Caring for the Older Horse: A Conceptual Model of Owner Decision Making.
Authors: Smith Rebecca, Pinchbeck Gina, McGowan Catherine, Ireland Joanne, Perkins Elizabeth
Journal: Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
Summary
# Editorial Summary As the UK's equine population ages, owners increasingly face complex management decisions whilst their horses develop age-related conditions that directly threaten welfare and longevity. Smith and colleagues analysed qualitative data from an open-access online forum where horse owners sought advice about aged horses, applying grounded theory methodology to identify patterns in decision-making processes. The resulting conceptual model reveals that owners' care decisions are not static but dynamically adapt as their horse's health trajectory and life circumstances evolve, influenced by multiple interconnected factors including financial constraints, emotional attachment, available support networks, and perceived quality of life. This framework demonstrates that successful geriatric horse management requires professionals to appreciate the shifting nature of owners' priorities and concerns rather than providing one-size-fits-all guidance. Understanding these decision-making patterns can help farriers, veterinarians, physiotherapists and other equine professionals communicate more effectively with owners of older horses, tailoring recommendations to reflect their actual circumstances and values rather than making assumptions about their capacity or willingness to pursue specific interventions.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Recognize that caring for older horses requires dynamic decision-making that adapts as the horse's condition and circumstances change; a one-time management plan may need regular revision.
- •Understand that owners balance multiple factors when making healthcare decisions for aged horses—provide support that acknowledges this complexity rather than prescriptive protocols alone.
- •Use the conceptual model framework to better communicate with owners about realistic expectations for managing aging-related changes and to improve decision-making support in practice.
Key Findings
- •A conceptual model was developed demonstrating how aging multifacetedly affects the human-horse relationship and impacts horse outcomes.
- •Owner decision-making about older horse care is dynamic and shifts as the context of day-to-day life changes over time.
- •Data were collected from an open-access online discussion forum where owners sought advice regarding concerns about their older horses.