Descriptive analysis of the use of and preferences for equine veterinary services
Authors: O. L. Gibson, E. Adam, C. J. Stowe
Journal: Equine Veterinary Education
Summary
# Editorial Summary Understanding how horse owners access and value veterinary services has remained largely undocumented in the US equine sector, yet this information is crucial for practice sustainability and workforce planning. Gibson and colleagues distributed an online survey to horse owners across all US states, receiving 4,915 responses from individuals financially responsible for equine animals; respondents' demographics and service usage patterns were analysed using descriptive statistics to map current practice. The majority of respondents maintained a primary veterinary relationship with two to four annual visits, though notably low uptake of health savings accounts and insurance suggests significant financial barriers to care exist for many owners. Willingness-to-pay thresholds varied substantially by service type—$150 for annual vaccinations, $200 for lameness examinations, and $5,000 for emergency colic surgery—indicating owners' perception of service complexity and urgency. Most respondents indicated flexibility about how services are delivered rather than insisting on traditional in-person models, which presents meaningful opportunities for veterinary practices to innovate service provision, though practitioners should recognise that hypothetical stated preferences may not fully reflect real-world decision-making and that the sample's representativeness remains uncertain given the non-random distribution method.
Read the full abstract on the publisher's site
Practical Takeaways
- •Horse owners are generally willing to consider alternative service delivery models—explore telemedicine, clinic-based visits, or bundled care packages to improve access and client satisfaction.
- •Price expectations are set: clients expect routine vaccinations around $150 and lameness exams around $200; pricing significantly above these benchmarks may limit uptake.
- •Low insurance and health savings account adoption suggests a major market opportunity—educating owners about financial planning tools and wellness programs could improve both practice revenue and client care compliance.
Key Findings
- •Most US horse owners (4,915 respondents) have a primary veterinarian and receive visits 2-4 times annually, with low uptake of health savings accounts or insurance limiting financial access to care.
- •Horse owners show willingness to adapt to non-traditional veterinary service delivery models, suggesting flexibility in how services are accessed.
- •Maximum willingness-to-pay varies by service: $150 for annual vaccinations, $200 for lameness exams, and $5,000 for emergency colic surgery.
- •Financial barriers and service delivery preferences represent key factors influencing equine veterinary practice viability and the profession's future sustainability.