Thompson Jada M, Kibler Michelle L, Ivey Jennie L Z
University of Arkansas, Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Department, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA.
Illinois State University, Department of Agriculture, Normal, IL 61761, USA.
Transl Anim Sci. 2025 Aug 19;9:txaf107. doi: 10.1093/tas/txaf107. eCollection 2025.
Equine boarding facilities provide critical care for a large portion of the U.S. equine population, yet rising input costs challenge facility owners' ability to maintain services without adjusting fees. Understanding how facility owners perceive boarders' willingness to pay (WTP) for increased boarding costs is essential for balancing equine welfare with business sustainability. This study aimed to 1) assess equine facility owners'/managers' perceptions of how boarders would respond to increased boarding rates, and 2) identify factors influencing those perceptions. A 26-question online survey targeting equine boarding facility owners and managers (n = 112 completed responses) was distributed via Extension channels and social media between July and August 2020. Facility owners reported average monthly board rates and answered a double-bounded dichotomous choice WTP scenario based on a hypothetical increase in care costs. Interval regression analysis was used to estimate perceived WTP, controlling for facility size, boarding type, region, income, and demographic factors. Overall, facility owners perceived that boarders would tolerate a 14.28% (P < 0.01) increase in monthly boarding rates. Full board clients were perceived to have slightly lower WTP (13.42%, P < 0.05); however, due to higher baseline costs, this translated into a greater absolute monthly increase ($69.78) compared to other board types ($34.85). Owners with higher household incomes perceived greater boarder WTP (P < 0.05), while facility size and geographic region were not significant factors. These results suggest that although equine owners may tolerate modest rate increases, larger absolute increases for full board may require additional justification through service value. Understanding owner perceptions of boarder WTP can help boarding facilities make informed pricing decisions that support both business viability and equine welfare.
马匹寄养设施为美国很大一部分马匹提供关键护理，然而不断上涨的投入成本对设施所有者在不调整费用的情况下维持服务的能力构成了挑战。了解设施所有者如何看待寄宿者为增加的寄养成本支付意愿（WTP），对于平衡马匹福利与业务可持续性至关重要。本研究旨在：1）评估马匹设施所有者/管理者对寄宿者对提高寄养费率的反应的看法；2）确定影响这些看法的因素。2020年7月至8月期间，通过推广渠道和社交媒体向马匹寄养设施所有者和管理者发放了一份包含26个问题的在线调查问卷（n = 112份完整回复）。设施所有者报告了月平均寄养费率，并根据护理成本的假设增加回答了一个双边界二分选择WTP情景。采用区间回归分析来估计感知到的WTP，并控制设施规模、寄养类型、地区、收入和人口因素。总体而言，设施所有者认为寄宿者能够容忍月寄养费率提高14.28%（P < 0.01）。全寄宿客户的WTP略低（13.42%，P < 0.05）；然而，由于基线成本较高，与其他寄养类型（34.85美元）相比，这转化为每月更高的绝对增加额（69.78美元）。家庭收入较高的所有者认为寄宿者的WTP更高（P < 0.05），而设施规模和地理区域不是显著因素。这些结果表明，尽管马匹所有者可能容忍适度的费率上涨，但全寄宿的较大绝对涨幅可能需要通过服务价值提供额外的理由。了解所有者对寄宿者WTP的看法有助于寄养设施做出明智的定价决策，以支持业务可行性和马匹福利。
