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Home / Equine Research Bank / Animals (Basel) / Globetrotting Horses: Welfare Discourses and Disciplinary Po...
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2024; 14(13); doi: 10.3390/ani14131862

Globetrotting Horses: Welfare Discourses and Disciplinary Power in the Transportation of Horses by Air.

Abstract: Every year, many horses are transported by air. Alongside sport horses traveling to tournaments worldwide, mainly breeding horses, such as shuttle stallions and broodmares, thoroughbreds traded at auctions, and leisure horses are transported by air. Research in veterinary science has highlighted welfare concerns during air transportation. Equine welfare is constituted in the language and discourse evolving from social, political, and ethical views about the treatment of horses. Consequently, this study targets power in creating equine welfare by analyzing the welfare discourses, transportation practices that generate welfare, and their impact on horses and humans in the transportation of horses by air. In detail, this research uses a Foucauldian discourse analysis to examine how welfare discourses and linked transportation practices constitute horses and humans using disciplinary power. The empirical material consists of 81 newspaper articles about horse transportation by air, five video clips, and four interviews with representatives of horse transport agencies that have set standards for the transportation of horses by air. The analysis discovers four different welfare discourses and various practices that guide the carrying of horses by air. The discourses have created inactive horses and human professionals in the business of horse transportation by air.
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Publication Date: 2024-06-24 PubMed ID: 38997974PubMed Central: PMC11240486DOI: 10.3390/ani14131862Google 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 paper discusses the welfare of horses during air transportation, identifying concerns and discourses surrounding their treatment. It uses a Foucauldian discourse analysis to explore how these discussions shape human behaviour and the state of horses during flight.

Study Methodology

  • The study utilises the Foucauldian discourse analysis, a method that investigates the relationship between power, knowledge and language. This type of analysis examines the way things are talked about and how this influences society’s understanding and behaviour towards a specific subject—in this case, equine welfare during air transport.
  • For empirical data, the research examines a variety of sources. It considers 81 newspaper articles on horse air transportation, five video clips, and four interviews with representatives from the horse transport agencies. These resources are crucial as they give informative insight into common practices, societal views, and professional standards regarding horse air transportation.

Welfare Discourses Identified

  • The analysis identifies four different welfare discourses. These represent the distinct viewpoints and discussions surrounding equine welfare during air transportation and how these influence practices and regulations in the industry.
  • The discourses are essential as they shed light on the social, political, and ethical considerations towards the treatment of horses during air transportation.

Impact on Horses and Humans

  • The study reveals that the identified discourses and corresponding transportation practices lead to the generation of ‘inactive horses’. This term refers to the state of the horses during transportation, indicating changes in their behaviour or physical condition due to the air travel.
  • For humans, these discourses have formed a category of professionals specifically tasked with ensuring the horses’ welfare during transportation. These professionals implement and uphold the standards and practices established through the contact of these discourses.
  • The role of these professionals underscores the regulatory and disciplinary power of these discourses as they directly influence human behaviour and practices in the sector of horse air transportation.

Significance of the Study

  • This study serves as a critical exploration of how discourse formation affects the practices and regulations surrounding horse air transportation.
  • By understanding these discourses, industry stakeholders can better address welfare concerns and improve practices to ensure the horses’ wellbeing during air transport.

Cite This Article

APA
Gräschke L. (2024). Globetrotting Horses: Welfare Discourses and Disciplinary Power in the Transportation of Horses by Air. Animals (Basel), 14(13). https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14131862

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 14
Issue: 13

Researcher Affiliations

Gräschke, Lucia
  • Department of Geographical and Historical Studies, University of Eastern Finland, 80100 Joensuu, Finland.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The author reports there are no competing interests to declare.

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