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Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2022; 12(21); 2907; doi: 10.3390/ani12212907

Moving toward Fear-Free Husbandry and Veterinary Care for Horses.

Abstract: Husbandry and veterinary procedures have the potential to generate fear and stress in animals. In horses, the associated responses can pose a significant safety risk to the human personnel involved in the procedure, as well as to the animal itself. Traditionally, physical restraint, punishment, and/or threat of an aversive, have been the most common strategies used to achieve compliance from the horse. However, from a welfare perspective, this is less than ideal. This approach also has the potential for creating a more dangerous response from the horse in future similar situations. When caring for companion animals, and captive animals within zoological facilities, there has been a steady transition away from this approach, and toward strategies aimed at reducing fear and stress during veterinary visits and when undertaking routine husbandry procedures. This review discusses the current approaches to horse care and training, the strategies being used in other animal sectors, and potential strategies for improving human safety, as well as the horse's experience, during husbandry and veterinary procedures.
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Publication Date: 2022-10-24 PubMed ID: 36359031PubMed Central: PMC9653666DOI: 10.3390/ani12212907Google Scholar: Lookup
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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 study explores the ways in which husbandry and veterinary procedures generate fear and stress in horses, with an aim to identify more humane strategies that prioritize the well-being of the horse and enhance human safety during these procedures.

Understanding the Challenges in Horse Care

  • The study acknowledges that husbandry and veterinary procedures, traditionally involving physical restraint and punishment, often generate fear and stress in horses. This has a dual disadvantage. Firstly, it poses a safety risk to the human personnel involved in the procedure. Secondly, it may cause the horse to develop a fear of similar procedures in the future, thus endangering both the horse and human.

Current Approaches in Horse Care and Training

  • The researchers discuss the use of physical restraint and aversive strategies in current horse care approaches. These methods, while effective in obtaining compliance from the horse, do not consider the welfare of the animal and can lead to a more dangerous response from the horse in future situations.

Alternative Strategies from Other Animal Sectors

  • The paper highlights the transition that has taken place in caring for companion and captive animals within zoological facilities. Here, the focus has shifted away from forceful compliance and towards strategies aimed at reducing fear and stress during veterinary visits and routine husbandry procedures. This has largely been favored from a welfare perspective.

Potential Strategies for Improving Horse Care Practices

  • The goal of the research is to identify similar humane strategies that could be adopted in horse care to enhance the horse’s experience and reduce fear and stress during husbandry and veterinary procedures, while also ensuring the safety of the human handlers involved. It is a move towards a fear-free approach to horse care that prioritizes animal welfare.

Cite This Article

APA
Carroll SL, Sykes BW, Mills PC. (2022). Moving toward Fear-Free Husbandry and Veterinary Care for Horses. Animals (Basel), 12(21), 2907. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12212907

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 12
Issue: 21
PII: 2907

Researcher Affiliations

Carroll, Sharon L
  • School of Veterinary Science, University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD 4343, Australia.
Sykes, Benjamin W
  • School of Veterinary Science, University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD 4343, Australia.
  • School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand.
Mills, Paul C
  • School of Veterinary Science, University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD 4343, Australia.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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