Study reveals growing use of internet to learn about horses

Websites are at 1 time on a par amongst veterinarians every bit the preferred beginning of research-based information on horses inward the racing in addition to breeding industry, according to New Zealand research.

The findings were based on a 16-question online survey conducted inward New Zealand inward May concluding year. The findings convey been published inward the Journal of Equine Veterinary Science.

Massey University researchers Charlotte Bolwell, David Gray in addition to Janet Reid prepare out to position the research-based educational needs in addition to preferred dissemination methods for the thoroughbred in addition to standardbred racing in addition to breeding industries.

A total of 602 usable survey responses were included inward the information analysis.

The researchers establish that respondents were most interested inward research-based information on feeding in addition to nutrition, injuries in addition to lameness, wellness in addition to exercise, in addition to training.

Veterinarians, websites, friends or other Equus caballus owners, in addition to printed magazines were used most often for obtaining information on equine research. These sources were also rated every bit most preferred.

Social media in addition to other online sources, such every bit videos in addition to forums, were rarely used.

Of the respondents that provided information close the sources used most, 48 per cent listed websites every bit the most mutual beginning used for information, followed past times veterinarians (11 per cent), magazines (10 per cent), in addition to friends or other Equus caballus owners (10 per cent).

In total, 643 names of specific sources that were currently used for information on equine enquiry were listed past times respondents. Most sources were listed past times alone 1 or ii respondents.

Sources listed past times to a greater extent than than 2 per cent of respondents included media produced past times both the racing sectors’ governing bodies inward New Zealand in addition to national in addition to overseas (US) media.

The most mutual beginning listed past times respondents was Google (14 per cent), followed past times New Zealand Harness Racing Weekly (11 per cent), New Zealand Horse & Pony journal (7 per cent), New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing journal (6 per cent) in addition to The Horse website (4 per cent).

Charlotte Bolwell

Veterinarians were rated every bit “most preferable” or “preferable” past times eighty per cent of respondents, spell 77 per cent rated websites every bit “most preferable” or “preferable” sources.

Print magazines, online in addition to impress newsletters, in addition to friends or other Equus caballus owners also had a high percent of respondents rating each beginning every bit preferable.

The researchers noted that, inward understanding amongst other studies of racing manufacture participants, most respondents inward this study were manful someone in addition to were older. In contrast, studies of the full general Equus caballus population inward New Zealand in addition to inward the U.S. reported that most Equus caballus owners were female.

The results, they said, highlighted the demographic differences apparent inward diverse sectors of the equine industry, which would demand to endure considered inward the evolution of extension programs.

Feeding in addition to nutrition, practise in addition to training, injuries, in addition to breeding in addition to aid of foals were topics that were of most involvement to respondents. “These topics reverberate the predominant roles of the members of the sample population (breeders in addition to trainers) in addition to shout out for that respondents are interested inward topics that pertain to their piece of occupation inward the industry,” the researchers said.

“Despite the likelihood that a issue of respondents would endure running their ain businesses, topics on describe of piece of occupation concern management were of the to the lowest degree involvement to most respondents.”

While other extension programs convey used social media for disseminating information, respondents inward the study never or rarely used social media in addition to other online sources of information.

“Additionally, these were the to the lowest degree preferable sources for information on equine enquiry inward the electrical flow study. This is probable due to the historic menstruation demographics of the study population,” the researchers wrote.

The results showed that seminars were non oftentimes used past times respondents in addition to were non preferred every bit a beginning for enquiry information. In contrast, recreational Equus caballus owners indicated inward an unrelated study that workshops or demonstrations would endure “most helpful” for learning.

It was probable that the commitment needed to attend a seminar at a for certain engagement in addition to fourth dimension did non easily stand upwards for amongst the commitments of the target population, the researchers suggested.

Lead writer Bolwell acknowledged the rising of the network every bit a beginning of information, simply added a discussion of caution.

She told Horsetalk: “The network provides an easily accessible beginning of a wealth of information, in addition to then it is of footling surprise to come across the rising of the network every bit a beginning of equine enquiry information.

“However, some caution is needed due to the broad variation inward the character of information that is available online.

“Internet users are encouraged to assess the beginning in addition to details of whatever information offered carefully.”

She noted how the network was effectively at 1 time a necessary tool inside the industry. The breeding in addition to racing manufacture governing bodies maintained websites, where members were required to consummate several administrative tasks online.

 

Identifying the Research Information Needs of the Racing in addition to Breeding Industries inward New Zealand: Results of an Online Survey. Charlotte Bolwell, David Gray, Janet Reid.

Journal of Equine Veterinary Science 1 March 2013 (Article inward Press DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2012.11.004)

 

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