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Veterinary Software Guide

Best equine veterinary software: what actually works in 2026

Why most veterinary software falls short for equine practice

Equine veterinary medicine operates differently from companion animal practice in ways that matter for software. The patients are at the client's location, not yours. Farm calls and barn visits require scheduling that accounts for travel time, geographic clustering, and the unpredictability of large-animal emergencies that pull a DVM off a planned route. Invoicing happens in the field. Medical records may need to follow a horse through multiple ownership changes over a career spanning decades.

The companion animal PIMS that dominate the veterinary software market were designed around clinic-based workflows. They're built to manage a practice where patients come to you, where the front desk handles scheduling and check-in, and where billing happens at a reception desk. Equine practitioners trying to adapt those systems to farm-call workflows end up with a lot of manual workarounds: route planning in a separate app, invoicing on paper or in a separate tool, and records that don't travel well to the field.

This isn't a niche problem. PetDesk's 2026 State of Veterinary Practice Management Report highlights nearly 40% of veterinary practices report staff regularly performing tasks outside their defined roles. For equine practices with lean teams handling complex logistics, that number likely trends higher—particularly on days when large-animal emergency calls disrupt a planned farm route.

Here's what equine practitioners should look for in software, and which tools are worth evaluating in 2026.

Looking for a broader framework on how to approach the buying decision? Our guide to choosing veterinary software covers the full evaluation process.

What equine practices need from software

Farm-call and route scheduling.

Equine scheduling isn't appointment-based in the same way companion animal scheduling is. A farm call might involve seeing six horses at one barn followed by two at another, with a long drive between. Software that supports geographic clustering of farm calls, travel-time buffers, and the flexibility to reroute when emergencies arise is essential—not a nice feature.

Mobile record access and in-field documentation.

Equine DVMs need to access and update records in the field, on a phone or tablet, without a reliable internet connection. Mobile-first design with offline functionality isn't optional—it's how equine practice actually works. Documentation completed in the barn at the time of the visit is more accurate than records filled in at the end of a long day.

Equine-specific record structure.

Horse records need to capture equine-specific information: Coggins test history, vaccination records for travel requirements, lameness examinations, dental records, and performance history. Records that need to follow a horse through ownership changes require a different data structure than companion animal records tied to a household.

Dental and farrier coordination.

Equine practices often coordinate care across a broader team: farriers, equine dentists, and trainers all need to know what the DVM found and recommended. Software that supports care coordination notes (beyond the internal medical record) reflects how equine healthcare actually works.

In-field payment processing.

Large-animal invoices are often paid at the time of service. Processing cards in the field, sending digital receipts, and syncing payment records back to the main system without manual reconciliation are practical requirements for equine practice—not edge cases.

The software equine practices are using

ezyVet

ImproMed

PetDesk

Hippo Manager

(Equine-focused configuration)

Several equine practitioners configure ezyVet specifically for large-animal and equine workflows, taking advantage of its high configurability to build farm-call scheduling, equine record templates, and mobile access. ezyVet's cloud-native architecture and mobile browser access make it functional in the field, even if it isn't purpose-built for equine practice.

Best for: Equine practices willing to invest time in configuration for a cloud PIMS with a strong general veterinary track record and mobile accessibility.

Rating: Capterra: 4/5

Pricing: ~$420/month + server costs

Key strengths:

  • Cloud-native with mobile browser access. Records accessible and updatable from the field on a phone or tablet.

  • Highly configurable—equine-specific record templates and scheduling logic can be built within the platform.

  • Comprehensive feature set for billing, inventory, and reporting once configured for the equine context.

Worth knowing: ezyVet is not purpose-built for equine practice. Getting it to work well in a farm-call context requires significant initial configuration. Route planning, geographic scheduling, and equine-specific record structures require setup that a general PIMS won't provide out of the box. Budget implementation time accordingly.

(Equine-focused configuration)

Several equine practitioners configure ezyVet specifically for large-animal and equine workflows, taking advantage of its high configurability to build farm-call scheduling, equine record templates, and mobile access. ezyVet's cloud-native architecture and mobile browser access make it functional in the field, even if it isn't purpose-built for equine practice.

Best for: Equine practices willing to invest time in configuration for a cloud PIMS with a strong general veterinary track record and mobile accessibility.

