The topic of ethics and horses encompasses the study and evaluation of moral principles and standards as they apply to human interactions with horses. This area of research involves examining the welfare, treatment, and management of horses in various contexts, including sport, leisure, work, and scientific research. Ethical considerations may address issues such as humane training methods, living conditions, and the use of horses in competitive events. Researchers in this field analyze the implications of human decisions on equine well-being and explore frameworks for ensuring ethical practices. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that investigate ethical theories, welfare assessments, and policy discussions related to the ethical treatment and management of horses.
Wegner W.In 1893 a major component of veterinary practice derived from 4 million horses and from farm animals, whereas thousands of dogs were even slaughtered every year, especially in Saxony and Silesia. Nowadays companion animals figure as an element of ever growing importance for the practitioner. Teaching and research adapted themselves to this altered situation, research funding and professional politics not yet so completely. In former days veterinarians even presided the licensing committees for breeder animals--today the animal breeding act merely mentions them in connection with institutions o...
Gaughan EM, DeBowes RM.Many questions concerning heritability arise when a veterinarian is asked to supervise and treat disease of congenital origin. Genetic counseling, ethics, and legality are often confronted in discussions between animal health professionals and laymen in animal industry. Guidelines have been offered as in the 1984 statement of the Judicial Council of the American Veterinary Medical Association: "Performance of surgical procedures in all species for the purpose of concealing genetic defects in animals to be shown, raced, bred, or sold as breeding animals is unethical. However, should the health ...
Dowie J.One strand of the moral case for the superiority of parimutuel systems of betting over bookmaking emphasises that, as the name implies, the bettors are betting amongst themselves and that there is no discrimination against any individual bettor or groups of bettors. This claim is undermined by three deviations from the pure parimutuel principle found in many systems. Given that there is a close inverse relationship between the income/wealth of bettors and the average odds of the bets they place, the three deviations-higher deductions from long odds ("exotic") pools, higher deductions from pool...
Asbury AC.Medical examination of the reproductive system of mares or stallions relevant to purchase is complex, imprecise, and potentially hazardous legally. In these ways it does not differ from other examinations of animals in which purchase is the objective. It is the responsibility of the veterinary profession to undertake these assignments and complete them as conscientiously as possible. After the examination is completed, communication with the principals and documentation of the procedures are essential to success and to the satisfaction of all involved.
Beeman GM, Soule SG, Swanson TD.This article reviews the history of the medical evaluation of the horse for purchase and the gradual development of definitions and guidelines for performing such an examination. The philosophy of pre-purchase examinations, including potential conflicts of interest, recording methods, and procedures, is discussed. The AAEP guidelines for reporting purchase evaluations are also included.
Bonnie ES.This article should be of interest to every veterinarian who performs pre-purchase examinations. Important definitions are included that describe the legal relationship between the buyer, seller, and veterinarian. The author recommends that all examination agreements should be made in writing, signed by the buyer and seller, and include factual representations with respect to the animal to be examined. Copies of sample agreements are included in the Appendix.
Teigland MB.The role of the veterinarian at auction sales begins long before the consignment is assembled. A number of veterinarians are called upon by sales companies to evaluate the candidates before acceptance into the consignment. At sales time, the number of veterinarians involved grows to large numbers as the prospective buyers employ them to evaluate the animals to suit their individual needs. Professional ethics must be considered at all times when evaluating animals before auction. The findings must be kept confidential. The consignor allows veterinarians to examine his or her animals with the un...
Pick M.Intensive strain of racing-horses during training and race is not an end in itself but should be understood from the social task to create exceptionally efficient horses. This roughness in sports obliges the responsible associations to issue rigorous regulations for the protection of horses. In this paper, some physical and psychical disorders of racing-horses are described. Improved keeping conditions as well as performance-adapted training methods will help to avoid defects. The aids being used during training and races are critically investigated on their effects according to the regulation...
Houpt KA.The value of behavioral techniques in assessing animal welfare, and in particular assessing the psychological well being of animals, is reviewed. Using cats and horses as examples, 3 behavioral methods are presented: (1) comparison of behavior patterns and time budgets; (2) choice tests; and (3) operant conditioning. The behaviors of intact and declawed cats were compared in order to determine if declawing led to behavioral problems or to a change in personality. Apparently it did not. The behavior of free ranging horses was compared with that of stabled horses. Using two-choice preference tes...
Bourdon R.Toxicomania and doping give rise to an increasing number of drug measurements in the body fluids. Consequently the analysts have to face, at one and the same time, ethical and analytical problems. Should the analyst participate to investigations organised in order to disclose a toxicomania in a working place? The author suggests a positive answer as long as the adduct person benefits to a social and medical care. What is the analytical meaning of a positive test? Taking into account the increasing sensitivity of the methods used, thresholds have to be established, at least for the blood concen...
Easley KJ, Osborne J, Thorpe PE.Many factors should be considered before one makes a decision to perform surgery, and it is the practitioner's responsibility to make certain the client makes an informed decision. This article considers the various factors of importance in the decision-making process.
Meier HP.The genetic predisposition to navicular disease is proven nowadays, but otherwise, etiology and pathogenesis are still unclear. Causal therapy isn't possible and because of the poor prognosis, neurectomy is still of bearing. This operation was performed already 200 years ago, but in the middle of the last century, critical voices have been raised in regard to the surgical procedure and its indication both for medical reasons and breeding. Clear instructions for exclusion of diseased animals from breeding are also older than one hundred years. These facts call for ethic considerations which con...
Novotny EN, Hässig M, Palme R, Fürst AE, Weishaupt MA.The Zurich's Sechseläuten is a traditional festival of the Zurich guilds, in which around 500 horses take part. After a parade through the old town of Zurich, the riders gather at a big square to canter around a burning woodpile topped with an exploding effigy (the «Böögg»). The level of stress experienced by the horses partaking in this event is subjected to increasing scrutiny. The aim of this study was to evaluate the stress load of the horses participating in the Sechseläuten procession more objectively by measuring heart rate and faecal cortisol metabolites. Twenty-three horse-rider...
Merkt H.A stallion got fatal injuries by kicks of a maiden mare because a so called "panic hook" untied spontaneously. The use of such hooks to secure mares during mating should therefore not be recommended.
Pick M.Intensive strain of racing-horses during training and race is not an end in itself but should be understood from the social task to create exceptionally efficient horses. This roughness in sports obliges the responsible associations to issue rigorous regulations for the protection of horses. In this paper, some physical and psychical disorders of racing-horses are described. Improved keeping conditions as well as performance-adapted training methods will help to avoid defects. The aids being used during training and races are critically investigated on their effects according to the regulation...
Teigland MB.The role of the veterinarian at auction sales begins long before the consignment is assembled. A number of veterinarians are called upon by sales companies to evaluate the candidates before acceptance into the consignment. At sales time, the number of veterinarians involved grows to large numbers as the prospective buyers employ them to evaluate the animals to suit their individual needs. Professional ethics must be considered at all times when evaluating animals before auction. The findings must be kept confidential. The consignor allows veterinarians to examine his or her animals with the un...