Preventive health care of Pony Club horses in rural New South Wales, Australia.
OBJECTIVE
To describe preventive health care provided to a cohort of Pony Club horses in rural New South Wales, Australia, and the associated veterinary involvement.


DESIGN
Prospective longitudinal study


METHODS
Observational data collected for 48 Pony Club horses using daily owner-kept diaries and monthly veterinary visits for 9-12 months.


RESULTS
Frequency of healthcare events varied markedly between the horses; 54% of horses received 5 or more foot-care treatments, 69% received 1-3 anthelmintic treatments, 40% received dental care, 21% received chiropractic care; only 8% were vaccinated. Farriers and owners administered most of the health care. Veterinarians were infrequently involved, administering 2 of the 111 anthelmintic administrations and 2 of the 244 foot-care treatments. No annual health checks or prepurchase examinations were recorded. All dental care was provided by non-veterinary dentists. Horse turnover appeared quick, with 54% of horses acquired within the previous 12 months.


CONCLUSION
The majority of preventive health care was provided by farriers and the owners themselves. The type and frequency of healthcare events varied markedly and most commonly involved foot care and anthelmintic administration. The reasons for the lack of veterinary involvement are unclear. Veterinarians engaging with Pony Club families in a preventive context would likely bring health benefits to this population of horses. This may require adaptation of existing veterinary services to meet the demands of this unique population of horses and young riders. Furthermore, epidemiological studies are required to describe the effects of various preventive healthcare interventions on subsequent and long-term horse health.
['Buckley|P|P|', 'Buckley|D|D|', 'Coleman|G T|GT|', 'Morton|J M|JM|']
D000293:Adolescent D000818:Animals D002648:Child D002675:Child, Preschool D005260:Female D006734:Horse Diseases D006736:Horses D006801:Humans D008297:Male D009517:New South Wales D011446:Prospective Studies D012424:Rural Population D014730:Veterinary Medicine D055815:Young Adult
preventive health care horses longitudinal study