Rating: Capterra: 4/5

Pricing: ~$420/month + server costs

Key strengths:

  • Cloud-native with mobile browser access. Records accessible and updatable from the field on a phone or tablet.

  • Highly configurable—equine-specific record templates and scheduling logic can be built within the platform.

  • Comprehensive feature set for billing, inventory, and reporting once configured for the equine context.

Worth knowing: ezyVet is not purpose-built for equine practice. Getting it to work well in a farm-call context requires significant initial configuration. Route planning, geographic scheduling, and equine-specific record structures require setup that a general PIMS won't provide out of the box. Budget implementation time accordingly.

(Equine-focused configuration)

Several equine practitioners configure ezyVet specifically for large-animal and equine workflows, taking advantage of its high configurability to build farm-call scheduling, equine record templates, and mobile access. ezyVet's cloud-native architecture and mobile browser access make it functional in the field, even if it isn't purpose-built for equine practice.

Best for: Equine practices willing to invest time in configuration for a cloud PIMS with a strong general veterinary track record and mobile accessibility.

Rating: Capterra: 4/5

Pricing: ~$420/month + server costs

Key strengths:

  • Cloud-native with mobile browser access. Records accessible and updatable from the field on a phone or tablet.

  • Highly configurable—equine-specific record templates and scheduling logic can be built within the platform.

  • Comprehensive feature set for billing, inventory, and reporting once configured for the equine context.

Worth knowing: ezyVet is not purpose-built for equine practice. Getting it to work well in a farm-call context requires significant initial configuration. Route planning, geographic scheduling, and equine-specific record structures require setup that a general PIMS won't provide out of the box. Budget implementation time accordingly.

ImproMed has been used by equine and large-animal practices for longer than most alternatives. It supports both companion animal and large-animal records in the same system, which makes it a workable option for mixed practices that see both horses and companion animals. Its invoicing tools are well-suited to the complex, multi-item invoices that large-animal farm calls often generate.

Best for: Mixed practices serving both companion animals and large animals, particularly equine, that need one system for both patient populations.

Rating: Capterra: 4/5

Pricing: Varies per setup with a $5,000 initial flat, one-time license fee

Key strengths:

  • Large-animal and companion animal records in a single system, which is important for mixed practices that don't want separate platforms.

  • Complex invoice handling for multi-item farm calls with medications, procedures, and travel charges in a single transaction.

  • Established platform with a track record in the large-animal segment.

Worth knowing: ImproMed is an on-premise system, which creates the same remote access limitations that affect all server-based veterinary software. Mobile access in the field requires configuration work. The platform shows its age in the interface and hasn't kept pace with cloud-native alternatives in terms of user experience.

ImproMed has been used by equine and large-animal practices for longer than most alternatives. It supports both companion animal and large-animal records in the same system, which makes it a workable option for mixed practices that see both horses and companion animals. Its invoicing tools are well-suited to the complex, multi-item invoices that large-animal farm calls often generate.

Best for: Mixed practices serving both companion animals and large animals, particularly equine, that need one system for both patient populations.

Rating: Capterra: 4/5

Pricing: Varies per setup with a $5,000 initial flat, one-time license fee

Key strengths:

  • Large-animal and companion animal records in a single system, which is important for mixed practices that don't want separate platforms.

  • Complex invoice handling for multi-item farm calls with medications, procedures, and travel charges in a single transaction.

  • Established platform with a track record in the large-animal segment.

Worth knowing: ImproMed is an on-premise system, which creates the same remote access limitations that affect all server-based veterinary software. Mobile access in the field requires configuration work. The platform shows its age in the interface and hasn't kept pace with cloud-native alternatives in terms of user experience.

ImproMed has been used by equine and large-animal practices for longer than most alternatives. It supports both companion animal and large-animal records in the same system, which makes it a workable option for mixed practices that see both horses and companion animals. Its invoicing tools are well-suited to the complex, multi-item invoices that large-animal farm calls often generate.

Best for: Mixed practices serving both companion animals and large animals, particularly equine, that need one system for both patient populations.

Rating: Capterra: 4/5

Pricing: Varies per setup with a $5,000 initial flat, one-time license fee

Key strengths:

  • Large-animal and companion animal records in a single system, which is important for mixed practices that don't want separate platforms.

