Welfare Assessment in Equine-Assisted Service (EAS) Horses.

Overview

• This study evaluates the welfare of horses used in Equine-Assisted Service (EAS) programs by examining their stress and pain behaviors during therapy sessions with different types of riders and assessing physiological indicators and management conditions.

Background and Purpose

• Equine-Assisted Service (EAS) horses interact with a variety of individuals, including people with physical impairments, which could expose the horses to different types of stress.
• Previous research mainly focused on behavior and physiological stress markers only during therapy sessions, not accounting for the horse’s overall welfare including housing and management.
• The goal of this study was to assess frequency of stress and pain behaviors (FSPB) in horses working with diverse rider groups and to evaluate their overall welfare by also measuring physiological indicators and management factors.

Methodology

• Sample: 10 horses used in EAS sessions.
• Rider Groups:
  • Able-bodied clients
  • Clients with significant physical impairments
  • Clients with no significant physical impairments
• Observation:
  • Video recordings of therapy sessions to track behavioral indicators of stress and pain using continuous sampling methods.
  • Time-budget analysis was performed to evaluate how horses allocate time to different behaviors, such as eating and lying down.
• Physiological Measures:
  • Blood samples taken at baseline, 45 days, and 90 days to measure:
    • ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone)
    • Cortisol levels
    • White blood cell (WBC) counts
• Management and housing conditions were also considered to evaluate welfare comprehensively.

Key Findings

• Stress and Pain Behavior:
  • No significant difference in frequency of stress and pain behaviors per second (FSPB/sec) among the three rider groups.
  • Client disability status did not influence the measured behavioral stress indicators in horses.
• Physiological Indicators:
  • Four out of ten horses exhibited high baseline ACTH levels, which prompted medication adjustments, underscoring the need for periodic physiological monitoring.
  • Alterations in immune cell counts and generally low cortisol levels suggest some horses may be experiencing chronic stress, even if behavioral indicators are not pronounced.
• Time-Budget Analysis:
  • Horses spent nearly half (49.43%) of their observed time eating, indicating that feeding behavior and likely dietary provision were adequate.
  • However, lying down time was reduced, which could indicate welfare issues as rest behaviors are important for equine health.
• Environmental Concerns:
  • The study highlights potential welfare impacts from strong artificial lighting at night, suggesting further investigation is needed on environmental factors beyond direct interaction with riders.

Implications and Recommendations

• Monitoring of EAS horses should not be limited to observing behavior during therapy but should also include physiological testing and evaluation of management conditions to capture the full welfare picture.
• Periodic blood tests, especially for ACTH and cortisol, are vital for detecting chronic stress or endocrine issues that are not always evident from behavior alone.
• Adjustments in housing (e.g., lighting at night) and management are recommended to ensure horses can exhibit natural rest behaviors such as lying down.
• The findings support that client disability in EAS does not inherently increase stress for horses, suggesting that appropriately managed EAS programs can be safe for equine welfare across diverse rider populations.