FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 10000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2019; 9(7); doi: 10.3390/ani9070433

A Pilot Welfare Assessment of Working Ponies on Gili Trawangan, Indonesia.

Abstract: Many working equids in developing countries experience poor health and welfare due to environmental and management factors. Collecting baseline data on these populations is essential to inform education projects to improve equid health and welfare. Gili Trawangan is an island in Indonesia that has no motor vehicles and a working pony population of approximately 200. This pilot study sought to determine baseline data on their health, welfare, and husbandry to inform future health and welfare strategies. A cross-sectional study was performed in May 2017 consisting of a pony cart driver questionnaire (n = 33) and a basic pony health examination (n = 38). The body condition scores of ponies were 3/5 (60.5%), 2/5 (31.6%), and 1/5 (7.9%), while 38% and 92% of ponies had lameness and foot pathology, respectively, and 31 ponies (86.1%) had at least one wound. Thirty percent of cart drivers stated they would work their ponies despite evidence of injury or illness. Limited education, poor access to veterinary services, and remoteness pose barriers to improving pony health and welfare. Our results indicate a need for, and can help inform, targeted education programmes to improve the lives of working ponies and protect livelihoods and tourism on Gili Trawangan.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2019-07-09 PubMed ID: 31323983PubMed Central: PMC6680438DOI: 10.3390/ani9070433Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research article presents the findings of a pilot study conducted in Gili Trawangan, Indonesia, where the health and welfare of working ponies were assessed. Given the location’s reliance on these animals for transportation, due to the absence of motor vehicles, the objective was to gather initial data to aid in the development of health and welfare strategies.

Study Objective and Scope

  • The study’s primary objective was to assess the health, welfare and husbandry of approximately 200 working ponies in Gili Trawangan, a small island with no motor vehicles in Indonesia.
  • The authors aimed to collect initial data to guide future strategies to improve the health and welfare of these working ponies.

Methodology

  • The researchers conducted a cross-sectional study in May 2017, which included a questionnaire for pony cart drivers and a basic health examination of the ponies.
  • The sample size of the study was 33 drivers and 38 ponies, providing both human and animal perspectives on the health and welfare situation.

Key Findings

  • The health status of the ponies was determined based on their body condition scores, with 60.5% scoring 3/5, 31.6% scoring 2/5, and 7.9% scoring 1/5.
  • About 38% of the ponies had signs of lameness and 92% showed foot pathology. Also, 86.1% of the examined ponies had at least one wound.
  • According to the survey results, 30% of cart drivers admitted they would continue working their ponies even when there was evidence of injury or illness.
  • The study identified that limited education, poor access to veterinary services, and geographic remoteness acted as barriers to improving pony health and welfare on the island.

Implications of the Study

  • The findings of the study emphasise the urgent need for targeted education programmes to improve the welfare of working ponies in Gili Trawangan.
  • The authors suggest the study could guide development of such programs, with the ultimate goal of ensuring sustainable livelihoods for the local community and preserving the island’s reliance on ponies for transportation, which is a tourist attraction.

Cite This Article

APA
Pinsky TC, Puja IK, Aleri J, Hood J, Sasadara MM, Collins T. (2019). A Pilot Welfare Assessment of Working Ponies on Gili Trawangan, Indonesia. Animals (Basel), 9(7). https://doi.org/10.3390/ani9070433

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 9
Issue: 7

Researcher Affiliations

Pinsky, Tova C
  • School of Veterinary Medicine, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia.
Puja, I Ketut
  • Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Udayana University, Denpasar, Bali 80114, Indonesia.
Aleri, Joshua
  • School of Veterinary Medicine, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia.
Hood, Jennifer
  • Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Udayana University, Denpasar, Bali 80114, Indonesia.
  • Animals International (Animals Australia) 37 O'Connell St; Melbourne, VIC 3051, Australia.
Sasadara, Maria M
  • Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Udayana University, Denpasar, Bali 80114, Indonesia.
  • Animals International (Animals Australia) 37 O'Connell St; Melbourne, VIC 3051, Australia.
Collins, Teresa
  • School of Veterinary Medicine, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia. T.Collins@murdoch.edu.au.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest. The sponsors had no role in the design, execution, interpretation, or writing of the study.

