Observational Study of the Route’s Characteristics of Tourism Carriage in a Tropical City.

This research paper presents an observational study that examined the working conditions of horses used in the carriage tourism industry in a tropical city. The study aimed to understand the characteristics of the horses’ work routes and their implications on animal welfare.

Methodology

• The research was carried out from August 31 to December 2, 2018, using a GPS to follow the tourism circuit of 33 Criollo horses. These horses had an average weight of about 400 ± 50 kg. The study was conducted during the rainfall summer season.
• The researchers collected data on environmental factors like temperature, humidity, and accumulated rainfall from a local meteorological station. Information on operational factors such as the distance and number of trips, the number of people transported, and the time taken for working and resting activities were also recorded.

Observations

• A total of 69 trips were observed, with each trip averaging a distance of 5 ± 0.5 km and lasting about 47 ± 16 minutes. Each horse made a maximum of six trips per day and engaged in continuous pulling activity for about 4 hours and 42 minutes.
• The horses typically rested one day after two consecutive working days, and their resting period within the same day lasted anywhere from one to 8 hours.
• The number of passengers per trip did not exceed the carriage capacity of six people, including the driver, which added up to approximately 700 kg.
• During the study period, the mean daily temperature and relative humidity were recorded as 35.25 ± 1.54°C and 43.40 ± 6.58, respectively. Despite the heat, no feed or water was offered to the horses during their work.

Conclusions

• Considering that light horses can easily pull up to 2000 kg on low-friction surfaces, the researchers concluded that the carriage activity observed in the study demanded an under-maximum effort from the horses.
• The length and intensity of the horses’ workload does not pose a significant challenge for their welfare.
• The researchers did suggest that watering practices could be improved and that the micro-weather conditions should be monitored during warmer months.