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The Veterinary record2025; 198(1); e21-e29; doi: 10.1002/vetr.5429

Factors influencing UK veterinarians’ decisions to leave equine clinical practice.

Abstract: Recruitment and retention of equine veterinarians presents an ongoing challenge for employers. Recent research has highlighted factors that contribute to attrition across the profession, but further understanding of the specific challenges faced in the equine sector is needed. This study builds on existing research by exploring the relative impact of different factors on veterinarians' decisions to leave equine clinical practice. Methods: Veterinarians who had left equine clinical practice in the UK within the previous 10 years were invited to participate in an anonymous online survey. The participants were asked about the extent to which various factors influenced their decision to leave, and about the kind of job roles they were pursuing instead. Results: Both work-related and non-work-related (personal) factors had an important impact on the decision to leave equine clinical practice, and there was often interplay between the two. The three factors with the most significant impact were work related. These were 'excessive workload/unsustainable work schedules', 'the requirement for out-of-hours work' and 'lack of opportunity for professional growth'. The most important non-work-related factors were 'lack of personal time' and 'alternative professional interests'. In comparison to existing research from the entire veterinary profession, the requirement for out-of-hours work and a lack of opportunity for professional growth appeared to be particularly relevant for the equine sector. Conclusions: The number of participants was relatively small (n = 33), and limited demographic data were collected; therefore, the results cannot be extrapolated to different demographic groups. Conclusions: This information may help guide decision making to improve retention of a resilient equine veterinary workforce.
© 2025 The Author(s). Veterinary Record published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of British Veterinary Association.
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Publication Date: 2025-06-02 PubMed ID: 40455517PubMed Central: PMC12758261DOI: 10.1002/vetr.5429Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

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.

Overview

  • This study investigates the key factors that influence UK veterinarians to leave equine clinical practice, focusing on both work-related and personal reasons.
  • The research aims to provide insights that could help improve retention in the equine veterinary sector.

Research Context and Objective

  • Recruitment and retention of equine veterinarians are ongoing challenges for employers in the UK.
  • Previous research has examined attrition in the veterinary profession broadly but lacked specific focus on the equine sector.
  • This study sought to build on existing knowledge by exploring which factors most strongly influenced veterinarians to leave equine clinical practice.

Methods

  • An anonymous online survey was conducted targeting veterinarians who had left equine clinical practice within the last 10 years in the UK.
  • Participants were asked to rate the influence of various factors on their decision to leave.
  • Information was also gathered on the nature of new professional roles pursued after leaving equine practice.

Key Findings

  • Both work-related and non-work-related (personal) factors played significant roles in decisions to leave equine practice.
  • Interplay between professional and personal reasons often influenced career moves.
  • Top three work-related factors impacting departure were:
    • Excessive workload and unsustainable work schedules
    • Requirement for out-of-hours work (e.g., emergency or weekend duties)
    • Lack of opportunity for professional growth and advancement
  • Key personal factors included:
    • Lack of personal time, leading to work-life balance challenges
    • Desire to explore alternative professional interests outside equine practice
  • Compared to studies covering the broader veterinary field, the demands of out-of-hours work and professional growth limitations were especially relevant challenges within the equine sector.

Limitations

  • The sample size was relatively small (33 participants), limiting the statistical power and generalizability.
  • Limited demographic information was collected, restricting analysis of how factors may vary by age, gender, geographic region, or other demographics.
  • Results should be interpreted cautiously and may not represent the experiences of all veterinarians in or leaving equine practice.

Implications and Conclusions

  • This study highlights critical stressors and motivational factors behind veterinarians leaving the equine clinical sector.
  • Insights from this research could inform strategies by employers to improve retention, such as managing workloads, reducing out-of-hours demands, and creating more professional development opportunities.
  • Addressing these factors may support a more resilient and stable equine veterinary workforce in the UK.
  • Future studies with larger and more diverse samples are needed to refine understanding and tailor retention efforts effectively.

Cite This Article

APA
Rigby C, Prutton A. (2025). Factors influencing UK veterinarians’ decisions to leave equine clinical practice. Vet Rec, 198(1), e21-e29. https://doi.org/10.1002/vetr.5429

Publication

The Veterinary record
ISSN: 2042-7670
NlmUniqueID: 0031164
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 198
Issue: 1
Pages: e21-e29

Researcher Affiliations

Rigby, Charlotte
  • School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK.
Prutton, Alison
  • School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK.

MeSH Terms

  • Veterinarians / psychology
  • Veterinarians / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • United Kingdom
  • Male
  • Female
  • Animals
  • Horses
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Decision Making
  • Adult
  • Veterinary Medicine
  • Middle Aged
  • Workload / psychology
  • Career Choice
  • Job Satisfaction
  • Personnel Turnover / statistics & numerical data

Conflict of Interest Statement

Neither of the authors has any financial or personal relationships that could inappropriately influence or bias the content of the paper.

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