Capturing Beneficial Changes to Racehorse Veterinary Care Implemented during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Authors: Butler Deborah, Upton Lois, Mullan Siobhan
Journal: Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
Summary
# Editorial Summary During the first UK lockdown (March–May 2020), racehorse veterinary practice underwent rapid changes driven by necessity, prompting Butler, Upton and Mullan to conduct qualitative interviews with ten equine veterinary surgeons and ten racehorse trainers to identify which innovations might have lasting value. Both vets and trainers reported favourably on increased use of remote consultations—utilising photographs, video recordings and telephone discussions—to reduce in-person contact whilst maintaining clinical oversight and care continuity. However, the study revealed a critical limitation: inconsistent rural broadband connectivity and poor image/video quality substantially undermined the effectiveness of these remote approaches, and despite operational changes, the fundamental trainer-vet relationship remained largely unchanged during the eight-week period. The findings suggest that remote consultation protocols hold genuine promise for racehorse practice, potentially reducing unnecessary yard visits, improving response times and allowing vets to triage cases more efficiently—but realising these benefits requires investment in rural digital infrastructure alongside development of standardised guidance for remote assessment of musculoskeletal and performance issues. Practitioners considering hybrid in-person and remote consultation models should prioritise addressing connectivity issues in their areas and establishing clear protocols for which cases are suitable for remote evaluation versus those requiring hands-on examination.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Consider implementing remote consultation protocols using images, videos, and phone calls as these were well-received by both vets and trainers and can improve efficiency while maintaining the essential personal working relationship
- •Invest in improving rural broadband connectivity and image/video quality to maximize the effectiveness of remote consultation technologies in your practice
- •Maintain strong personal relationships with training clients as the foundation of successful veterinary care, regardless of the communication methods used
Key Findings
- •Remote consultations using images, videos, and telephone calls were viewed favorably by both trainers and veterinarians during COVID-19 lockdown restrictions
- •The trainer-veterinarian relationship is predicated on a good working relationship, with little change observed during the first lockdown period
- •Intermittent rural connectivity and poor-quality images and videos limited the effectiveness of remote consultation methods
- •Electronic communication and information technologies were increasingly adopted during lockdown restrictions for racehorse veterinary care