In April, the Association of Breeders of the Holsteiner Horse and other equestrian sports and breeding associations made a statement during an oral hearing on the impact of the Veterinary Fee Schedule (GOT) before the Committee for the Environment and Agriculture, demanding an early evaluation of the GOT. The Schleswig-Holstein state parliament has now announced that it intends to discuss the GOT.
"The state parliament unanimously demands that the Veterinary Fee Schedule (GOT) be put to the test promptly," a state parliament press release stated. "The current version has 'led in many places to overstrain among animal owners, animal welfare associations, animal shelters and freelance veterinarians,' according to a joint motion by all parliamentary groups. The goal must be 'a transparent, socially balanced and practical fee schedule,' specifically 'in close cooperation with the veterinary profession.' The state government is to advocate for this at the federal level. To date, a review of the GOT is scheduled for the end of 2026." The full press release is available here.
Background:
Many pet and animal owners have been confronted with significantly higher costs for veterinary care over the past few years. This drastic increase is due to the amendment of the Fee Schedule for Veterinarians (GOT) at the end of 2022. The GOT regulates the remuneration for various veterinary services. Especially in the area of pets and horses, many horse owners have had to get used to mostly considerably higher veterinary costs than the previously targeted additional costs of 20 to 25 percent. The price increase also applies, for example, to the costs of inseminations, pregnancy examinations, and similar treatments relevant to breeding and, in the medium term, to sport as well. In cooperation with the other Schleswig-Holstein breeding and sports associations as well as other organizations, the Holsteiner Verband presented the negative impacts of the GOT observed so far during the oral hearing. Even slight declines in membership numbers and active broodmares have been recorded since the amended GOT came into force, as well as a worrying decline in breeding numbers and registered foals. The number of registered foals in the Holsteiner Verband alone has fallen by around 15 percent over the past two years. One of the consequences is that breeders are migrating to neighboring foreign countries—where there is no obligation to adhere to the GOT—due to lower insemination and veterinary costs. As a result, this also creates a competitive disadvantage for German stallion keepers. A significant aspect in the discussions surrounding the GOT is also animal welfare: the rapidly rising veterinary costs present many owners with significant challenges, going so far as to put some horse owners in difficult decisions because they can no longer afford the care of their animals.
During the oral hearing in April, the representatives of the associations called on the Committee for the Environment and Agriculture to formulate a recommendation for a timely evaluation of the GOT, to eliminate its shortcomings and thus ensure its acceptance. Together with the German Equestrian Federation (FN), the breeding associations had previously exchanged views repeatedly, launched a petition, and sought to address the respective state politicians in order to achieve a timely evaluation of the GOT.
Photo: Janne Bugtrup