References

This article includes 65 references
  1. Food and Agriculture Organisation FAOStat. [(accessed on 15 April 2018)]; Available online: http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QA.
  2. Zaman S, Kumar A, Compston P. Contribution of Working Equids to the Livelihoods of Their Owners in Uttar Pradesh, India. Proceedings of the 7th International Colloquium on Working Equids, University of London; London, UK. 1–3 July 2014; pp. 19–23.
  3. Sommerville R, Brown A.F, Upjohn M. A standardised equine-based welfare assessment tool used for six years in low and middle income countries. PLoS ONE 2018;13:e0192354.
    doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0192354pmc: PMC5821349pubmed: 29466391google scholar: lookup
  4. Upjohn M.M, Pfeiffer D.U, Verheyen K.L. Helping working Equidae and their owners in developing countries: Monitoring and evaluation of evidence-based interventions. Vet. J. 2014;199:210–216.
    doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2013.09.065pubmed: 24269105google scholar: lookup
  5. Broster C.E, Burn C.C, Barr A.R.S, Whay H.R. The range and prevalence of pathological abnormalities associated with lameness in working horses from developing countries. Equine Vet. J. 2009;41:474–481.
    doi: 10.2746/042516409X373907pubmed: 19642408google scholar: lookup
  6. Kay G. On a mission: Caring for working equids abroad. Practice 2007;29:4.
    doi: 10.1136/inpract.29.2.108google scholar: lookup
  7. Burden F.A, Du Toit N, Hernandez-Gil M, Prado-Ortiz O, Trawford A.F. Selected health and management issues facing working donkeys presented for veterinary treatment in rural Mexico: Some possible risk factors and potential intervention strategies. Trop. Anim. Health Prod. 2010;42:597–605.
    doi: 10.1007/s11250-009-9462-0pubmed: 19784862google scholar: lookup
  8. Compston P. Science in brief: Report from the seventh international colloquium on working equids, London 2014. Equine Vet. J. 2014;46:768–770.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.12343pubmed: 25319162google scholar: lookup
  9. Hameed A, Saghir I, Ashraf I, Asghar K, Muhammad S.A. An assessment of the Brooke International Extension related activities for the welfare of equine in district Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan. Glob. Vet. 2014;12:470–473.
  10. Reix C.E, Burn C.C, Pritchard J.C, Barr A.R, Whay H.R. The range and prevalence of clinical signs and conformation associated with lameness in working draught donkeys in Pakistan. Equine Vet. J. 2014;46:771–777.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.12231pubmed: 24433378google scholar: lookup
  11. Kedzierski W, Pluta M. The welfare of young Polish Konik horses subjected to agricultural workload. J. Appl. Anim. Welf. Sci. 2013;16:35–46.
    doi: 10.1080/10888705.2013.740997pubmed: 23282292google scholar: lookup
  12. Farm Animal Welfare Council. Second Report on Priorities for Research and Development in Farm Animal Welfare. Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food; Surrey, UK: 1993.
  13. Burn C.C, Dennison T.L, Whay H.R. Environmental and demographic risk factors for poor welfare in working horses, donkeys and mules in developing countries. Vet. J. 2010;186:385–392.
    doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2009.09.016pubmed: 19926316google scholar: lookup
  14. Upjohn M.M, Shipton K, Pfeiffer D.U, Lerotholi T, Attwood G, Verheyen K.L. Cross-sectional survey of owner knowledge and husbandry practices, tack and health issues affecting working horses in Lesotho. Equine Vet. J. 2012;44:310–318.
    doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2011.00442.xpubmed: 21848533google scholar: lookup
  15. Sells P.D, Pinchbeck G, Mezzane H, Ibourki J, Crane M. Pack wounds of donkeys and mules in the Northern High Atlas and lowlands of Morocco. Equine Vet. J. 2010;42:219–226.
    doi: 10.2746/042516409X478532pubmed: 20486978google scholar: lookup
  16. Popescu S, Diugan E.A, Spinu M. The interrelations of good welfare indicators assessed in working horses and their relationships with the type of work. Res. Vet. Sci. 2014;96:406–414.
