Becoming a matter of veterinary concern.

This research study examines how horse owners in Great Britain, where horses are living to an older age and are often considered as family members, decide when an issue with their horse becomes a veterinary matter. It investigates the relationship between horse owners and veterinarians, demonstrating the vital role of this interaction in health care decisions.

Research Approach

• The researchers used qualitative methods to understand the experiences of both horse owners and veterinarians. They applied grounded theory, a systematic methodology in the social sciences involving the construction of theory from data.
• The study was conducted over a three-year period, from 2019 to 2022.

Understanding Horse Owners’ Decision Making

• The study found that horse owners continuously assess, monitor, and make decisions about their horses’ health based on their observations.
• If an issue becomes a veterinary concern, horse owners need to present the problem as something within the veterinarian’s area of expertise, which requires a good understanding of veterinary matters on the owner’s part.

Veterinarian’s Perspective on Horse Health

• From the veterinarian’s perspective, their approach to older horse health is often medicalised. Their views on what constitutes appropriate care are shaped by their understanding of species-specific needs.
• Their recommendations are based on whether they believe the horse owners are providing adequately for those needs.

The Role of Interactions Between Owners and Veterinarians

• The way a horse owner frames a problem as a veterinary concern is significantly influenced by their personal experience with both veterinary matters and their horse.
• The researchers found that the extent to which horse owners felt understood and their individual horse is valued during interactions with veterinarians, influenced whether they followed veterinary advice and the type of veterinary assistance they would seek in the future.

Interactions Shaping Health Care Consumption

• The study suggests that health, disease, and the role of professional medical knowledge, are dynamic, constantly changing and interacting over time.
• It demonstrates the importance of individual relationships in determining what becomes a veterinary concern, and highlights the possibility that the significance of the interaction between veterinarian and owner in determining future use of veterinary health care may be underestimated.