Training

Chronic pain, especially when evolving gradually, can be difficult to assess in horses, yet it may greatly affect welfare.

“We’ll be looking to the Government when something like Covid-19 hits in the horse industry as well and they won’t have a solution.”

“When combinations of social contact, free movement and access to roughage were restricted, many of the horses had developed responses consistent with suffering.”

Thoroughbreds had significantly higher behavioral scores than other horse breeds in an experiment.

“Physical issues, including even mild lameness, are more likely to factor in an end-of-life decision than issues relating to mental health.”

“Whilst the use of horses in sport continues to be accepted by the majority of the public, that social license is increasingly tenuous.”

“We know that mild exercise early in life is associated with positive effects in horses, but exactly how it stimulates bone growth in areas susceptible to fractures is still unknown.”

“It is imperative that our policies and the Equine Canada Rules for all disciplines are aligned with current, science-based research.”

“Most facial features identified correspond well with previous findings on behaviors of stressed horses.”

Study shows they are capable of providing data useful in supporting a vet carrying out a lameness assessment.

Ensuring risk factors around obesity and laminitis are highlighted when issuing equine-related guidance could improve the welfare of susceptible horses in the future.

The horse’s body comes under great stress and strain from intensive training. Being able to identify problems early allows for quicker preventative intervention, enabling the horse to maximise their athletic potential sooner rather than later.

Researchers identified 49 papers. But about half were reviews, many lamenting the relatively small number of published evidence-based studies.

“Until such time as non-animal origins can be found for certain products, use of the horse is likely to continue.”

“It is clear that humans become very attached to their horses, however, it is not as clear if horses are equally attached to their human.”

Owners and managers prioritised equine wellbeing by limiting change to equine routines and management wherever possible.

“Even subtle changes to a familiar object can cause horses to react again,” researchers warn.