'Vets Should Not Be Afraid To Challenge The Status Quo'

Owners are less loyal to practices than in the past, which could make prioritising equine welfare more difficult

- Rachael Turner

CAN vets continue to prioritise the welfare of horses when they are faced with an increasingly competitive market?

This topic was discussed at the Animal Welfare Foundation (AWF) debate on 5 June.

Roly Owers, chief executive of World Horse Welfare and treasurer of the British Equine Veterinary Association, referenced the veterinary surgeon’s declaration made when a vet joins the Royal Veterinary College, stating that the “constant endeavour will be to ensure the health and welfare of animals committed to my care”.

“That’s a huge undertaking we took, [but] how realistic is this in commercial practice today?” Mr Owers asked.

Owners are less faithful to practices now than has been the case previously, according to Lesley Barwise-Munro of Alnorthumbria Veterinary Group.

“When I first started owners never moved practices, they used one for life and if the client dared to use a different practice you didn’t serve them any more because there was a conflict of interest in terms of care of the animal,” she said. “Now that seems to have gone by-the-by and each yard uses many different vets.”