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Summary of full report
Health & performance
of pony club horses
by
Petra Buckley, Simon More
and Tony Dunn and in partnership with the Australian Pony Club Industry
Executive SummaryBackground
Research and development has traditionally followed a top-down model, in which researchers have decided – generally following some industry consultation – on a problem, researched it and then sought to extend the solution to the relevant industry body. This researcher-driven approach is an effective method to create outputs (such as an increase in knowledge or a new vaccine), however, it generally does not result in either sustained or positive change in target communities. There is increasing concern, both in Australia and elsewhere, about the poor level of medium to long-term adoption of outputs from this type of research.
The current project represents a substantial shift from the traditional top-down approach to research and development. Using a mix of methodologies, we are seeking – in partnership with local Pony Clubs – to achieve sustainable and positive improvement in the health and performance of Pony Club horses. Consequently, our focus is on:
The study is being conducted in three phases. In the first phase, we have conducted detailed sociological research with Pony Club members to establish what owners consider are important attributes for horse health and performance. Using this information, in the second phase we will study a group of horses to more clearly understand these and other health problems affecting Pony Club horses. In the third phase, we will work with Pony Clubs to establish extension programs to remedy these problems.outputs (activities, products and services), such as an improved understanding of real-world risk factors for Pony Club horses; and also
outcomes (the end-result of our activities, products and services), namely, a measurable improvement in Pony Club horse health and performance as a result of our close partnership with Pony Club members during the research and development process, which will substantially enhance the creation – and adoption – of relevant and appropriate outputs. The commercial benefits are considerable. Virtually all research conducted in Australia is on thoroughbred horses and has little applicability to the general horse population and their owners because their needs are not met or unknown. This project will give valuable insights into the problems of the general horse population and deliver solutions to them by communicating with their owners. The use of both social research techniques and traditional veterinary epidemiology, besides being a world first, gives information essential for communicating with horse owners.
Methodology
The project uses a mixed method approach – that is, a combination of traditional quantitative and newer qualitative methods. Many people are unfamiliar with these qualitative techniques used in phase 1 (in-depth interviews) and phase 3 (focus groups). In-depth interviews are a scientific way of having a ‘yarn’ with horse owners before starting a labour intensive and expensive study. In other words, we have informed ourselves so that money and resources are not wasted on the wrong issues in phase 2. Similarly, focus groups, are a scientific way of ensuring, that statistical results from the quantitative phase 2 (likely to be meaningless to the horse owners) are discussed with the stakeholders and result in meaningful and practical extension programs for the industry.
Numbers and statistical analyses cannot guarantee that horse people will adopt any of the recommendations we make. In agriculture this problem is recognised and methods such as qualitative research are used to improve understanding of problems and adoption rates over a range of industries and situations. Equine researchers need to examine and adapt these qualitative techniques so that the ‘people component´ of the adoption equation can be addressed.
Results
Phase 1 has been completed successfully. The results, a series of 32 in-depth interviews with pony club members, have already produced valuable information on how riders view their horse, what are the problems they perceive and where they get their information. This information is essential and has directed the development of the study design for phase 2.
Phase 1 results revealed that the pony club horses are part of the family and loved dearly by their riders. A willing, bombproof all-rounder was what parents wanted for their children; misbehaviour was a major problem, because it could jeopardise the children’s safety, or affect how the horse performed. Parents and riders wanted to know more about feeding and how the horse’s body functioned. Owners had dramatic memories of colic and laminitis and wanted to avoid these diseases at all costs.
When owners were stuck with a problem they sought advice from a friend or horse person. Because they cost money, veterinarians were not contacted unless the problem was serious. Riders learnt about horses at pony club and through reading books. Often they were confused about the different sources of information available, and which was the right advice to take. Most horse reference books are written for adults, and young children find them difficult to read.
Everybody dealt with a farrier, whom they often asked for advice. Many people used chiropractors, when they needed a back expert for their horse. Owners wanted to know more about teeth, and horse dentists were called to rasp teeth on a regular basis.
Implications for phase 2 & 3
As a result of phase 1, we understand more about how owners view their horses, the problems they perceive and how they seek information. In stage 2 we will use the outcomes from stage 1 to frame the main topics for the epidemiological study. This involves collecting data about how pony club horses are managed day-to-day. Thus the study will concentrate on all aspects of feeding, disease occurrence, horse behaviour, and level of health care provided, with special attention on laminitis. In stage 3 members of pony clubs will make important decisions about practical ways of solving horse health problems and delivering this information in ways that suit pony clubs. In particular, we will offer better solutions for preventing laminitis, and at the same time avoiding the dangerous practice of starving fat ponies. It is especially important that the recommendations are effective and easy to implement, and that they reach the wider population of pony club horse owners.
Implications for the pony clubs
Phase 1 outcomes already have important implications for the Australian pony club industry. From listening to riders and parents, we have learnt that pony club horses and their owners are unique. Pony club horses are a collection of animals of different breed, size, age, ability and horse experience of their owners. Pony club horses are kept for fun and leisure riding by young children and also as sport horses for more advanced riders. There is no financial motivation in any of these activities.
It is clear from phase 1, that for pony club members to learn and improve care of their horses, they need easy to understand information. Our results so far suggest that the whole pony club industry would benefit from this. There is also an opportunity for veterinarians in this and that is to learn about the needs of pony clubs – we would say take a more educational approach – by providing practical advice about keeping horses healthy, rather than waiting for animals to show symptoms. The prerequisite for making these changes is achieved in phase 2, that is, to generate knowledge about disease occurrence and horse management. Finally, in phase 3, we will reintroduce the horse owners – by asking them to evaluate the practicalities and relevance of what we learnt, before producing educational materials and recommendations to the industry.
Addressing adoption and positive, sustainable change in communities
The issue of adoption has been ignored for too long in equine research. A major barrier to adoption is the continued focus on specific issues such as individual diseases rather than dealing with broad industry problems such as health awareness and disease prevention. The strength of the current study lies in its broad aims through the mixed method (qualitative and quantitative) approach. This approach allows us to tackle community issues (like education) head on and pave the way for successful and ongoing adoption.
Ongoing adoption in the equine industry can only happen through changing attitudes and building on the enthusiasm of owners. To do this, researchers will achieve better results if they broaden their view of the horse world by including the social component in their work as well as an appreciation of community needs. Our study is unique, as it addresses what the horse industry needs most at present: positive and sustainable change in the horse owner community through identifying information and educational opportunities to improve horse health and performance.
At a glance
Outputs (activities, products & services)
- An understanding of how horse owners view their horses and learn
- Improved understanding of the diseases that affect the pony club horse population
- A model of mixed methods in equine research
- A method for extending the research results
- Involving rural Australia in research
Outcomes (the end result of our activities, products & services) Positive and sustainable change in the horse owner community Improved adoption of results by horse owners Improved health of pony club horses Extension of benefits to other sectors of the horse industry
 
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