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Home / Equine Research Bank / Animals (Basel) / Validating a Thoroughbred Racehorse Welfare Index through Ho...
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2023; 13(2); 282; doi: 10.3390/ani13020282

Validating a Thoroughbred Racehorse Welfare Index through Horse Behaviour and Trainers’ Reports of Welfare Issues in Their Horses.

Abstract: We validated a Thoroughbred racehorse welfare index, developed initially from expert opinion, by relating it to horse behaviour recorded in a range of training stables and surveying trainers to investigate the environment and management systems for Thoroughbred racehorses. Relationships between the index scores and horse behaviour were observed. Then, an Australia-wide survey of racing industry stakeholders was conducted to identify which parameters are important for welfare in a training stable. Trainers performed well on horsemanship and health/disease aspects. Provisions for ventilation, transportation and nutrition were also scored at high levels. However, provisions for weaning, wastage, assisting horses in coping with heat stress, stabling and the education of racehorses were not as well covered, indicating a need for improvement in these welfare issues. We concluded that our Thoroughbred Racehorse welfare index is able to discriminate between trainers offering differing levels of welfare for the major issues in racehorse training stables.
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Publication Date: 2023-01-13 PubMed ID: 36670822PubMed Central: PMC9855126DOI: 10.3390/ani13020282Google 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 research validates an index that evaluates the welfare of Thoroughbred racehorses by cross-checking it with horse behaviour and trainers’ reports. The index factors in training environments and management systems, with areas of concern found in weaning, wastage, heat stress coping, stabling and education of the horses.

Research Methodology

  • The Thoroughbred racehorse welfare index that was initially developed based on expert opinion was used as the backbone of this research.
  • Horse behaviour was meticulously recorded in various training stables to find correlations between it and the index scores.
  • An exhaustive survey among racing industry experts across Australia was carried out to single out important parameters for horse welfare in a training stable.

Findings and Observations

  • The trainers scored well on horsemanship and health/disease aspects, suggesting a good understanding and focus on these areas.
  • Provisions for ensuring proper ventilation, safe transportation and balanced nutrition for the horses were highly-rated, signifying well-managed practices in these aspects.
  • Conversely, areas for weaning, controlling wastage, helping horses cope with heat stress, stabling and the education of racehorses were not as equally considered, pinpointing to gaps in these welfare areas.

Conclusions

  • The Thoroughbred Racehorse welfare index, as demonstrated by the study, can discriminate between trainers providing varying levels of welfare addressing the major issues in racehorse training stables.
  • The index can identify areas of improvement and help formulate guidelines to ensure a higher standard of welfare among Thoroughbred racehorses.

Cite This Article

APA
Mactaggart AG, Phillips CJC. (2023). Validating a Thoroughbred Racehorse Welfare Index through Horse Behaviour and Trainers’ Reports of Welfare Issues in Their Horses. Animals (Basel), 13(2), 282. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13020282

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 13
Issue: 2
PII: 282

Researcher Affiliations

Mactaggart, Alison Glen
  • Centre for Animal Welfare and Ethics, University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD 4343, Australia.
Phillips, Clive Julian Christie
  • Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 46, 51006 Tartu, Estonia.
  • Curtin University Sustainable Policy (CUSP) Institute, Kent St., Bentley, WA 6102, Australia.

Grant Funding

  • No grant number / Ranvet Pty Ltd. (Banksmeadow, NSW, Australia )

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 4 times.
  1. Knox AL, Fenner K, Zsoldos RR, Wilson B, McGreevy P. Owner-Observed Behavioral Characteristics in Off-the-Track Thoroughbreds (OTTTBs) in Equestrian Second Careers. Animals (Basel) 2025 Jul 11;15(14).
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  2. Phelipon R, Hennes N, Ruet A, Bret-Morel A, Górecka-Bruzda A, Lansade L. Forage, freedom of movement, and social interactions remain essential fundamentals for the welfare of high-level sport horses. Front Vet Sci 2024;11:1504116.
    doi: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1504116pubmed: 39634765google scholar: lookup
  3. Luke KL, Rawluk A, McAdie T, Smith BP, Warren-Smith AK. How equestrians conceptualise horse welfare: Does it facilitate or hinder change?. Anim Welf 2023;32:e59.
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  4. Gueguen L, Henry S, Delbos M, Lemasson A, Hausberger M. Selected Acoustic Frequencies Have a Positive Impact on Behavioural and Physiological Welfare Indicators in Thoroughbred Racehorses. Animals (Basel) 2023 Sep 20;13(18).
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