Volume 165, April 2015, Pages 1–16
Review
Recreational horse welfare: The relationships between recreational horse owner attributes and recreational horse welfare
Highlights
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- Limited research identifying key factors associated with recreational horse welfare.
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- Limited literature identifies possible relationships between owner attributes and horse welfare.
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- Horse owner attitudes are associated with the frequency and nature of human–horse interactions.
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- Horse owner attitudes are associated with the performance of horse husbandry and management practices.
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- The performance of horse husbandry and management practices is related to horse welfare outcomes.
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- Further investigation of relationships between key owner attributes and horse welfare is required.
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- Understanding the human-horse relationship will allow education/training programs to be developed.
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- Education/training programs can modify owner behaviour and improve recreational horse welfare.
Abstract
In
recent years the welfare of recreational horses has become an
increasingly important issue, as evident by their high representation in
welfare investigations around the world, however, little is known about
the welfare of horses used in this capacity. The scientific literature
concerning recreational horse welfare has focused primarily on observed
welfare problems, measurable welfare indices and the role of welfare
indices in horse welfare assessment. To date, very little research has
been undertaken to identify the key factors associated with recreational
horse welfare and the underlying causes of these welfare concerns.
Recreational
horse welfare is primarily the responsibility of the horse owner, and
industry reports suggest the welfare of recreational horses is
determined predominantly by the horse owner's performance of husbandry
and management practices. The available literature, whilst limited,
identifies possible relationships between horse owner attributes and
horse welfare outcomes. An important determinant of domestic animal
management and their ensuing welfare outcomes is the human–animal
relationship. A framework for studying the human–animal relationship and
its relevance to welfare outcomes is to establish a sequential link
between owner attributes, owner behaviour and horse welfare outcomes. A
substantial body of research has demonstrated a sequential relationship
between the attitudes and behaviour of humans and subsequent animal
behaviour and welfare in a number of livestock industries.
This
area of research has been largely ignored in recreational horses;
however, it is reasonable to assume that relationships similar to those
reported in a number of livestock industries may exist in recreational
horse populations. Given, the literature pertaining to the human–animal
relationship and the impact of human–animal interactions on animal
welfare in livestock species, the findings of a limited number of
studies linking horse owner attitudes with horse welfare outcomes, and
the absence of any substantive research into the relationship between
horse owner attitudes and the welfare of recreational horses, further
research is warranted to investigate possible sequential relationships
between horse owner attributes, including horse owner attitudes and
behaviour, and the subsequent association with the welfare of
recreational horses. Increasing our understanding of the nature of the
association between horse owner attributes within human–horse
interactions would provide the opportunity to improve the quality of the
human–horse relationship and thus the welfare of recreational horses.
Keywords
- Horse;
- Welfare;
- Human–horse interaction;
- Husbandry;
- Management;
- Review
- Corresponding
author at: Animal Welfare Science Centre, The University of Melbourne,
Department of Agriculture and Food System, Parkville, Victoria 3010,
Australia. Tel.:
+61 417 523 312.
Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