    doi: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2013.12.014pubmed: 24461957google scholar: lookup
  17. Pritchard J.C, Lindberg A.C, Main D.C, Whay H.R. Assessment of the welfare of working horses, mules and donkeys, using health and behaviour parameters. Prev. Vet. Med. 2005;69:265–283.
    doi: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2005.02.002pubmed: 15907574google scholar: lookup
  18. Regan F.H, Hockenhull J, Pritchard J.C, Waterman-Pearson A.E, Whay H.R. Identifying behavioural differences in working donkeys in response to analgesic administration. Equine Vet. J. 2016;48:33–38.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.12356pubmed: 25256702google scholar: lookup
  19. Dodds R, Graci S.R, Holmes M. Does the tourist care? A comparison of tourists in Koh Phi Phi, Thailand and Gili Trawangan, Indonesia. J. Sustain. Tour. 2010;18:207–222.
    doi: 10.1080/09669580903215162google scholar: lookup
  20. Hampton M.P, Jeyacheya J. Power, Ownership and Tourism in Small Islands: Evidence from Indonesia. World Dev. 2015;70:481–495.
    doi: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2014.12.007google scholar: lookup
  21. Tadich T.A, Stuardo Escobar L.H. Strategies for improving the welfare of working equids in the Americas: A Chilean example. Rev. Sci. Tech. Off. Int. Epiz. 2014;33:203–211.
    doi: 10.20506/rst.33.1.2271pubmed: 25000793google scholar: lookup
  22. Dyahati D.B., Dharmawan A.H. Local Institutional Effectiveness Againts Tourism Management System (Studies in Gili Trawangan, Gili Indah Village, Pamenang District, Nusa Tenggara Barat Province) Bogor Agricultural University; Bogor, Indonesia: 2012.
  23. Egli T. What the Tourists did to Paradise in Pictures. [(accessed on 9 June 2019)]; Available online: https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2018/mar/29/thomas-egli-paradise-island-tourists-gili-trawangan-indonesia.
  24. Russo C.M. Beautiful Horses Suffer As Tourists Do Absolutley Nothing. [(accessed on 9 June 2019)]; Available online: https://www.thedodo.com/gili-islands-horse-carriage-1102487516.html.
  25. Tourists-take note: Boycott Indonesia/Gili Island. [(accessed on 9 June 2019)]; Available online: https://www.change.org/p/tourists-please-do-not-support-extreme-horse-cruelty-in-the-gili-islands-in-indonesia-boycott.
  26. Bencana B.N.P. Dampak Gempa Lombok: 460 Orang Meninggal Dunia dan Kerugian Ekonomi 7,45 Trilyun Rupiah. [(accessed on 20 April 2018)]; Available online: https://bnpb.go.id/dampak-gempa-lombok-460-orang-meninggal-dunia460-dan-kerugian-ekonomi-745-trilyun-rupiah.
  27. HorseTalk Aussie vet helps out Indonesia‘s negleced Gili Island ponies. [(accessed on 6 June 2019)]; Available online: https://www.horsetalk.co.nz/2016/01/23/aussie-vet-helps-indonesia-neglected-gili-island-ponies/
  28. Animal Aid Abroad Gili Island Vet & Farrier Clinic -Indonesia. [(accessed on 6 June 2019)]; Available online: https://www.animalaidabroad.org/news/2018/12/13/gili-island-vet-amp-farrier-clinic-indonesia.
  29. Animal Aid Abroad Indonesia Update: Farrier Training Program on Gili Island. [(accessed on 6 June 2019)]; Available online: https://www.animalaidabroad.org/news/2018/1/28/indonesia-update-farrier-training-program-on-gili-island.
  30. Animal Aid Abroad A successful first week for the Gili Island Equine Clinics. [(accessed on 6 June 2019)]; Available online: https://www.animalaidabroad.org/news/2019/4/29/a-successful-first-week-for-the-gili-island-equine-clinics.
  31. Farm Animal Welfare Council. Farm Animal Welfare in Great Britain-Past, Present and Future. Nobel House; London, UK: 2009.
  32. The Working Equid Veterinary Manual. The Teeth-Ageing and a Practical Approach to Dentistry. Whittet Books; Stansted, UK: 2013.
  33. Carroll C.L, Huntington P.J. Body condition scoring and weight estimation of horses. Equine Vet. J. 1988;20:41–45.
    doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1988.tb01451.xpubmed: 3366105google scholar: lookup
