2022 Equine community needs assessment survey

Area of Science:

• Equine Science
• Animal Husbandry
• Veterinary Medicine

Background:

• Equine extension programs utilize needs assessment surveys to understand the evolving equine community.
• The 2022 Rutgers Equine Science Center (ESC) survey aimed to characterize the equine community and their needs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize the equine community's demographics and interests.
• To identify primary information sources utilized by horse owners.
• To assess the perceived importance of key equine-related issues and the utility of extension services.

Main Methods:

• An anonymous online survey was distributed via email lists, press releases, and social media.
• Data from 493 eligible surveys were analyzed to identify trends in demographics, information sources, and issue importance.
• Participants' reliance on personal knowledge, veterinarians, and farriers was quantified.

Main Results:

• The survey respondents were predominantly female (92.7%), aged 36-60 (48.4%), white (88.8%), and horse owners (87.8%).
• Top information sources included personal knowledge (95.7%), veterinarians (93.7%), and farriers (83.7%).
• Horse health information provision was deemed the most useful service by the Rutgers ESC (79.3%), with "Lameness and Soundness" (76.5%) identified as the most critical issue.

Conclusions:

• The study provides current insights into the equine community's demographics and information-seeking behaviors.
• Veterinarians and farriers are crucial information conduits, alongside personal knowledge.
• Addressing equine lameness and soundness is paramount for the equine community, highlighting a key area for extension programming.