Engage and enjoy-investigating predictors of employee engagement and work satisfaction in equine veterinary professionals.
Authors: Elte Yteke, Acton Kate, Martin Jessica, Nielen Mirjam, van Weeren René, Wolframm Inga
Journal: Frontiers in veterinary science
Summary
# Editorial Summary Equine veterinary professionals face distinctive occupational pressures—managing high-stakes clinical responsibilities, navigating owner expectations, and working irregular hours—yet research examining what drives engagement and satisfaction specifically within this sector remains sparse. Yteke and colleagues surveyed equine veterinarians across multiple countries, analysing demographic characteristics and work environment factors to identify which conditions predict both job satisfaction and professional engagement. The research revealed that specific workplace conditions and individual circumstances significantly influenced how fulfilled and committed practitioners felt towards their roles, with particular factors emerging as consistent protective or risk elements. Understanding these predictors has immediate relevance for practice owners, recruitment teams, and individual practitioners seeking to foster sustainable careers in equine medicine; targeted improvements to identified problem areas could meaningfully reduce burnout and improve retention of skilled professionals. For farriers, physiotherapists, and other equine professionals working alongside vets, the findings offer insight into the systemic pressures shaping your clinical partnerships and may prompt reflection on how collaborative working practices influence colleague wellbeing.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Equine practices should evaluate their work environment structures (scheduling, support systems, communication protocols) as these directly influence staff engagement and retention
- •Practice managers and owners should recognize that work satisfaction affects both animal care quality and professional wellbeing—investing in staff satisfaction has practical business value
- •Understanding what drives engagement in equine veterinary professionals can help identify which team members may be at risk of burnout and need additional support
Key Findings
- •Work satisfaction and employee engagement among equine veterinarians are influenced by both demographic factors and work environment characteristics
- •High responsibility, owner expectation management, and irregular working hours are identified sources of work-related stress in equine veterinary practice
- •Working in veterinary medicine can positively impact personal wellbeing and professional fulfillment despite occupational stressors