Racehorse welfare across a training season.
Abstract: Racehorse welfare is gaining increasing public attention, however scientific evidence in this area is lacking. In order to develop a better understanding of racehorse welfare, it must be measured and monitored. This is the first study to assess racehorse welfare using scientific objective methods across a training season. The aim of this study was threefold, firstly to investigate welfare measures which could be used in the first welfare assessment protocol for racehorses. Secondly, to understand the effect that a racing and training season had on individual racehorses and thirdly to identify risk factors for both good and poor welfare. Thirteen racehorse training yards were visited at the beginning and the peak of the racing season in England. Behavioral observations along with individual environmental and animal-based welfare measures were carried out on 353 horses in 13 training yards selected for variability. In our sample the horses were generally in good physical health: 94% of horses recorded as an ideal body condition score, no horses had signs of hoof neglect and 77.7% had no nasal discharge. The overall prevalence of external Mouth Corner Lesions was 12.9% and was significantly higher for Flat racing than Jump racing horses. The majority of horses (67.5%) showed positive horse human interactions. When stabled 54.1% horses had physical social contact and nasal discharge was not associated with increased physical contact. The training season significantly affected Human Reactivity Tests, Horse Grimace Scale scores and time spent resting and feeding. A total of 14.5% of horses displayed stereotypic behavior on at least two occasions. Horses with windows in their stables spent more time surveying their surroundings. Overall, in this population of racehorses, horses spent around a third of their daytime feeding (33.7%) followed by time spent standing resting (22.6%). The welfare assessment protocol used in this study is suitable for use in industry to collect welfare data on racehorses.
Copyright © 2023 Annan, Trigg, Hockenhull, Allen, Butler, Valenchon and Mullan.
Publication Date: 2023-06-28 PubMed ID: 37448582PubMed Central: PMC10336241DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1208744Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This study investigates racehorse welfare across a training season, aiming to establish valid welfare measures, understand the impact of race training, and identify risk factors for welfare. It found that the majority of the racehorses studied were in good physical health, although a minor percentage displayed signs of poor welfare like stereotypic behaviors and mouth lesions, with the training season significantly affecting certain behaviors.
Methods and Data Collection
- The research team visited 13 racehorse training yards in England at the beginning and peak of the racing season. They specifically chose these yards due to their variability.
- The study involved behavioral observations and welfare measures of 353 horses. These measures were not limited to the physical health of the horses, but extended to their environmental conditions, training, and interactions as well.
- Some of the specific measures taken included the horses’ body condition, signs of hoof neglect, nasal discharge, presence of mouth corner lesions, horse-human interactions, and social contact when stabled.
- Horse grimace scale scores, time spent resting and feeding, and stereotypic behavior were also monitored as indicators of possible stress or discomfort.
Findings
- The majority of the horses were in good physical health. An ideal body condition score was observed in 94% of the horses, and no signs of hoof neglect were found.
- Less than a quarter of the horses (22.3%) presented nasal discharge, indicating possible respiratory issues. This was, however, not associated with increased social contact when stabled.
- Mouth Corner Lesions were present in 12.9% of the horses, and were significantly more prevalent among Flat racing horses than Jump racing ones.
- About two-thirds (67.5%) of the horses exhibited positive interactions with humans. Nevertheless, 14.5% displayed stereotypic behavior (repetitive behavior indicative of stress) on at least two occasions.
- The horses’ lifestyle involved spending roughly one-third of their daytime feeding (33.7%), and another 22.6% resting while standing.
Impact of the Training Season
- The training season had significant effects on horses’ human reactivity tests and grimace scale scores, as well as time spent resting and feeding.
- Horses with windows in their stables spent more time observing their surroundings, potentially indicating a need for stimulation or interaction.
Conclusions and Implications
- This study presents a comprehensive welfare assessment protocol, suitable for industry use in monitoring and assessing racehorse welfare.
- The findings emphasize the need for continual welfare assessments and adjustments to training and care routines to enhance racehorse welfare.
- It also draws attention to the possible effects of environmental conditions, like stable design, on horse behavior and well-being.
Cite This Article
APA
Annan R, Trigg LE, Hockenhull J, Allen K, Butler D, Valenchon M, Mullan S.
(2023).
Racehorse welfare across a training season.
Front Vet Sci, 10, 1208744.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2023.1208744 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Bristol Veterinary School, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom.
- Bristol Veterinary School, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom.
- Bristol Veterinary School, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom.
- Bristol Veterinary School, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom.
- Bristol Veterinary School, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom.
- Bristol Veterinary School, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom.
- INRAE, CNRS, University of Tours, IFCE, UMR PRC, Nouzilly, France.
- Bristol Veterinary School, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom.
- UCD School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
References
This article includes 93 references
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Annan R, Trigg L, Allen K, Hockenhull J, Valenchon M, Mullan S. Welfare assessment of racehorses provides a baseline for continued monitoring. Equine Vet J 2026 Jan;58(1):165-181.
- Jeppesen A, Eyers R, Evans D, Ward MP, Quain A. Comparison of Reported Fatalities, Falls and Injuries in Thoroughbred Horse Jumps and Flat Races in the 2022 and 2023 Jumps Race Seasons in Victoria, Australia. Animals (Basel) 2024 Mar 5;14(5).
- Pearson G, Douglas J, Wolframm I, Furtado T. Used like Pawns or Treated like Kings? How Narratives around Racehorse Welfare in the 2023 Grand National May Affect Public Acceptance: An Informed Commentary. Animals (Basel) 2023 Oct 8;13(19).
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