Equine-assisted interventions in Germany: animal welfare knowledge and practices among equine-assisted professionals.

The research article explores the understanding and implementation of animal welfare measures by professionals involved in equine-assisted interventions, a therapeutic approach in Germany involving horses.

Research Objective

In this article, the researchers aimed to explore the understanding and the assurance of animal welfare by professionals who are involved in equine-assisted interventions in Germany. This involves the use of horses for therapeutic purposes. Past studies have indicated the positive effects that these interventions can have on recipients, however, there has so far been limited research on the implementation of animal welfare practices in this context.

Methodology

• 111 professionals working in equine-assisted therapy were surveyed using questionnaires. The questionnaires incorporated both closed and open-ended queries. The aim was to gauge these professionals’ knowledge of animal welfare and how they implement these welfare practices in their work with horses.
• The research team analyzed the quantitative data (numerical data) using statistical software such as SPSS and Microsoft Excel.
• Qualitative data (non-numerical data like participants’ written responses) was analyzed based on a technique known as thematic coding. This technique involves grouping responses into categories based on shared themes.

Findings

• Nearly all of the surveyed professionals (96.6%) indicated that they considered animal welfare extremely important in equine-assisted interventions.
• The professionals’ understanding of animal welfare was varied. This implies that while some had a thorough comprehension, others may not be as informed.
• Responses indicated an awareness of the physical and psychological needs of horses, and of stress-related signals that indicate an animal’s welfare may be compromised.
• However, the focus on more overt stress signals suggests that professionals may need additional training to recognize subtle behaviors that could indicate a horse is stressed.

Conclusions

The research concludes that while animal welfare is a high priority for equine-assisted professionals, there is still a need for more research into this area. Further investigation is needed to assess aspects of animal welfare-relevant to this field and to explore how professionals can better implement welfare-related measures. This could possibly involve further education and training in animal welfare for these professionals.