A magyarországi lovas állatorvosi praxisok aktuális menedzsmentjellemzői

Abstract

ÖSSZEFOGLALÁS A szerzők célja a lovak állategészségügyi ellátásával foglalkozó hazai állatorvosi praxisok aktuális menedzsmentjellemzőinek és jövőbeli terveinek felmérése volt. A lógyógyászatról általánosságban elmondható, hogy nagy beruházási igényű, kötetlen munkaidőben végzett, nagy távolságok megtételével járó, fizikailag is megterhelő szakterület. Így a megfelelő praxismenedzsment, a jövőbeli üzleti célok kidolgozása a praxis fenntarthatóságának szempontjából elengedhetetlen. Felmérésünk alapján a hazai lovas állatorvosok fejlődési és fejlesztési hajlandósága előremutató, vállalkozói ismeretek és menedzsment stratégiák terén jelentős előrelépésre lenne lehetőség. SUMMARY Background: Horses are an important asset to modern society as pets or sports partners and they are involved in therapy and tradition preservation. Veterinarians are usually involved in more than one role around horses and veterinary medicine students who are already involved in equine care tend to prioritize this field of expertise compared to other students. Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the current management characteristics and future plans of Hungarian veterinary practices specialized on horses. Materials and methods: 42 veterinarians working in equine medicine from all around the country completed the questionnaire that contained 25 questions, between February and April of 2024 on Google Forms platform. Results and discussion: In Hungary, these practices are mostly run by a single veterinarian who treats horses at the animals’ own stable and works exclusively or mainly in equine medicine. The professional leader of the practice has already completed one or more specialized postgraduate programmes. Some participants of the survey are currently involved in such programmes which shows the desire for professional advancement. Equine medicine in general is a field of expertise with high investment requirement, irregular working hours, long car drives. It can also be physically and mentally demanding on the veterinarian. Considering these characteristics, proper practice management, work-life balance and clear business goals are essential in ensuring the sustainability of the practice. Based on our research, the willingness of Hungarian equine veterinarians towards personal and entrepreneurial development is promising. However, there is significant room for progress in the areas of business knowledge and management strategies.