Assignment 15A

Assignment 15A- Figuring Out Buyer Behavior No. 2

Findings and conclusions from three interviews:

            I wanted to speak to people that were not particularly inclined to go to the expense of whole horse cremation. These utilitarians simply want a way to responsibly dispose of the inevitable result of so many aging horses in one area.

*My first interview came about organically when a vet came to the farm to remove some post-surgical stitches. He related a story about an acquaintance that waited so long for the removal of a deceased horse that he obtained permits himself and secured “dumping” rights at a neighboring county’s landfill. He bought a winch trailer and intends to offer removal service to others. There is such a need in our area for this service, with few options, horse owners will do whatever is necessary. We are talking about 1000 lbs of decomposing material.

*The next conversation revealed the desire of this segment member for her animal’s body to be used for research. It used to be common practice to donate a live horse to a university program but I do not think that the option is available for a previously deceased horse. Arrangements would have been made. Animal testing is not what it used to be. Forgive my being graphic, but limbs used for surgical practice can be obtained from the local rendering facility. This option of being a body donor would be available to so few if at all.

*That last individual was very heated about the subject of dead horse removal but was not focused on cremation in any way. He just wanted a fast, cheap, but ethical option. He thought the county should create a space considering the amount of revenue that the horse industry brings to the local economy.

My findings indicate that there is a separate need for simple removal without any conditions for what happens to the body afterward, they just need the remains gone. In the time that these interviews were conducted, there was a major shakedown in the racing world targeting those accused of doping horses. Part of the crackdown involved the disposal of the equine victims of the dangerous PEDs. This brought up a conversation around documentation of disposal for all registered racehorses. That will be an additional regulation likely to determine consumer behavior.