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Animal welfare (South Mimms, England)2026; 35; e26; doi: 10.1017/awf.2026.10085

Opportunities for agency in domestic horses: Applying the behavioural domain to increase equine welfare.

Abstract: Giving animals the opportunity to exercise agency can improve their welfare, but horse owners and researchers may not be aware of the growing body of agency research in other animals, and studies on agency and choice in horses are scattered across disciplines and not connected to each other or to broader theory. This paper summarises research findings on management of domestic horses through the lens of animal agency and explores the potential applications of research on choice, control, and challenge in animals to improve the welfare of horses.
© The Author(s) 2026.
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Publication Date: 2026-04-07 PubMed ID: 42028318PubMed Central: PMC13101025DOI: 10.1017/awf.2026.10085Google 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.

Overview

  • This research article examines how giving domestic horses opportunities to exercise agency—meaning the ability to make choices and exert control over their environment—can enhance their welfare.
  • It synthesizes scattered studies about horse behaviour and management from various disciplines and connects them to broader theories of animal agency, aiming to provide practical applications to improve equine welfare.

Introduction to Agency and Equine Welfare

  • Agency refers to an animal’s ability to make choices, have control, and engage in meaningful challenges within their environment.
  • Providing animals agency has been shown to improve mental and physical well-being by allowing them to fulfill natural behaviours and reduce stress.
  • While agency research is well-established in some species, horse owners and researchers may not be fully aware of these findings or how they relate specifically to horses.

Current Challenges in Equine Research and Management

  • Studies on horse agency and choice are scattered across numerous fields such as ethology, veterinary science, psychology, and animal husbandry.
  • This fragmentation makes it difficult for horse caretakers and researchers to access a cohesive understanding of how agency can be leveraged in horse management.
  • Many standard horse management practices may limit horses’ choices, such as restrictive stabling, regimented feeding schedules, and limited social interaction.

The Behavioural Domain and Its Use in Equine Welfare

  • The behavioural domain framework organizes animal behaviours and their underlying motivations to help researchers understand what kinds of choices are meaningful for welfare.
  • By applying this framework to domestic horses, the paper:
    • Identifies key opportunities where horses can be given control and choice (e.g., feeding, movement, social interactions).
    • Explores how these choices relate to natural horse behaviours and needs.
    • Considers the role of challenges—tasks that require problem-solving or physical effort—in promoting mental stimulation and satisfaction.

Research Findings and Applications

  • Evidence suggests that horses allowed to choose aspects of their environment or management show:
    • Reduced stress indicators such as lower cortisol levels and decreased stereotypic behaviours.
    • Enhanced positive behaviours such as exploration, play, and social bonding.
    • Increased engagement and improved cognitive function.
  • Examples of practical applications include:
    • Allowing horses to regulate their own feeding patterns through self-feeders or scattered feeding areas.
    • Providing opportunities for voluntary exercise, such as pastures or choice of turnout areas.
    • Facilitating social interactions by allowing horses to choose companions or interact freely in groups.
    • Using enriched environments that encourage problem-solving and exploration, such as obstacle courses or interactive toys.

Implications for Future Research and Horse Management

  • The paper encourages integration of agency theory into equine welfare research to foster a multidisciplinary approach.
  • It suggests that horse management practices should shift from controlling every aspect of the horse’s life toward allowing meaningful choices whenever possible.
  • Future research could focus on:
    • Quantifying the specific welfare benefits of agency in horses.
    • Developing standardized methods for assessing horse agency and welfare outcomes.
    • Creating innovative management systems that embed choice and control as core features.

Conclusion

  • Offering domestic horses opportunities for agency aligns with their natural behaviours and psychological needs, enhancing overall welfare.
  • This paper provides a valuable synthesis of behavioural theory and empirical findings, serving as a foundation for better equine care practices that prioritize animal choice, control, and challenge.
  • By bridging gaps between disciplines and connecting theory with practice, equine welfare can be significantly improved through intentional support of horse agency.

Cite This Article

APA
Goodale L. (2026). Opportunities for agency in domestic horses: Applying the behavioural domain to increase equine welfare. Anim Welf, 35, e26. https://doi.org/10.1017/awf.2026.10085

Publication

Animal welfare (South Mimms, England)
ISSN: 2054-1538
NlmUniqueID: 9214272
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 35
Pages: e26
PII: e26

Researcher Affiliations

Goodale, Lindsay
  • Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.

Conflict of Interest Statement

None.

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