Last month, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) highlighted a lack of transparency around the costs of veterinary care and practice ownership. Its investigation found that corporate-owned practices charge, on average, 16.6% more than independent clinics.
The CMA’s proposals aim to provide greater clarity for animal owners. Measures include:
- Better information on prices and treatments,
- A price cap on written prescriptions,
- A comprehensive price comparison website, and
- Requiring vets to disclose whether they are part of a large corporate group.
However, these proposals have been met with mixed reactions from the equestrian world. Vets have warned that “quality care could not be reduced to a simple price comparison,” noting that horse health and veterinary services are more complex than routine pet care.
British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) Chief Executive David Mountford cautioned that principles designed for companion animals could be difficult to apply to equine practice. He said:
“BEVA will be engaging closely to ensure any future changes are proportionate, workable, and reflect the needs and realities of equine veterinary care.”
Like many industries, veterinary prices can vary, and horse owners are encouraged to consider cost as one factor among many. Other aspects of veterinary services—such as standards of care, call-out times, professionalism, and prioritising the most suitable treatment for the horses in their care—are equally important. As the sector adapts to potential new regulations, cost must not become the sole measure of veterinary quality.