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Home/Equine Research Bank/PLoS One/Current Welfare Problems Facing Horses in Great Britain as I...
PloS one2016; 11(8); e0160269; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0160269

Current Welfare Problems Facing Horses in Great Britain as Identified by Equine Stakeholders.

Abstract: Despite growing concerns about the welfare of horses in Great Britain (GB) there has been little surveillance of the welfare status of the horse population. Consequently we have limited knowledge of the range of welfare problems experienced by horses in GB and the situations in which poor welfare occurs. Thirty-one in-depth interviews were conducted with a cross -section of equine stakeholders, in order to explore their perceptions of the welfare problems faced by horses in GB. Welfare problems relating to health, management and riding and training were identified, including horses being under or over weight, stabling 24 hours a day and the inappropriate use of training aids. The interviewees also discussed broader contexts in which they perceived that welfare was compromised. The most commonly discussed context was where horses are kept in unsuitable environments, for example environments with poor grazing. The racing industry and travellers horses were identified as areas of the industry where horse welfare was particularly vulnerable to compromise. Lack of knowledge and financial constraints were perceived to be the root cause of poor welfare by many interviewees. The findings give insight into the range of welfare problems that may be faced by horses in GB, the contexts in which these may occur and their possible causes. Many of the problems identified by the interviewees have undergone limited scientific investigation pointing to areas where further research is likely to be necessary for welfare improvement. The large number of issues identified suggests that some form of prioritisation may be necessary to target research and resources effectively.
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Publication Date: 2016-08-08 PubMed ID: 27501387PubMed Central: PMC4976980DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0160269Google Scholar: Lookup
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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.

This research overviewed the main welfare issues currently facing horses in Great Britain. It involved in-depth interviews with equine stakeholders, various problems associated with horse health, training and management were discussed.

Research Methodology

  • The research was carried out through conducting thirty-one detailed interviews with a diverse range of horse stakeholders.
  • The interviewees gave their views on different welfare-related concerns faced by horses in Great Britain.

Identified Horse Welfare Problems

  • Many issues have been highlighted by the interviewees related to horse’s health, their management, and how they are ridden and trained.
  • Examples include inappropriate weight management, whether being under or overweight, stabling the horses 24 hours a day, and misuse of training aids.

Broader Context of Horse Welfare Compromise

  • The interviewees also discussed broader circumstances in which the welfare of horses might be compromised.
  • The most common contexts mentioned where horses’ welfare would be jeopardised included situations where horses are kept in unsuitable surroundings, such as those with poor grazing conditions.
  • Specific areas in the horse industry were flagged as vulnerable to welfare compromises, notably the racing industry and the horses owned by travellers.

Root Causes of Poor Horse Welfare

  • Lack of knowledge and financial constraints were repeatedly identified as the root causes of horses’ poor welfare.
  • Many of these identified problems have undergone limited or no scientific investigation, indicating areas where further research is necessary to improve horse welfare.

Implications for Action

  • Considering the large number of issues identified, the research suggests that some form of prioritization is necessary to effectively target research and resources.
  • The findings provide deep insights into the range of welfare problems that horses in Great Britain may be facing, the contexts in which they occur, and their potential causes.

Cite This Article

APA
Horseman SV, Buller H, Mullan S, Whay HR. (2016). Current Welfare Problems Facing Horses in Great Britain as Identified by Equine Stakeholders. PLoS One, 11(8), e0160269. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0160269

Publication

PloS one
ISSN: 1932-6203
NlmUniqueID: 101285081
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 11
Issue: 8
Pages: e0160269
PII: e0160269

Researcher Affiliations

Horseman, Susan V
  • School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, England.
Buller, Henry
  • Department of Geography, University of Exeter, Exeter, England.
Mullan, Siobhan
  • School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, England.
Whay, Helen R
  • School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, England.

MeSH Terms

  • Animal Husbandry / standards
  • Animal Welfare / trends
  • Animals
  • Behavior, Animal
  • Data Collection
  • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
  • Horses
  • Ownership
  • United Kingdom / epidemiology

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

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