Newsdate: April 7, 2025 11:30 am
Location: GILROY, California

It goes without saying that money matters when it comes to any kind of professional health care, but a new study confirms what most horse owners already know. This new study published by University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment (CAFE) researchers in the journal Equine Veterinary Education sheds more light on how horse owners use veterinary care. 

An injured foal receiving first aid to stop bleeding from wound on neck.

This study shows how a horse owners’ ability to financially tolerate an unexpected expense limits their ability to access health care for their horses.
© 2016 by Keith Bowers New window.

Conducted by researchers from the Department of Agricultural Economics and Department of Veterinary Science at the Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, the study titled “Descriptive analysis of the use of and preferences for equine veterinary services” provides one of the most comprehensive pictures to date of how American horse owners use equine veterinary services.

“According to the results from this study, horse owners’ ability to financially tolerate an unexpected expense — through savings, insurance or sufficient income — will limit their ability to access health care for their horses,” said Jill Stowe, professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics and corresponding study author. “I hope that this information will encourage horse owners to be more proactive in planning for emergencies.”

Money matters: Costs and willingness to pay

Financial constraints emerged as a major factor affecting how owners interact with their veterinarians.
Annual vaccinations and routine lameness exams seemed to align reasonably well with what most people expect to pay ($150 and $200, respectively), however, ways to treat colic stood out.

Colic is a general term indicating abdominal pain in horses. It has many causes but can often be prevented with proper management or treated. In serious cases a horse may require a serious and potentially life-saving surgical procedure. More than 60% of owners indicated that they would pay $5,000 or less for emergency colic surgery.

This is notable because the actual cost for colic surgery and aftercare can far exceed $5,000, depending on the severity. As a result, many horse owners may face a stark financial hurdle if their horse develops a life-threatening colic.

Additionally, only about 14% of respondents maintain a dedicated savings account for medical emergencies and close to 80% do not insure their horses. While some owners have built up personal funds, many face limits on covering unexpected costs.

This gap highlights the importance of educating owners about insurance and financial planning. It also has implications for veterinarians who must balance providing high-quality care with managing billing, especially if owners cannot pay in full at the time of treatment.

To read the complete article for a better understanding of how money affects veterinarian health care for horses, click HERE