Exploring the relationship between horse-owner attributes and their approach to horse training.

Overview

• This study investigates how horse-owners’ personal attributes and beliefs affect their choice of horse training methods.
• Understanding these relationships can help improve the spread of effective and welfare-conscious training practices.

Background and Importance

• Horse training approaches (TAs) impact both the welfare of horses and the success of their training.
• There is limited knowledge about what influences horse-owners’ decisions regarding which training methods to choose.
• Lack of understanding in this area hinders the development of evidence-based advice for horse owners.

Objectives

• To identify which demographic, behavioral, and attitudinal factors influence horse-owners’ selection of training approaches.

Methods

• An online survey with 22 questions was distributed, gathering information from 1,593 horse owners.
• Survey content included:
  • Demographic data (age, gender identity, etc.)
  • Equestrian activities and goals
  • Beliefs about horse sentience, cognition, and the role of science in training
  • Likelihood of using six different horse training approaches, rated on a five-point scale
• Data analysis involved:
  • Multinomial regression to determine associations between demographics and TA choice
  • Spearman’s correlation coefficients to evaluate relationships between beliefs and use of training methods

Key Findings

• Multiple factors were significantly associated with horse-owner reports on their training approach use, including:
  • Age
  • Gender identity
  • Their equestrian goals and activities
  • Their roles within the equestrian industry
  • Whether they had education or training in animal behavior
• Beliefs about horses’ mental capacity and sentience affected the likelihood of using aversive training techniques:
  • Owners who believed more strongly in equine sentience and cognitive ability tended to avoid aversive methods
  • Those valuing the role of science in training were less likely to apply aversives

Implications

• Understanding the demographic and attitudinal drivers behind training choices can inform targeted educational interventions.
• Such strategies may help reduce reliance on training methods that compromise horse welfare.
• This research provides a foundation for further studies aimed at improving horse training practices and promoting welfare through evidence-based advice.