Australian veterinarians who work with horses: an analysis.

This study presents an analysis of Australian veterinarians who work with horses. It found out that this group is mostly male and the average age of the male veterinarians is higher than that of their female counterparts. It also pointed out that as the older veterinarians retire, there may not be enough veterinarians willing and trained to work with horses.

Survey and Methodology

• The data for this study was collected from questionnaires mailed to 866 identified veterinarians who work with horses. An impressive response rate of 87% was achieved.
• Responses were entered onto an Excel spreadsheet and analyzed using the SAS System for Windows.

Distribution and Demographics

• The study revealed that only approximately 12% of Australia’s veterinarians were doing all the veterinary work with horses and about 3% worked exclusively (>90%) with horses, but they contributed 58% of the total horse workload.
• Among veterinarians working with horses, more were males at approximately 80%, compared to the overall veterinary industry where about 60% are males.
• On average, male veterinarians were older than their female counterparts, with an average age of 47 years for males and 35 years for females.
• About 94% of these veterinarians worked in private practice, with 41% being sole owners, 28% partners, and 31% employees.

Work Hours and Career Duration

• Male veterinarians reported working 55 hours a week while females reported 49 hours a week.
• More females (44%) than males (16%) had worked less than full-time for more than a year.
• Males on average expected to work 12 more years while females expected to work for 16 more years.

Sector of Specialization and Decision Influence

• Only 24% of surveyed veterinarians saw only horses, yet dealt with 58% of total horse cases.
• More of the older (54%) than younger respondents (27%) had grown up on farms with animals and 24% had decided to become a veterinarian while in primary school.
• The decision to become a veterinarian by this cohort had been influenced by a veterinarian in 21% of the cases.

Implications

• The conclusion drawn by the researchers is that the majority of Australian veterinarians who work with horses are typically male and advanced in their careers.
• There is a concern that as these older veterinarians retire, there may not be enough veterinarians who are committed to and competent with horses to take their places.