networks can now analyze and identify significant morphological deviations in equine radiographs with 99.8 percent accuracy, illustrating the capability of these systems to augment veterinary expertise.

Simultaneously, the Proliferation of Wearable Health Monitoring Devices is transitioning the market from reactive treatment to proactive wellness management through continuous biometric tracking. These IoT-enabled technologies, such as smart halters and gait sensors, provide real-time data on vital signs, enabling the early detection of conditions like colic or lameness before they escalate into emergencies. This capability optimizes veterinary visits by providing objective historical data, which is economically critical for maintaining the physical integrity of high-performance animals. The rapid acceptance of this technology is evident in user adoption rates; according to Arioneo, April 2024, in the 'EQUIMETRE Vet' report, the company's connected sensor platform has been adopted by over 22,700 users globally, reflecting a massive surge in the demand for data-driven equine health supervision.

Segmental Insights

The Diagnostics segment is currently the fastest-growing area within the Global Equine Healthcare Market. This expansion is primarily driven by the rising prevalence of infectious diseases and musculoskeletal disorders, which necessitate accurate and timely detection to prevent outbreaks and ensure recovery. Furthermore, the integration of portable testing technologies allows veterinarians to perform precise evaluations in field settings, significantly improving efficiency. The heightened focus on preventive care among owners, particularly for breeding and competitive performance, has also surged the demand for genetic screening. These factors are reinforced by strict biosecurity protocols from veterinary authorities, cementing diagnostics as a critical market driver.

Regional Insights

North America commands a leading share of the global equine healthcare market, driven by high disposable income levels and a strong cultural affinity for equestrian sports. The region benefits from the widespread availability of equine medical insurance, which facilitates access to necessary diagnostic and treatment options. Additionally, the market is bolstered by the presence of key industry players and a well-developed veterinary infrastructure. Continuous initiatives by organizations such as the American Association of Equine Practitioners further standardize care protocols, ensuring sustained demand for quality pharmaceutical and vaccine products across the United States and Canada.

Recent Developments

• In October 2025, Covetrus entered into a definitive agreement to sell its SmartEquine business, formerly known as SmartPak, to Chewy, Inc. This strategic transaction was designed to allow Covetrus to concentrate on its core veterinary technology and services operations while enabling the e-commerce acquirer to significantly expand its presence in the equine healthcare market. SmartEquine, a leading provider of horse supplements and pharmacy services, was set to integrate into the buyer's broader animal health portfolio. The acquisition underscored the growing importance of digital retail channels in delivering healthcare products and prescription medications to horse owners and stables.
• In September 2025, Merck Animal Health released the results of a new study regarding its antiprotozoal treatment for Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (EPM). The research demonstrated that the active ingredient in the company’s pelleted formulation reached therapeutic concentrations in the cerebrospinal fluid of horses within 12 hours of a single oral dose. This finding provided clinical evidence supporting the rapid onset of action for the drug, which is critical for managing the progressive neurological effects of EPM. The study, conducted in collaboration with university researchers, reinforced the efficacy profile of the treatment for veterinary professionals managing this debilitating disease.
• In May 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced a risk-based decision allowing VetStem to market PrecisePRP Equine, a leukoreduced, allogeneic, freeze-dried platelet-rich plasma product. This regulatory determination marked the launch of the first off-the-shelf, species-specific PRP therapy for horses that does not require a blood draw or centrifugation at the point of care. The product was reviewed under the FDA’s Animal and Veterinary Innovation Agenda, which confirmed that the developer had appropriately mitigated potential safety risks. This development provided equine veterinarians with a consistent, immediately available regenerative medicine option for treating intra-articular conditions.
• In February 2024, Boehringer Ingelheim announced a global commercial partnership with Sleip, a technology company specializing in artificial intelligence applications for animal health. This collaboration aimed to expand access to an AI-powered diagnostic application designed to assist veterinarians in detecting and analyzing lameness in horses. The technology enabled users to record a horse's movement via smartphone, which the system then analyzed to provide biomechanical data and identify asymmetries. Boehringer Ingelheim also became a shareholder in Sleip as part of this agreement, reinforcing its commitment to integrating digital innovation with its existing portfolio of equine therapeutics to improve patient outcomes.

Key Market Players

• Zoetis Inc.
• Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH
• Merck & Co., Inc.
• Hallmarq Veterinary Imaging Ltd
• Esaote SpA
• Vetoquinol SA
• IDEXX Laboratories, Inc.
• Dechra Pharmaceuticals PLC
• Arthrex Inc.
• Heska Corporation

By Product	By Indication	By Activity	By Distribution Channel	By Region
Vaccines Pharmaceuticals Medicinal Feed Additives Diagnostics Software & Services Others	Musculoskeletal Disorders Parasite Control Internal Medicine Equine Herpes Virus Equine Encephalomyelitis Equine Influenza West Nile Virus Tetanus Others	Sports/Racing Recreation Others	Veterinary Hospitals & Clinics E-commerce Others	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Equine Healthcare Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Equine Healthcare Market, By Product:

• Vaccines
• Pharmaceuticals
• Medicinal Feed Additives
• Diagnostics
• Software & Services
• Others

• Equine Healthcare Market, By Indication:

• Musculoskeletal Disorders
• Parasite Control
• Internal Medicine
• Equine Herpes Virus
• Equine Encephalomyelitis
• Equine Influenza
• West Nile Virus
• Tetanus
• Others

• Equine Healthcare Market, By Activity:

• Sports/Racing
• Recreation
• Others

• Equine Healthcare Market, By Distribution Channel:

• Veterinary Hospitals & Clinics
• E-commerce
• Others

• Equine Healthcare Market, By Region:

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• Europe
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Germany
• Spain
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Middle East & Africa
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE