Ethical Aspects in Equine Practice

Human utilization of animals is being increasingly brought up for discussion by media and in society. There is an expanding focus of ethical considerations referring to 'companion animals'. Here, horses take an exceptional position: variable roles within diversified human-animal-relationships are assigned to them by their owners, e.g. as sports 'equipment', prestigious object, friend or family member, but also as livestock and food source. This diversity of motives forms the basis for some specific conflicts that require an analysis based on ethical consideration, which may affect the veterinarian as well as the owner. These conflicts add to those controversies which are well known to practitioners in general, e.g. how to deal with owners who are reluctant to pay for proper care. In case of horses this may easily get more acute due to the amounts of money needed. One classical issue is to find the right time to end the animals' life in a sensible way. Due to horses' roles as companion animals, but also as livestock, special moral tensions arise. Being exposed to these tensions, and having to deal with them the practicing veterinarian has to be aware of the limits of his responsibilities. But at once, he also has to be aware of the prospects and potentials for animal protection and animal welfare, accruing from his role responsibility as a veterinarian.