| Summary: | Dissertation submitted in compliance with the requirements for the Master's Degree in Technology: Chiropractic, Durban University of Technology, 2013. === Background:
Horses are unlike most animals as they take part in equine sports and thus are athletic animals.
Comparable to a human athlete, horses are prone to sports related injuries and disease. Equine
chiropractic has shown to be one of the most utilized forms of complementary and alternative
veterinary medicine (CAVM) worldwide, providing a drug free approach to equine health care and
maintenance. However, equine chiropractic lacks research and therefore a wide gap in the literature
exists. Studies on CAVM therapies have shown that these therapies are largely driven by the public
and the public’s perceptions towards these therapies. However, little is known of the public’s
perceptions towards equine chiropractic in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). Horse riders represent the primary
contact with the horse and are in the best position to note the outcome of post equine chiropractic
treatment. For this reason they have influence on the utilization of equine chiropractic. It is, therefore,
important to attempt to close the gap through ascertaining the horse riders’ knowledge, perception and
utilization of equine chiropractic, particularly in KZN, where no such data exists.
Aim:
The aim of this study is to determine the knowledge, perception and utilization of equine chiropractic
amongst horse riders in the KZN region.
Method:
The research design is a descriptive, quantitative, self administered survey based study.
The study population included all horse riders in KZN (N= 500). There is no available list that details
the number of horse riders in KZN, therefore, it was estimated that there are 500 horse riders in KZN
(This was based on the number of horses stabled in KZN).
The study sample included all horse riders at stable yards in KZN that had given written permission for
the research to take part at their yard (N= 330). This was estimated by the number of horses stabling at
the yards where owners had given written permission.
Results:
The response rate was 25% (n=83). The respondents were predominantly white (98%) and female
(81%), and between the ages of 41- 50 years. Most respondents had previously been treated
successfully by a chiropractor and had tertiary education.
The majority of respondents were part of a horse society and participated predominantly in show-
jumping. Most respondents had ridden horses for 0-10years, and currently rode only one horse. Their
main horse (the horse they rode the most), for which most respondents were both the owner and rider,
stayed predominantly in a stable and was between the ages of 5- 10 years. Most respondents had not
sought alternative veterinary care for this horse, but had sought alternative veterinary care for their
other horse(s) that they rode. Out of all the alternative veterinary therapies respondents reported to
utilize, equine chiropractic showed to have the highest utilization. Equine chiropractic reported to have
an overall high success rate with both the respondents’ main horse (92%) and their other horse(s)
(87.5%).
Respondents’ overall subjective knowledge of equine chiropractic was ‘that they knew something
about it’. Respondents’ objective knowledge score was 75%. Most respondents had gained their
knowledge of equine chiropractic through a friend and stated that the information they had gained was
favourable towards equine chiropractic. It was interesting to note that 90% of respondents had some
knowledge of equine chiropractic.
Most respondents knew of one or more equine chiropractor(s), and were referred to them
predominantly by a riding instructor. Just under half (49.4%) of the respondents had utilized an equine
chiropractor, yet most respondents showed to have accurate knowledge of what equine conditions
chiropractors treat.
The majority of respondents supported the future utilization of equine chiropractic, but would like
more information on equine chiropractic techniques.
The research data revealed a trend showing that the utilization of alternative equine therapies or equine
chiropractic corresponded with an increased knowledge of equine chiropractic. The data revealed
graphically that the more equine chiropractors a respondent knew of, the more they utilized equine
chiropractic.
Conclusion:
Respondents showed predominantly to have a positive perception towards equine chiropractic. Their
knowledge of equine chiropractic was overall accurate and they showed to utilize and support the
future utilization of equine chiropractic.
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