  34. Pritchard J.C, Barr A.R, Whay H.R. Repeatability of a skin tent test for dehydration in working horses and donkeys. Anim. Welf. 2007;16:181–183.
  35. Mellor D.J. Operational details of the Five Domains Model and its key applications to the assessment and management of animal welfare. Animals 2017;7:60.
    doi: 10.3390/ani7080060pmc: PMC5575572pubmed: 28792485google scholar: lookup
  36. Canadian National Farm Animal Care Council. Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Equines. Canadian Agri-Food Research Council; Ottawa, ON, Canada: 2013. p. 34.
  37. Biffa D, Woldemeskel M. Causes and factors associated with occurrence of external injuries in working equines in Ethiopia. Int. J. Appl. Res. Vet. Med. 2006;4:1–7.
  38. The Working Equid Veterinary Manual. The Gastrointestinal System. Whittet Books; Stansted, UK: 2013.
  39. Kalita J.K.N, Varshney V. Proceedings of the 7th International Colloquium on Working Equids, University of London, London, UK, 1–3 July 2014. Engagement of Equine Welfare Associations in India for the Formulation and Distribution of Balanced Feed. World Horse Welfare; London, UK: 2014. p. 112.
  40. Republic of Indonesia Indonesia Criminal Code Article 302, Law of 1946 No 1. [(accessed on 6 July 2019)]; Available online: http://www.dpr.go.id/dokjdih/document/uu/814.pdf.
  41. Weather Forecast-Indonesia. [(accessed on 6 May 2017)]; Available online: https://www.bmkg.go.id/cuaca/prakiraan-cuaca-indonesia.bmkg?lang=EN.
  42. Robbe D., Gili Eco Trust Personal communication. 2016.
  43. Pritchard J.C, Burn C.C, Barr A.R, Whay H.R. Validity of indicators of dehydration in working horses: A longitudinal study of changes in skin tent duration, mucous membrane dryness and drinking behaviour. Equine Vet. J. 2008;40:558–564.
    doi: 10.2746/042516408X297462pubmed: 18356129google scholar: lookup
  44. Weather2Travel Gili Islands Weather. [(accessed on 9 June 2019)]; Available online: https://www.weather2travel.com/april/indonesia/lombok/gili-islands.php.
  45. Iqbal A, Raza S.H, Ahsan-Ullah, Riaz M. Developments and research in equine husbandry and welfare: Some issues in Pakistan. The future for working equines. Proceedings of the 5th International Colloquium on Working Equines, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 30 October–2 November 2006. The Donkey Sanctuary; Sidmouth, UK: 2006. Nov 2, pp. 11–14.
  46. Degefa G.T.N, Negash T, Bishop S. Measuring impact on equine welfare from the animal and owner perspective. Proceedings of the 6th International Colloquium on Working Equids: Learning from Others, New Delhi, India, 29 November–2 December 2010. The Brooke; New Delhi, India: 2010. pp. 14–17.
  47. Nawaz S.S.N, Soomro N, Shah S.Z.A, Khan S, Shah N.A, Shafi M, Memon M. Improvement in body condition and decrease in wounds of working equids through enhanced knowledge, attitude and practice in Karachi, Pakistan. Proceedings of the 7th International Colloquium on Working Equids, University of London, London, UK, 1–3 July 2014. World Horse Welfare; London, UK: 2014. pp. 124–126.
  48. Sanchez-Casanova R.E, Masri-Daba M, Alonso-Diaz M.A, Mendez-Bernal A, Hernandez-Gil M, Fernando-Martinez J.A. Prevalence of cutaneous pathological conditions and factors associated with the presence of skin wounds in working equids in tropical regions of Veracruz, Mexico. Trop. Anim. Health Prod. 2014;46:555–561.
    doi: 10.1007/s11250-013-0529-6pubmed: 24488621google scholar: lookup
  49. Ainsworth D.M, Hackett R.P. Equine Internal Medicine. Disorders of the respiratory system. 2nd ed. Elsevier; Philadelphia, PA, USA: 2004. p. 290.
  50. Hines M.T. Equine Internal Medicine. Chapter 7: Clinical approach to commonly encountered problems. 4th ed. Elsevier; Philadelphia, PA, USA: 2018.
  51. Laing G.R.C, Christley R, Stringer A.N, Aklilu T, Ashine R, Newton A, Radford G, Pinchbeck. Respiratory disease and sero-epidemiology of respiratory pathogens in the working horses of Ethiopia. Equine Vet. J. 2018;50:793–799.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.12834pmc: PMC6175379pubmed: 29574904google scholar: lookup
