University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU) - Research portal
Gewählte Master / Diploma Thesis:
Marlies Vergeiner
(2014):
Arbeitszeitbedarf und Wirtschaftlichkeit von Hippotherapiepferden - dargestellt anhand eines Beispielbetriebes.
Master / Diploma Thesis - Institut für Landtechnik,
BOKU-Universität für Bodenkultur,
pp VII, 125 Bl..
UB BOKU
obvsg
FullText
- Abstract:
- Due to the partly too large regional supply of boarding horse farms and the expansion of social farming, opportunities arise for business diversification. The housing of hippotherapy horses is one such opportunity. Existing literature lacks data regarding the labour input and economic viability of this business branch. Therefore, the aim of this study is to determine the labour time and economic viability of keeping hippotherapy horses. The business that was chosen as an example was a stables with ten boarding horses and eight therapy and riding horses which were kept in individual boxes. To determine the total labour input, the time element method by means of direct observation was used. The labour input was classified into different categories such as general Routine work, therapy-related routine work and specific work. The profitability of the business was determined by a branch settlement. The total working time requirement of hippotherapy horses was 193 working hours per horse per year. The general routine work caused 59%, the therapy-related routine work 38% and the specific work 3% of the total labour time required. The total costs of keeping hippotherapy horses amounted to €8.292 per horse per year. This was calculated for the actual situation and included the wages for temporary staff and the wage rate for the manager. The cost calculations for an alternative situation in which the stables work was done by family members resulted in total costs of €8.286 per horse per year. The operation costs for both calculations were negative. A reduction of the labour time could be achieved by using larger equipment. To operate so as to cover the business costs, it is suggested to raise the rental rate for boarding horses, reduce the number of therapy horses and increase the capacity utilization of the remaining horses.
- Beurteilende(r): Quendler Elisabeth