Understanding horse owner decision making

Question 1

List some factors that may influence a horse owners decision making

Answer 1

• Horses purpose
• Expenses
• Prognosis
• Lifestyle
• Disease cause

Question 2

Horse owners will make decisions surrounding surgery based on what factors?

Answer 2

• Ability to travel.
• Role of horse “…good horse? difficult to replace?”
• Economics / insurance.
• Anthropomorphic evaluation of horse experience
• Perceptions of animals ability to cope (e.g. older animals)
• Emotional concern – potential outcomes
• Post-surgery?

Question 3

What is the most chronic problem seen in horses?

Answer 3

Obesity

Question 4

What are the key questions when managing a horses weight in practice?

Answer 4

What is allowed on the yard?
What can the horse cope with?
What can the owner cope with?

Question 5

Which 4 factors can be combined to manage weight in horses

Answer 5

• Reduced grazing
• Alter supplementary feed
• Increase exercise
• Use metabolism

Question 6

A responsible horse owner should have which 3 factors

Answer 6

• Special bond with the horse
• Knowledgeable
• Caring

Question 7

How should you approach managing a clients grief around euthanasia?

Answer 7

• Empathising
• Sympathising
• Reassurance
• Redirecting
• Comforting