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The Veterinary record2024; 194(11); e4197; doi: 10.1002/vetr.4197

Survey-based investigation of sports and leisure horse owners’ approaches to, and expectations of, equine veterinary care.

Abstract: Client satisfaction depends on the balance between expectations and service experience. Previous research identified seven aspects of equine veterinary professional conduct that are important for client satisfaction: quality of care, quality of service, horsemanship, transfer of knowledge, financial aspects, interpersonal skills and professionalism. Methods: By employing a cross-sectional study design through a survey-based investigation, horse owners' initial contact preferences and their perceptions of the importance of various aspects of veterinary care in different scenarios were explored. Categories included professional versus amateur and competitive versus non-competitive horse owners. Quantitative data analysis was performed. Results: Data from 1153 participants revealed that horse owners promptly contacted veterinarians for colic (92.7%) but delayed for lameness (51.8%) and pre-purchase examinations (63.0%). Overall, quality of care emerged as the most important aspect of veterinary care for horse owners, with financial aspects considered least important. Competitive and professional horse owners prioritised financial aspects and professionalism, whereas non-professional and non-competitive horse owners prioritised quality of care and interpersonal skills (p < 0.005). Conclusions: Survey distribution relied on a snowball effect, internet access was necessary and the study exclusively represents the Western equine community. Potential bias should be acknowledged. Conclusions: The perceived importance of various aspects of veterinary care varies depending on the nature of the consultation and the horse owner type. Tailoring veterinary services can improve client satisfaction by aligning with diverse expectations.
© 2024 The Author(s). Veterinary Record published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of British Veterinary Association.
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Publication Date: 2024-05-29 PubMed ID: 38809578DOI: 10.1002/vetr.4197Google 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.

The study aims to investigate the priorities and approaches of horse owners towards equine veterinary care. The research, conducted through a survey, highlighted differing expectations between professional/amateur and competitive/non-competitive horse owners, with factors such as quality of care, financial aspects, and professionalism varying in importance.

Research Methodology

  • The study was conducted using a cross-sectional design, where a particular population is studied at a single point in time.
  • The researchers developed a survey to understand the preferences and perceptions of horse owners about different aspects of veterinary care.
  • The participants were categorized into professional or amateur and competitive or non-competitive horse owners.
  • The responses from the survey were then analyzed quantitatively to draw results and conclusions.

Research Findings

  • The survey garnered responses from 1153 participants, who revealed differing behaviors in contacting veterinarians for different scenarios – horse owners were found to quickly seek veterinary help for colic in horses, but were slower in seeking help for lameness and pre-purchase examinations.
  • Overall, the quality of care was regarded as the most important aspect of veterinary services by horse owners. Financial aspects were considered least important.
  • The survey also brought to light differences in preferences between competitive and professional horse owners compared to non-professional and non-competitive horse owners. The former group prioritized financial aspects and professionalism, whereas the latter group emphasized quality of care and interpersonal skills of the vet.
  • There were limitations in the study, as the survey distribution relied on a snowball effect (where existing participants recruit future participants amongst their acquaintances) and required internet access. The study therefore mainly represents the perspectives of the Western equine community.

Conclusions

  • The study concluded that the perceived importance of different aspects of veterinary care depends on the type of horse owner and the nature of the consultation.
  • Adjusting veterinary services to align with divergent expectations can lead to improved client satisfaction.
  • While providing useful insights, the study also highlights potential biases and the scope for broader representation in future research.

Cite This Article

APA
Elte Y, Wolframm I, van Grevenhof I, Nielen M, van Weeren R. (2024). Survey-based investigation of sports and leisure horse owners’ approaches to, and expectations of, equine veterinary care. Vet Rec, 194(11), e4197. https://doi.org/10.1002/vetr.4197

Publication

The Veterinary record
ISSN: 2042-7670
NlmUniqueID: 0031164
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 194
Issue: 11
Pages: e4197

Researcher Affiliations

Elte, Yteke
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Wolframm, Inga
  • Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences, Velp, The Netherlands.
van Grevenhof, Ilse
  • Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences, Velp, The Netherlands.
Nielen, Mirjam
  • Department of Population Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
van Weeren, René
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.

MeSH Terms

  • Horses
  • Animals
  • Humans
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Male
  • Sports
  • Female
  • Ownership
  • Adult
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Middle Aged
  • Veterinary Medicine
  • Veterinarians / psychology
  • Veterinarians / statistics & numerical data
  • Leisure Activities / psychology
  • Horse Diseases / therapy
  • Aged
  • Young Adult
  • Patient Satisfaction / statistics & numerical data

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Citations

This article has been cited 3 times.
  1. Smith R, Perkins L, Pinchbeck G, Ireland J. Owners' everyday interactions with their horse: Pain-related issues and those of veterinary concern. Anim Welf 2025;34:e62.
    doi: 10.1017/awf.2025.10036pubmed: 40988863google scholar: lookup
  2. Pimenta J, Cotovio M. Equine Veterinarian Perspectives on Mucocutaneous Tumors in Horses: A Survey-Based Study in Portugal. Animals (Basel) 2025 Jun 23;15(13).
    doi: 10.3390/ani15131853pubmed: 40646752google scholar: lookup
  3. Elte Y, Wolframm I, Vernooij H, Nielen M, van Weeren R. Equine veterinarians' care priorities regarding vaccination, colic, lameness and pre-purchase scenarios. Equine Vet J 2026 Jan;58(1):203-211.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.14537pubmed: 40452182google scholar: lookup
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