Horses Used for Educational Purposes in New Zealand: A Descriptive Analysis of Their Use for Teaching.
Abstract: Horses are used in practical teaching classes in many equine and veterinary science degree programmes to develop and refine the handling and clinical skills of students. In this study, the activities of 24 teaching horses grouped in three herds were investigated over an entire calendar year. Although also used for research and general husbandry, teaching-related activities were the predominant use of the horses. Herd B was used for a greater number of teaching sessions (median = 28, IQR = 27-29.5 per year) than herds M (median = 21, IQR = 20-21 per year) and T (median = 19.5, IQR = 13.75-25.5 per year), which translates to a relatively low workload (one or two weekly sessions during the teaching semester). Sedation was used in dentistry classes (in alignment with national best practice standards) but was rarely required for other teaching activities. Mare reproductive rectal- and medical rectal examination practical classes (specific to 5th-year veterinary teaching and characterised by more restraint (in stocks)) were significantly shorter and had fewer students per horse than the other practical classes. Although the low workload reported suggests an opportunity to increase students' exposure to horses without compromising the horses' welfare, further investigation to determine specific stressors to the horses in the teaching environment may be required.
Publication Date: 2020-09-01 PubMed ID: 32882976PubMed Central: PMC7552222DOI: 10.3390/ani10091547Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research focuses on a study conducted on 24 teaching horses in New Zealand. It found that, though these horses are also used for research and general husbandry, they are predominantly used for teaching. The intensity of their use in teaching does not seem to be excessively heavy, suggesting that there could be room to increase student interaction without affecting the horses’ welfare.
Introduction and Methodology
- The research was conducted on 24 horses spread over three herds, denoted as B, M, and T. Their activities were studied over an entire year, with a special focus on how often and how intensively they were used in teaching.
- The study was conducted in New Zealand, where the horses are used in equine and veterinary science degree programs. These programs use the animals to help students develop and refine their handling and clinical skills.
Results
- It was found that despite the horses also being used for other purposes such as research and general husbandry, teaching related activities were their main use.
- The horses in Herd B were used more frequently in teaching sessions (average of 28 times per year) compared to Herds M (average of 21 times per year) and T (average of 19.5 times per year). This volume of use indicates a relatively low workload for the horses, with one or two weekly sessions during the teaching terms.
- Sedation of the horses was largely reserved for dentistry classes. It was seldom used during other teaching activities. This is in line with national best practice standards for handling horses in a teaching setting.
- Horses’ participation in practical classes that required more restraint, such as mare reproductive rectal examinations and medical rectal examination classes, were significantly shorter with fewer students per horse compared to other practical sessions.
Conclusion
- The research suggests that there is room to increase students’ exposure to the horses while still adhering to the principles of animal welfare. That said, the researchers recommend further studies to identify any specific stressors that the teaching environment might be imposing on the horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Guinnefollau L, Gee EK, Norman EJ, Rogers CW, Bolwell CF.
(2020).
Horses Used for Educational Purposes in New Zealand: A Descriptive Analysis of Their Use for Teaching.
Animals (Basel), 10(9), 1547.
https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10091547 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand.
- School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand.
- College of Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand.
- School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand.
- School of Agriculture and Environment, Massey University, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand.
- School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand.
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
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