Discussion

As veterinarians we have undertaken to protect the welfare of horses under our care. This responsibility underpins our right to practise.
The RCVS Code of Professional Conduct (2012) setting out veterinary surgeons' professional responsibilities includes specific direction about their role in safeguarding animal welfare by maintaining five principles of practice.
The Mission Statement of BEVA states that the organisation "is committed to serve and lead the equine veterinary profession in the championing of high standards of equine health and welfare and the promotion of scientific excellence and education throughout the world."
There are, however, numerous situations when we are called upon to support management practices which are not in the best interests of the horses under our care, to carry out procedures, supply prescription drugs and to sell wormers. This presents us with a conflict between the commercial pressures of maintaining client relationships with large, influential equine enterprises and our professional duty to safeguard animal welfare.
This presentation will explore how this conflict can be resolved in practice and asks how our profession can make a stand against procedures such as firing when they are requested by those large clients that make a significant contribution to the economic wellbeing of our practice.
The RCVS continue to regard the practice of firing as unethical (2011) and warn that veterinary surgeons carrying it out may find themselves liable to prosecution under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006.
The changing public attitudes to equine welfare as evidenced by the response to deaths at high profile sporting events requires that all members of our profession give a higher profile to the protection of horse welfare if we are to justify our claim to be guardians of the horse.
If, as veterinary surgeons, we fail to put the welfare interests of the horse above the commercial interests of our practice, we are failing in our duty to safeguard the horses under our care and to uphold the integrity of our profession.