An Industry in Crisis

The shortage of rural veterinarians can no longer be ignored.

- By Sarah E. Coleman

Ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic will be felt for ye to come in nearly every aspect of our lives, from how we work to how we play to how we learn to how we connect with others. For many, the forced downtime was eye-opening: We reassessed how we wanted to not only spend our time, but how we wanted to live.

The inability to go to restaurants and forced meal planning at home for many families had them delving deeply into where their food comes from and who their buying power supports. Added to this was the fact that many city-dwelling folk learned that their cement walls were just that: barriers to truly living. Thousands of people began looking for land where they could have a garden and raise some of their own food, whether in the form of eggs or meat.

This renewed interest in self-sustainability, combined with other factors, has led to a nearly meteoric rise in the price of everything from real estate to fertilizer. Another unforeseen effect of the pandemic? The incredible interest shown in horseback riding and horse ownership.

As one of the only activities that could continue when nearly all team sports were halted, riding schools and equine breed registries have experienced massive growth.

This influx of new, large-animal owners has brought into stark relief what many have been talking about for years: the shortage of large-animal veterinarians.

FACTORS CAUSING THIS CRISIS

In years past, most owners of animals small and large were spoiled for choice when deciding to whom to bring their animal for care. They often were able to weigh things like proximity, price and personality, and choose which vet they were most comfortable with.