Perspectives of UK horse carers towards the use of artificial intelligence in equine healthcare.

Horse carers support AI for data analysis but oppose AI replacing human clinical decision-making.

This cross-sectional study investigated attitudes of UK horse owners and carers towards artificial intelligence implementation in equine healthcare. Ninety-seven participants completed an online survey assessing their demographics, personal AI use, and opinions on AI applications in equine care. Results demonstrated nuanced perspectives: participants were predominantly positive regarding AI's use for automating large datasets in equine care, but predominantly negative concerning AI automation of communications and medical decision-making. Qualitative analysis identified three key themes: general AI use in equine care, preference for human interaction, and AI as a supportive tool only. Logistic regression analysis revealed that positive attitudes toward AI in equine care were significantly associated with participants' broader opinions of AI in their personal lives (OR: 3.69) and their understanding of AI (OR: 1.31). The authors acknowledge the study's limitations, including the small sample size and potential limited generalisability beyond the UK horse-owning population. The primary concern expressed by horse carers was the potential replacement of human decision-making in clinical contexts.

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