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Developing a horse welfare assessment protocol

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2023

SM Viksten ,
EK Visser ,
S Nyman  and
HJ Blokhuis
SM Viksten*
Affiliation:
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Animal Environment and Health, Box 7068, SE-75007 Uppsala, Sweden
EK Visser
Affiliation:
Horsonality, Skipper 3, 8456 JB De Knipe, The Netherlands
S Nyman
Affiliation:
Wallby Säteri, Skirö, 574 96 Vetlanda, Sweden
HJ Blokhuis
Affiliation:
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Animal Environment and Health, Box 7068, SE-75007 Uppsala, Sweden
*
* Contact for correspondence and requests for reprints: Sofie.Viksten@slu.se
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Abstract

This paper describes the development and pilot-testing of a horse welfare assessment protocol (HWAP). The HWAP consists of the collective measurement of numerous factors considered likely to affect a horse's welfare and is thereby designed to provide a holistic score of its welfare status and to identify potential risk factors. The draft protocol contains 47 measures: 15 animal-based, 24 resource-based and eight management-based. It was tested in the autumn at two Swedish riding schools using a total of 37 horses of varying breed, gender and age. Each assessment was repeated after 16-25 days. The results showed that 66% (31/47) of the measures had over 85% repeatability between assessments. Results indicated occurrence of behavioural issues, eg aggression and avoidance, and potential risk factors, such as inadequate management routines and feeding regimes. Using the HWAP, the assessment of up to 22 horses could be carried out in one day. Changes were proposed to the draft protocol which included incorporating an ethogram to assess the human-animal relationship and assessing bit-related injuries. We propose that the protocol might: i) provide a firm basis for the welfare monitoring of horses; ii) identify important potential risk factors; iii) guide welfare improvement and management practices for horse owners and stable managers; and iv) contribute to the development of certification schemes for horse facilities.

Keywords

animal welfareassessmentequinehorseprotocolWelfare Quality®

Information

Type
Articles
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 26 , Issue 1 , February 2017 , pp. 59 - 65
Copyright
© 2017 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

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