Background:

It is estimated that 50% of the UK leisure horse population are overweight/obese, which leads to laminitis, disability and premature death. In human contexts, practitioners ‘make every contact count’ (MECC) to support overweight/obesity management. However, there was no research into whether farriers, who regularly shoe horses’ hooves, MECC when working with owners.

Aims:

The aim of this research was to explore whether and how farriers MECC to support owners in managing horse overweight/obesity to prevent and manage laminitis.

Methods:

A classical grounded theory methodology framed multi-methods research. Study 1 involved a classical grounded theory method (GTM) to analyse semi-structured interviews with farriers (n=12) and horse owners (n=11). Study 2 used a case study method to collect and analyse evidence of farrier-owner interaction in a MECC consultation. Study 3 adopted a quantitative method to operationalise the grounded theory from Study 1 using a cross-sectional farrier (n=59) and horse owner (n=140) survey design. Study 4 used a GTM to analyse additional semi-structured interviews with farriers (n=2), horse owners (n=5) and equine veterinary practitioners (EVPs) (n=10).

Analysis:

The research identified typologies for farrier role construction (technically- and holistically-focused) and owner engagement (task- and welfare-focused), and how a contracting process led to four contexts of care which involved concordance or discordance. When holistically-focused farriers work with welfare-focused owners, farriers are more likely to MECC in supporting owners to prevent and manage laminitis. However, this depends upon their role being legitimised through interaction with owners and EVPs, and the mutual recognition of expectations, rights, obligations, standards of practice and behaviour. When farriers do not work in this way, and owners lack the knowledge to manage horse weight/obesity and recognise laminitis risks, important opportunities for its prevention and horse welfare are missed.

Conclusion:

The research highlights the importance of supporting farrier and EVP professional development, and owner education in understanding the potential of the farrier’s role in MECC to support owners to manage horse overweight/obesity and the laminitis risk associated with it.