Developing a greenhouse gas emission model for sport horses: case studies in dressage and jumping.

Objective Overview

• This research developed a greenhouse gas (GHG) emission model specifically for sport horses to assess their carbon footprint (CFP), focusing on dressage and jumping horses in the Netherlands.
• The study identified key sources of emissions across the horses’ entire life cycle and highlighted the significant impact of transport on the overall carbon footprint.

Background and Need for the Study

• Sustainability is an increasing concern in the equine sector, encompassing feed, resource efficiency, animal welfare, biodiversity, and especially carbon footprint.
• Previous equine studies have mainly focused on behavior and welfare, with limited information on the environmental impact of horses.
• Existing studies largely address local environmental effects (e.g., nitrogen leaching, ammonia in bedding), but GHG emissions for horses, particularly by type or discipline, remain poorly understood.
• Although horses contribute to national greenhouse gas inventories, no detailed models have accounted for different horse types or disciplines.

Development of the Emission Model (Hoofprint)

• The researchers created a novel model named “Hoofprint” based on the life cycle assessment (LCA) approach, integrating various existing models and standards.
• The model is designed to be flexible and applicable to any horse discipline or type, allowing for broad use in the equine sector.
• It considers the full lifespan of a sport horse through four main stages:
  • Reproduction
  • Raising (growth and development)
  • Sport (active training and competition)
  • Retirement (post-career life)
• Including reproduction and raising stages is crucial for a complete carbon footprint because excluding them ignores significant emission sources associated with early life and breeding.

Case Studies in Dressage and Jumping Horses

• The researchers applied the model to calculate the carbon footprints of two types of sport horses in the Netherlands:
  • A dressage horse
  • A jumping horse
• Data gathering covered:
  • Reproduction specifics
  • Raising/young horse care
  • Level and intensity of training
  • Feed production and intake during all life stages
• Key findings without considering transport:
  • The dressage horse’s yearly CFP varied between approximately 4,132 and 4,334 kg CO2 equivalent.
  • The jumping horse’s yearly CFP ranged from about 4,158 to 4,651 kg CO2 equivalent.
  • This indicates little difference in emissions between the two disciplines when transport is excluded.

Impact of Transport on Carbon Footprint

• When factoring in horse transport to competition and training:
  • The dressage horse’s CFP increased by about 1,664 kg CO2 equivalent per year.
  • The jumping horse’s CFP increased dramatically by approximately 68,528 kg CO2 equivalent per year.
• The huge variation is attributed to:
  • Transport mode (e.g., road, air, or other)
  • Distances traveled for competition
• This highlights transport as a critical “hotspot” contributing heavily to the sport horse’s carbon footprint.

Conclusions and Implications

• This study represents the first systematic attempt to quantify the carbon footprint of Dutch sport horses competing at an international level.
• The findings underscore the importance of assessing the full life cycle, including early stages and transport, to avoid underestimating emissions.
• The equine sector is diverse, with many different disciplines and types of facilities (“yards”), suggesting variability in emissions profiles.
• Additional research is needed to:
  • Expand the model to other horse types and disciplines
  • Better understand the environmental impacts across the sector
  • Identify more emission hotspots and potential mitigation strategies
• Practically, this model can help promote sustainability and inform policy and management decisions within equine sports.