Differences between facilities in horse welfare profiles: slight differences in management/working conditions may be...

Area of Science:

• Equine welfare science
• Animal behavior
• Veterinary science

Background:

• Horse welfare is often assessed via specific indicators or single management factors.
• An animal's overall welfare state is influenced by its perception of the environment, affecting behavior and physiology.
• Previous studies suggest riding schools may have distinct horse emotional/cognitive profiles linked to management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if distinct facility-specific "welfare profiles" exist in horses.
• To investigate if multifaceted welfare assessments reveal site-specific differences.
• To identify the impact of subtle management variations on horse welfare.

Main Methods:

• Assessed welfare using detailed behavioral, health, and physiological measurements.
• Studied 59 horses across three riding schools with similar global management but slight differences in turnout and riding techniques.
• Employed principal component analysis and statistical comparisons.

Main Results:

• Significant differences in horse welfare states were found specific to each facility.
• These welfare disparities existed despite the close similarity in overall management between the sites.
• Even minor management variations, such as turnout frequency and riding techniques, had a major impact.

Conclusions:

• Facility-specific horse welfare profiles are evident.
• Subtle differences in management practices, particularly the quality of ridden work, significantly influence equine welfare.
• The quality of ridden work is a critical factor in horse welfare that warrants further attention.