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I don’t own a horse. I’ve never owned a horse. I don’t really like horses. Big. Scary. Probably smelly (although I don’t typically get close enough to find out.) So when I ran across Matt Evan’s book about becoming a horse vet, I was predictably uncompelled.
But Chomping at the Bit: How I Became a Horse Vet (Against All Common Sense) was sitting in the humor section, which is my jurisdiction. The blurb noted the book came “with a lot of laughs.” So, despite my strict anti-horse memoir agenda, I gave it a shot.
Evans started with a story about treating a horse named Kevin. That alone convinced me the book’s humor would resonate with me. (Why is a horse named Kevin funny? I don’t know, it just is.)
I don’t know anything about horses. Turns out Matt Evans didn’t either. His younger self simply decided after reading some James Herriot books (famed veterinarian/author), that he was going to become a horse vet anyway.
And somehow for me, a humor memoir about horses ended up being considerably more appealing than actual horses.
This is part of my 100 book reading goal for 2026 (Book #54).
My Chomping at the Bit Book Review
Quick disclosure before we get into it: I received an early copy of this book from NetGalley. Nobody paid me. Nobody threatened me. I just really like getting books before everyone else, it makes me feel important. Thanks NetGalley and Matt Evans!
And also, just so you know – I may earn an affiliate commission if you click a link from my site and purchase a product. Don’t worry, it won’t cost you anything extra! Hopefully, I’ll rack up enough commission to treat myself to a coffee someday—nothing fancy, just a plain small coffee from a gas station on the edge of town. Thanks for supporting the blog!
Where to Get It
Available in multiple formats, depending on how you like to read.
- 📚 Support Local Bookstores: Buy from Bookshop.org
- 📦 Amazon (Paperback/Kindle): View on Amazon
Book Summary
Chomping at the Bit: How I Became a Horse Vet (Against All Common Sense) follows Matt Evans from horse-inexperienced kid to full-blown equine veterinarian. But it’s certainly not a straight-line success story. Every stop along the way seems designed to talk him out of it. Vet school nearly does. Real horses definitely try. So do a rotating cast of clients. He talks about overcoming imposter syndrome and the intricate dynamics of horse care.
It’s a memoir mixed with well-executed stand-up comedy tangents. Which, conveniently, he does (stand-up.) This isn’t a syrupy “and then I learned to trust myself” heroic memoir arc. It’s messy and funny – influenced by years of imposter syndrome that occasionally results in a horse not dying. Victory!
Through the book, Evans describes that if your horse is sick, it’s probably colic. Unless it’s something else. But even then, it’s probably colic.
Who is Matt Evans?
- 🐴 Equine veterinarian outside Austin, Texas, and partner at his practice
- 🎓 Texas A&M grad, both undergrad and vet school
- 🎤 Working stand-up comedian around Austin
- 👨👩👧👧 Married over 25 years, two daughters, both of whom he says are better than he deserves. (Hey, me too!)
- Find Matt on Instagram
Ratings
My innovative system for rating humor books is explained here
Wholesomeness: 4/5
Pretty darn clean and wholesome content. Except for the gross horse stuff, a few f-bombs, etc.
Hilarity: 5/5
I did not expect to laugh this much at a book about horse medicine.
Overall Awesomeness: 5/5
A book I had zero business enjoying this much. But other than the specifics of horse veterinarianism, the content is very relatable.
Things I Liked
- A horse named Kevin
- lamenting the fact that he has never encountered a horse named Ricardo
- Hilarious
- Evans likes to throw in sports references – Joe Montana, Robin Ventura getting beat up by Nolan Ryan, Bill Parcels, etc
Things I Didn’t Like
- No audiobook option (yet…?)
The One Thing I’m Taking With Me
Imposter syndrome. I’m familiar. But Matt Evans made me rethink the whole premise. Maybe nobody actually knows what they’re doing. Maybe the vets, the authors, the politicians, we’re all just faking it. Maybe we’re all idiots. That’s oddly comforting. Also, I learned that if a horse is sick, it’s probably colic.
Where to Get It
Available in multiple formats, depending on how you like to read.
- 📚 Support Local Bookstores: Buy from Bookshop.org
- 📦 Amazon (Paperback/Kindle): View on Amazon
Ever talked yourself into doing something you had absolutely no business doing? Tell me about it. Bonus points if a horse was involved.