  • Complex invoice handling for multi-item farm calls with medications, procedures, and travel charges in a single transaction.

  • Established platform with a track record in the large-animal segment.

Worth knowing: ImproMed is an on-premise system, which creates the same remote access limitations that affect all server-based veterinary software. Mobile access in the field requires configuration work. The platform shows its age in the interface and hasn't kept pace with cloud-native alternatives in terms of user experience.

For equine practices that already have a working PIMS and want to improve client communication—farm owners, barn managers, and horse owners who need reminders, vaccination schedule follow-up, and easy communication channels—PetDesk's communication tools apply to equine practice as effectively as they do to companion animal practice. Automated reminders for Coggins testing, annual vaccinations, and dental appointments reduce the manual follow-up burden that equine practices often manage by phone.

Best for: Equine practices that want to automate client communication, reminders, and appointment follow-up without replacing their existing PIMS.

Rating: G2: 4.6/5 | Capterra: 4.7/5 | 12,000+ practices

Pricing: Not publicly listed

Key strengths:

  • Automated reminder sequences can be configured for equine-specific schedules: Coggins testing cycles, vaccination programs, dental appointments.

  • Two-way texting reduces the phone volume that equine practices manage with barn managers and horse owners.

  • Online booking reduces manual scheduling calls for routine farm visits and wellness appointments.

Worth knowing: PetDesk is a client engagement platform, not an equine PIMS. It doesn't handle farm-call routing, equine-specific record structure, or the in-field documentation workflow. For equine practices that need a mobile clinical record solution, a PIMS with equine functionality is still necessary as PetDesk addresses the client communication layer alongside it.

For equine practices that already have a working PIMS and want to improve client communication—farm owners, barn managers, and horse owners who need reminders, vaccination schedule follow-up, and easy communication channels—PetDesk's communication tools apply to equine practice as effectively as they do to companion animal practice. Automated reminders for Coggins testing, annual vaccinations, and dental appointments reduce the manual follow-up burden that equine practices often manage by phone.

Best for: Equine practices that want to automate client communication, reminders, and appointment follow-up without replacing their existing PIMS.

Rating: G2: 4.6/5 | Capterra: 4.7/5 | 12,000+ practices

Pricing: Not publicly listed

Key strengths:

  • Automated reminder sequences can be configured for equine-specific schedules: Coggins testing cycles, vaccination programs, dental appointments.

  • Two-way texting reduces the phone volume that equine practices manage with barn managers and horse owners.

  • Online booking reduces manual scheduling calls for routine farm visits and wellness appointments.

Worth knowing: PetDesk is a client engagement platform, not an equine PIMS. It doesn't handle farm-call routing, equine-specific record structure, or the in-field documentation workflow. For equine practices that need a mobile clinical record solution, a PIMS with equine functionality is still necessary as PetDesk addresses the client communication layer alongside it.

For equine practices that already have a working PIMS and want to improve client communication—farm owners, barn managers, and horse owners who need reminders, vaccination schedule follow-up, and easy communication channels—PetDesk's communication tools apply to equine practice as effectively as they do to companion animal practice. Automated reminders for Coggins testing, annual vaccinations, and dental appointments reduce the manual follow-up burden that equine practices often manage by phone.

Best for: Equine practices that want to automate client communication, reminders, and appointment follow-up without replacing their existing PIMS.

Rating: G2: 4.6/5 | Capterra: 4.7/5 | 12,000+ practices

Pricing: Not publicly listed

Key strengths:

  • Automated reminder sequences can be configured for equine-specific schedules: Coggins testing cycles, vaccination programs, dental appointments.

  • Two-way texting reduces the phone volume that equine practices manage with barn managers and horse owners.

  • Online booking reduces manual scheduling calls for routine farm visits and wellness appointments.

Worth knowing: PetDesk is a client engagement platform, not an equine PIMS. It doesn't handle farm-call routing, equine-specific record structure, or the in-field documentation workflow. For equine practices that need a mobile clinical record solution, a PIMS with equine functionality is still necessary as PetDesk addresses the client communication layer alongside it.

Hippo Manager is a cloud-based PIMS that includes specific functionality for equine and large-animal practices—farm-call scheduling, barn and herd management, and equine-specific record templates. It's one of the few cloud-native options built with large-animal workflows in mind rather than adapted from companion animal practice.

