Review
Effects of the different transport phases on equine health status, behavior, and welfare: A review
Abstract
The
aim of this review is to provide practical outcomes on how to manage
equine transport stress. Many horses travel frequently during their
life, and transportation is one of the major causes of injuries, health
disorders, and economic loss for horse breeding and the wider equine
industry. There are a number of recent publications in this area, but
practical strategies aimed at reducing transport stress are still
limited. The results published over the last 20 years are reviewed here
to suggest improved procedures to follow before, during, and after a
journey. Transport stress involves physical and mental stressors during
handling, loading, transportation itself, unloading, and adaptation to a
new environment. This article reviews how all these transport phases
affect equine health status and behavior and best practice management
strategies. The suggested outcomes could be useful for equine
technicians, owners, breeders, grooms, and veterinarians to safeguard
horse well-being.
Keywords
- road-transport;
- stressor;
- health status;
- welfare;
- horses
- Address
for reprint requests and correspondence: Barbara Padalino, Faculty of
Veterinary Science, Sydney University, Shute Building, 425 Werombi Road,
Camden, New South Wales 2570, Australia, Tel:
+61449514342; Fax: +61293511693.
Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
