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The day-to-day management of UK leisure horses and the prevalence of owner-reported stable-related and handling behaviour problems

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2023

J Hockenhull  and
E Creighton
J Hockenhull*
Affiliation:
School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Bristol, Langford House, Langford, Bristol BS40 5DU, UK Department of Biological Sciences, University of Chester, Parkgate Road, Chester CH1 4BJ, UK
E Creighton
Affiliation:
School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Bristol, Langford House, Langford, Bristol BS40 5DU, UK School of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK
*
* Contact for correspondence and requests for reprints: Jo.Hockenhull@bristol.ac.uk
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Abstract

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While concerns regarding the day-to-day management of domestic horses have been raised in relation to behaviour problems and welfare, most published studies have focused on the management of performance horses and less is known about the routine management of leisure horses and the prevalence of behavioural problems within this population. The objective of this study was to generate data on the day-to-day management of UK leisure horses and to quantify the prevalence of stable/stall-related and handling behaviour problems. A self-administered internet survey was used to collect individual horse-level data from a convenience sample of leisure horse owners. The survey was online for a year and respondents were asked to report on their routine over the previous week to minimise recall bias. The survey covered the horses’ stable and turn-out routine and environments, including opportunities for social contact with other horses. Respondents were also asked to rate the frequency their horse displayed 20 stable-related and handling behaviour problems. Data on 1,850 individual horses were collected. Stable-related and handling behaviour problems were displayed by 82% of horses sampled. The findings suggest a trend towards year-round stabling. The restriction in turn-out opportunities may have welfare costs for the horses involved. The high prevalence of stable-related and handling problems, including stereotypies, is a concern.

Keywords

animal welfarebehaviour problemshorsehusbandrymanagementsurvey
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 24 , Issue 1 , February 2015 , pp. 29 - 36
Copyright
© 2015 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

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