Best for: Equine-focused and mixed large-animal practices that want a cloud PIMS with built-in equine functionality rather than a companion animal platform that requires configuration.

Rating: Capterra: 3.9/5

Pricing: $119/month per veterinarian

Key strengths:

  • Farm-call and barn scheduling built into the platform—not a workaround on top of appointment-based scheduling.

  • Equine-specific record templates for Coggins history, vaccination programs, lameness exams, and performance records.

  • Cloud-native with mobile access—supports documentation in the field without a separate mobile app.

Worth knowing: Hippo Manager has a smaller user base and review footprint than established veterinary PIMS. Integration options are more limited. Worth evaluating seriously for equine-focused practices, but verify current development roadmap and support quality before committing.

Hippo Manager is a cloud-based PIMS that includes specific functionality for equine and large-animal practices—farm-call scheduling, barn and herd management, and equine-specific record templates. It's one of the few cloud-native options built with large-animal workflows in mind rather than adapted from companion animal practice.

Best for: Equine-focused and mixed large-animal practices that want a cloud PIMS with built-in equine functionality rather than a companion animal platform that requires configuration.

Rating: Capterra: 3.9/5

Pricing: $119/month per veterinarian

Key strengths:

  • Farm-call and barn scheduling built into the platform—not a workaround on top of appointment-based scheduling.

  • Equine-specific record templates for Coggins history, vaccination programs, lameness exams, and performance records.

  • Cloud-native with mobile access—supports documentation in the field without a separate mobile app.

Worth knowing: Hippo Manager has a smaller user base and review footprint than established veterinary PIMS. Integration options are more limited. Worth evaluating seriously for equine-focused practices, but verify current development roadmap and support quality before committing.

Hippo Manager is a cloud-based PIMS that includes specific functionality for equine and large-animal practices—farm-call scheduling, barn and herd management, and equine-specific record templates. It's one of the few cloud-native options built with large-animal workflows in mind rather than adapted from companion animal practice.

Best for: Equine-focused and mixed large-animal practices that want a cloud PIMS with built-in equine functionality rather than a companion animal platform that requires configuration.

Rating: Capterra: 3.9/5

Pricing: $119/month per veterinarian

Key strengths:

  • Farm-call and barn scheduling built into the platform—not a workaround on top of appointment-based scheduling.

  • Equine-specific record templates for Coggins history, vaccination programs, lameness exams, and performance records.

  • Cloud-native with mobile access—supports documentation in the field without a separate mobile app.

Worth knowing: Hippo Manager has a smaller user base and review footprint than established veterinary PIMS. Integration options are more limited. Worth evaluating seriously for equine-focused practices, but verify current development roadmap and support quality before committing.

Questions worth asking before you decide

How does the scheduling system handle farm-call routing and travel time between locations?

This is the question that separates tools built for equine practice from those adapted from companion animal software. Ask for a demonstration of scheduling a day of farm calls at multiple locations with travel buffers between them.

Can I access and update records in the field from a phone, including when connectivity is intermittent?

Ask specifically about offline functionality—not just 'mobile access.' A system that requires a stable data connection to load records is a problem in rural barn environments where signal is unreliable.

Does the record structure support equine-specific documentation?

Ask whether Coggins test history, vaccination records for travel, lameness examination templates, and ownership change tracking are built-in or require workarounds.

How does the system handle complex in-field invoices with multiple items?

A farm call might include a wellness exam, several vaccines, a dental float, and a Coggins test in a single visit. Ask how the invoicing workflow handles that in the field, including payment processing on-site.

If a horse changes ownership, how does the record transfer?

Equine records often need to follow a horse through multiple owners over a career. Ask how the system handles ownership transfers—does the record stay with the animal or get duplicated or lost in the transition?

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

What PIMS do equine vets use?

There's no single dominant PIMS for equine practice the way ezyVet dominates emergency medicine or Cornerstone dominates the general companion animal installed base. Equine practitioners use a mix of platforms: ImproMed and Cornerstone for practices already on those systems, Hippo Manager for cloud-native equine-specific functionality, and ezyVet for practices willing to configure a general cloud PIMS for equine workflows. Many equine practitioners also use purpose-built large-animal tools like DraftSight or continue to manage records in paper or spreadsheet form, particularly for ambulatory-only practices.

