Horse Welfare 12: A Human Behavior Change Framework for Improving Horse Welfare.

Overview

• This research article presents a new framework, called the Horse Welfare 12 (HW12), designed to improve horse welfare by targeting human behavior change within the horse industry.
• The framework adapts a well-known systems thinking model (the Meadows 12) to provide practical intervention points aimed at accelerating the application of scientific knowledge to real-world practices.

Introduction and Background

• The article highlights that despite decades of research into horse welfare, progress in improving conditions for horses has been slower than expected.
• There has been an exponential increase in scientific publications about horse welfare, enhancing our understanding of horses’ needs and challenges.
• However, the conversion of this scientific knowledge into effective, widespread changes in behavior and industry practices remains limited.
• The authors argue that the problem may not be the lack of science, but rather the lack of appropriate frameworks to guide behavior change efforts within the horse community and industry.

The Need for a New Approach

• Existing research often does not sufficiently address the human elements that affect horse welfare, such as attitudes, culture, and decision-making processes within the industry.
• There is a scarcity of industry-specific research focused on how best to implement changes to improve welfare practically and sustainably.
• The authors propose that improving horse welfare requires a systems thinking approach that identifies leverage points for meaningful intervention.

The Meadows 12 Framework and Its Adaptation

• The Meadows 12 is a well-regarded systems thinking framework originally developed to identify 12 places to intervene in complex systems, ranked from least to most impactful.
• This framework helps identify where and how to most effectively induce change within a complex network of interactions.
• The authors have adapted this framework specifically for the horse industry, creating the Horse Welfare 12 (HW12).
• The HW12 identifies 12 intervention points within the horse industry system, offering a ranked roadmap for where behavior change efforts might have the greatest effect on improving welfare.

Features and Benefits of the HW12 Framework

• HW12 provides a practical and accessible tool for researchers, industry stakeholders, and policymakers to design and prioritize interventions.
• The framework is based on the authors’ combined extensive experience in the horse industry, horse welfare, and systems thinking research, strengthening its relevance and applicability.
• The HW12 can be adapted for use not just in the horse industry but also for welfare improvements in other species or animal-related industries.
• By focusing on human behavior change and systemic intervention points, the framework aims to accelerate the translation of scientific knowledge into actual welfare improvements.

Implications and Conclusions

• The HW12 framework addresses a critical gap in welfare science: transforming research findings into effective and sustained practice changes.
• The authors suggest that this framework could be the “missing piece” needed to create meaningful, lasting improvements in horse welfare worldwide.
• The paper encourages researchers and industry professionals to adopt this systems thinking approach as part of future welfare improvement strategies.
• Ultimately, the HW12 could enhance collaboration, focus efforts on high-impact areas, and improve the overall welfare outcomes for horses by influencing human behavior change in a structured and systematic way.