Horse Husbandry and Preventive Health Practices in Australia: An Online Survey of Horse Guardians.

The research explores the preventive health practices in horse husbandry in Australia, uncovering key areas where horse care falls short of recommended guidelines, such as deworming, dental care, hoof maintenance and vaccination against tetanus.

Study Design and Sample

• The study utilized an online survey to gather data on horse health management practices.
• Eight hundred and fifty-five Australian horse owners participated in the survey, forming a convenience sample for the study.

Identified Issues in Horse Health Management

• Some horse owners did not regularly deworm their horses, with 4% admitting to this practice.
• There was a lack of strategic parasite control measures, with only 3.1% of respondents confirming they use a targeted approach.
• Eleven percent of participants did not provide regular dental care for their horses, which contradicts established guidelines for horse health maintenance.
• Two percent of the sample did not have their horse’s hooves regularly shod or trimmed, which can lead to hoof health issues.
• Fourteen percent of respondents admitted to using an unqualified person to maintain their horse’s hooves, which could result in suboptimal hoof health.
• Nineteen percent of horse owners did not vaccinate their horses against tetanus, increasing the disease risk in their animals.

Discussion and Recommendations

• These findings indicate a need for more in-depth education and information on horse health management practices targeted towards horse owners.
• The study emphasized the necessity of adopting and adhering to recommended guidelines for horse health care to prevent large-scale welfare issues among horses in Australia.
• There is a potential need for policy revision or strategies to ensure compliance with preventive health practices in horse husbandry.