Is cloud-based software better for equine vets?

Generally yes, for the same reason it matters for mobile companion animal vets: field access. A cloud-native system accessible on a phone or tablet lets the DVM update records and generate invoices at the barn rather than at the end of the day—which improves both accuracy and cash flow. The critical factor is offline functionality: cloud systems that require a stable internet connection to load records are less useful in rural environments than those that cache data locally and sync when connectivity restores.

How do equine practices handle Coggins test documentation and travel requirements?

Coggins test results and health certificates for travel need to be readily accessible—often on short notice when a horse is being transported for competition. Software that stores Coggins history with the patient record and generates or links to health certificates simplifies compliance significantly. For practices handling high volumes of travel horses, the ability to pull Coggins status quickly is more than a convenience—it affects whether clients can move their horses on schedule.

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

What PIMS do equine vets use?

There's no single dominant PIMS for equine practice the way ezyVet dominates emergency medicine or Cornerstone dominates the general companion animal installed base. Equine practitioners use a mix of platforms: ImproMed and Cornerstone for practices already on those systems, Hippo Manager for cloud-native equine-specific functionality, and ezyVet for practices willing to configure a general cloud PIMS for equine workflows. Many equine practitioners also use purpose-built large-animal tools like DraftSight or continue to manage records in paper or spreadsheet form, particularly for ambulatory-only practices.

Is cloud-based software better for equine vets?

Generally yes, for the same reason it matters for mobile companion animal vets: field access. A cloud-native system accessible on a phone or tablet lets the DVM update records and generate invoices at the barn rather than at the end of the day—which improves both accuracy and cash flow. The critical factor is offline functionality: cloud systems that require a stable internet connection to load records are less useful in rural environments than those that cache data locally and sync when connectivity restores.

How do equine practices handle Coggins test documentation and travel requirements?

Coggins test results and health certificates for travel need to be readily accessible—often on short notice when a horse is being transported for competition. Software that stores Coggins history with the patient record and generates or links to health certificates simplifies compliance significantly. For practices handling high volumes of travel horses, the ability to pull Coggins status quickly is more than a convenience—it affects whether clients can move their horses on schedule.

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

What PIMS do equine vets use?

There's no single dominant PIMS for equine practice the way ezyVet dominates emergency medicine or Cornerstone dominates the general companion animal installed base. Equine practitioners use a mix of platforms: ImproMed and Cornerstone for practices already on those systems, Hippo Manager for cloud-native equine-specific functionality, and ezyVet for practices willing to configure a general cloud PIMS for equine workflows. Many equine practitioners also use purpose-built large-animal tools like DraftSight or continue to manage records in paper or spreadsheet form, particularly for ambulatory-only practices.

Is cloud-based software better for equine vets?

Generally yes, for the same reason it matters for mobile companion animal vets: field access. A cloud-native system accessible on a phone or tablet lets the DVM update records and generate invoices at the barn rather than at the end of the day—which improves both accuracy and cash flow. The critical factor is offline functionality: cloud systems that require a stable internet connection to load records are less useful in rural environments than those that cache data locally and sync when connectivity restores.

How do equine practices handle Coggins test documentation and travel requirements?

Coggins test results and health certificates for travel need to be readily accessible—often on short notice when a horse is being transported for competition. Software that stores Coggins history with the patient record and generates or links to health certificates simplifies compliance significantly. For practices handling high volumes of travel horses, the ability to pull Coggins status quickly is more than a convenience—it affects whether clients can move their horses on schedule.

See how PetDesk fits your practice

12,000+ veterinary practices use PetDesk to reduce front desk workload and give clients a better experience. A demo takes about 30 minutes—we'll show you exactly how it connects to your PIMS.

Book a demo

Take an Online Tour

See how PetDesk fits your practice

12,000+ veterinary practices use PetDesk to reduce front desk workload and give clients a better experience. A demo takes about 30 minutes—we'll show you exactly how it connects to your PIMS.

Book a demo

Take an Online Tour

See how PetDesk fits your practice

12,000+ veterinary practices use PetDesk to reduce front desk workload and give clients a better experience. A demo takes about 30 minutes—we'll show you exactly how it connects to your PIMS.

Book a demo

Take an Online Tour