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Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2023; 13(13); doi: 10.3390/ani13132126

Between Leisure and Pressure-Veterinarians’ Attitudes towards the Care of Competition Horses in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

Abstract: Equine veterinarians face a range of challenges when attending competition horses. Athletic goals may significantly impact veterinary decision making, and the veterinarian's work can be complicated by reputational considerations and rival opinions during an assessment of whether a horse is "fit to compete". Using an online questionnaire, we found that the majority of German, Austrian and Swiss equine veterinarians (N = 172) surveyed agreed that the owners of competition horses are more likely than owners of leisure horses to approach them with clear treatment ideas, and that the former have higher expectations of the medical services provided. The data also show that the veterinarian's reputation plays a more important role in the competition sphere. Using a case vignette, we established that, on the grounds of equine welfare, the majority of respondents indicated that they would decide against starting a dressage horse with low-grade lameness in a competition. Those respondents who indicated that they would approve a start of the dressage horse indicated that a horse with a low-grade lameness was fit enough "to compete". We conclude that clearer definitions of phrases, such as "fit to compete", may be helpful in guiding veterinarians as they discharge their professional responsibilities during competitions and reduce the reputational stress they experience in this working context.
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Publication Date: 2023-06-27 PubMed ID: 37443925PubMed Central: PMC10339975DOI: 10.3390/ani13132126Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This is a study that explores the attitudes of veterinarians towards the care of competition horses in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. The research identifies the challenges facing these practitioners, including the impact of athletic goals on veterinary decisions, the role of reputational considerations, and opposing views on the fitness of a horse to compete.

Research Methodology

  • An online questionnaire was created as the main tool for this study in order to gather data related to the attitudes of veterinarians towards the care of competition horses.
  • Equine veterinarians from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland were selected as the participants in this research, with a total of 172 veterinarians participating in the study.
  • A case study involving a dressage horse with low-grade lameness was used to gauge veterinarians’ decision-making processes.

Key Findings

  • Most of the veterinarians agreed that owners of competition horses usually have a clear idea about treatment and higher expectations from medical services compared to owners of leisure horses.
  • The study revealed that a veterinarian’s reputation plays a significant role in their involvement with competition horses.
  • In the case of a dressage horse with low-grade lameness, the majority of respondents suggested they would decide against starting this horse in a competition out of concern for the horse’s welfare.
  • But there was also a minority that would approve the horse’s participation, arguing that a horse with low-grade lameness was fit enough “to compete”.

Conclusion of the Study

  • The study suggests that veterinarians could benefit from clearer definitions of phrases like “fit to compete” to guide them in their professional responsibilities during competitions.
  • This could potentially reduce the reputational stress experienced by veterinarians in this particular context.

Cite This Article

APA
Springer S, Mihatsch DI, Grimm H, Jenner F. (2023). Between Leisure and Pressure-Veterinarians’ Attitudes towards the Care of Competition Horses in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Animals (Basel), 13(13). https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13132126

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 13
Issue: 13

Researcher Affiliations

Springer, Svenja
  • Department of Interdisciplinary Life Sciences, Messerli Research Institute, Unit of Ethics and Human-Animal-Studies, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, University of Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria.
Mihatsch, Denise Isabell
  • Department of Companion Animals and Horses, Equine Hospital, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1210 Vienna, Austria.
Grimm, Herwig
  • Department of Interdisciplinary Life Sciences, Messerli Research Institute, Unit of Ethics and Human-Animal-Studies, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, University of Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria.
Jenner, Florien
  • Department of Companion Animals and Horses, Equine Hospital, Equine Surgery Unit, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1210 Vienna, Austria.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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