Vet corporatisation: how it has changed the horse world

Vets from both types of practices discussed whether or not they and the industry have benefited

- ELEANOR JONES

CORPORATISATION has changed the equine veterinary and wider industries - but the question remains as to whether this is for the better or not.

This is the opinion of one vet who has worked for corporate and independent practices, who was on a panel discussing the issue at the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) Congress (11-14 September).

Before the debate, vets in the audience were asked if they thought corporatisation had been had been good for equine vets and the industry as a whole; opinions were equal on the first question but fewer than 20% thought it had been a good thing for the horse world.

Panellist Tom Hughes is a former partner at Liphook Equine Hospital, which was sold to Vet Partners in 2018.

He said conditions are better, for example by using on-call services for emergencies.

"I think those things have improved during the period corporates have owned more practices," he said. "I suspect some improvements would have come [anyway], but corporate practice has helped enable some changes, and maybe accelerated that process.