  52. Laing G.C.R, Stringer A, Radford A, Aklilu N, Newton R, Pinchbeck G. Unravelling the Causes of Respiratory Disease in the Working Equids of Ethiopia. Proceedings of the 7th International Colloquium on Working Equids, University of London, London, UK, 1–3 July 2014. World Horse Welfare; London, UK: 2014. pp. 183–186.
  53. Bonagura J.D, Reef V.B. Equine Internal Medicine. Disorders of the Cardiovascular System. 2nd ed. Elsevier Inc.; Bethesda, MD, USA: 2004. p. 105.
  54. . Welfare Interpretation Manual-Chapter 2 Mucous Membranes. 2016 :4. Brooke Hospital for Animals.
  55. Starkey E.M.M, Matas M, Verheyen K.L.P. Ocular Disease in the Working Horses of Choluteca, Honduras. Proceedings of the 7th International Colloquium on Working Horse Welfare, University of London, London, UK, 1–3 July 2014. World Horse Welfare; London, UK: 2014. pp. 176–179.
  56. World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). Welfare of Working Equids Terrestrial Animal Health Code. 27th ed. OIE; Paris, France: 2018.
  57. Irianto. Impact of Tourism on the Social and Economic Life of the Community in Gili Trawangan, Pemenang Sub-District, Lombok District. J. Bisnis Dan Kewirausahaan J. Bus. Entrep. 2011;7:188–196.
  58. Salem S.E, Townsend N.B, Refaai W, Gomaa M, Archer D.C. Prevalence of oro-dental pathology in a working horse population in Egypt and its relation to equine health. Equine Vet. J. 2017;49:26–33.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.12533pubmed: 26526823google scholar: lookup
  59. Meat and Livestock Austalia. Is it Fit to Load? A National Guide to the Selection of Animals Fit to Transport. Meat and Livestock; North Sydney, Australia: 2012.
  60. Madariaga-Najera M, Torres-Sevilla M.A. Perception and Relationship Changes of Owners towards Their Mules to Improve Animal-Human Welfare in Tlaxcala, Mexico. Proceedings of the 7th International Colloquium on Working Horse Welfare, University of London, London, UK, 1–3 July 2014. World Horse Welfare; University of London; London, UK: 2014. pp. 120–121.
  61. Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Indonesia. Livestock and Animal Health Statistics 2018. Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Indonesia; Jakarta, Indonesia: 2018. p. 123.
  62. Serg R, Fayez S, Said M. The Life Cycle of Donkeys in the Egyptian Brick kilns and Their Owners’ Perception of Euthanasia. University of London, London, UK, 2014. World Horse Welfare; London, UK: 2014. p. 210.
  63. De Aluja A.S, Córdova-Jaimes E, Fernández-Saavedra V, Hernández-Gil M. Improving Equine Welfare at Animal Markets in Mexico. Proceedings of the 7th International Colloquium on Working Equids, University of London, London, UK, 1–3 July 2014. World Horse Welfare; London, UK: 2014. pp. 86–87.
  64. Chamove A.S, Crawley-Hartrick O.J, Stafford K.J. Horse reactions to human attitudes and behavior. Anthrozoös 2002;15:323–331.
    doi: 10.2752/089279302786992423google scholar: lookup
  65. Lanas R, Luna D, Tadich T. The relationship between working horse welfare and their owners’ socio-economic status. Anim. Welf. 2018;27:47–54.
    doi: 10.7120/09627286.27.1.047google scholar: lookup

Citations

This article has been cited 3 times.
  1. Bonsi M, Anderson NE, Carder G. The Socioeconomic Impact of Diseases of Working Equids in Low and Middle-Income Countries: A Critical Review. Animals (Basel) 2023 Dec 15;13(24).
    doi: 10.3390/ani13243865pubmed: 38136902google scholar: lookup
  2. Merridale-Punter MS, Wiethoelter AK, El-Hage CM, Hitchens PL. Prevalence and Factors Associated with Working Equid Lameness in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Animals (Basel) 2022 Nov 10;12(22).
    doi: 10.3390/ani12223100pubmed: 36428328google scholar: lookup
  3. Lagos J, Rojas M, Rodrigues JB, Tadich T. Perceptions and Attitudes towards Mules in a Group of Soldiers. Animals (Basel) 2021 Apr 3;11(4).
    doi: 10.3390/ani11041009pubmed: 33916720google scholar: lookup
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 99,579 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.