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Home / Equine Research Bank / Anim Welf / Exercise as a welfare strategy? Insights from horse (Equus ...
Animal welfare (South Mimms, England)2025; 34; e14; doi: 10.1017/awf.2025.11

Exercise as a welfare strategy? Insights from horse (Equus caballus) owners in the UK.

Abstract: Obesity and its comorbidities (e.g. laminitis) are identified as major welfare issues among domestic equids in the United Kingdom (UK) and abroad. Weight-management typically focuses on restricting consumption (e.g. limiting pasture grazing), often facilitated through stabling. This leads to social isolation, prompting other welfare issues. Increased exercise may be a preferable solution for equine obesity, if viable. The aims of this study were to explore horse (Equus caballus) owner perceptions regarding the importance of exercise, and to investigate how exercise provision related to welfare outcomes. Data obtained via an online survey from 804 UK horse owners indicated that most respondents' horses were managed in obesogenic conditions, and 40% were owner-reported as overweight/obese. Exercise-related variables (e.g. if a horse was ridden) correlated with physical health problems, including decreased reports of laminitis and Equine Metabolic Syndrome. Approximately 90% of respondents reported that barriers outside of their control substantially limited opportunities to provide human-led exercise (e.g. riding, lunging). Analysis of a hypothetical weight-management scenario found owners with horses at livery yards felt significantly less able to increase horses' self-directed exercise (e.g. free movement in fields/pastures) than owners keeping horses on their own properties. These findings indicate that while increased exercise may improve welfare, owner knowledge is not the only barrier that must be overcome to implement this prospective solution. Both human-led and self-directed exercise appear limited by a lack of opportunities available to horses and humans. These results justify future investigations into alternative management strategies as potentially viable methods of increasing exercise to improve welfare.
© The Author(s) 2025.
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Publication Date: 2025-03-04 PubMed ID: 40071107PubMed Central: PMC11894402DOI: 10.1017/awf.2025.11Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • 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 discusses the importance of exercise in managing obesity and related health issues in horses, and explores horse owners’ perceptions regarding providing exercise and its correlation to the animals’ well-being.

Objective of the Research

  • The primary aim of this study was to understand horse owner views on the significance of exercise and find out how they provide it to their horses.
  • This study also aimed to check how the provision of exercise affects the physical health of horses and influences welfare outcomes.
  • Investigating the barriers which prevent horse owners from providing exercise to their animals was another central objective of this research.

Description of the Method

  • The research used an online survey to collect data from 804 horse owners in the UK. It gathered information on their routines and attitudes toward horse exercise and welfare.
  • The survey was designed to shed light on the daily living conditions of horses, their exercise routine, and the availability of free movement opportunities.
  • The survey helped identify horses managed in conditions that could lead to obesity and those already deemed overweight or obese by owners.

Main Findings

  • The study found that many horses were kept in conditions likely to lead to obesity, with around 40% of them reported by owners as overweight or obese.
  • Whether a horse was regularly ridden correlated with its physical health conditions. Those ridden more frequently had fewer instances of laminitis and Equine Metabolic Syndrome.
  • About 90% of the horse owners revealed that there were substantial barriers, outside of their control, that limited their opportunities to provide human-led exercise. For example, the ability to ride or lunge the horse.
  • From the survey, it was discovered that horse owners who used livery yards for their horses felt less capable of increasing their animals’ self-directed exercise (like free movement in fields/pastures) compared to those who kept horses on their own properties.

Conclusion

  • The study’s findings point towards the potential benefits of increasing exercise for improving horse welfare. The ability to provide exercise is limited not only by the owners’ knowledge but also by the lack of opportunities for horses and humans alike.
  • The researchers recommend further investigation into alternative strategies for horse management that could offer viable methods to increase exercise, thereby improving horse welfare.

Cite This Article

APA
Naydani CJ, Coombs T. (2025). Exercise as a welfare strategy? Insights from horse (Equus caballus) owners in the UK. Anim Welf, 34, e14. https://doi.org/10.1017/awf.2025.11

Publication

Animal welfare (South Mimms, England)
ISSN: 2054-1538
NlmUniqueID: 9214272
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 34
Pages: e14

Researcher Affiliations

Naydani, Cynthia Joanne
  • Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH25 9RG, UK.
Coombs, Tamsin
  • Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Scotland's Rural College (SRUC), Edinburgh EH9 3JG, UK.

Conflict of Interest Statement

None.

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