Diversity in horse enthusiasts with respect to horse welfare: An explorative study

Visser, E.K.; Wijk-Jansen, E.E.C. van

doi:10.1016/j.jveb.2011.10.007

Cited by 73 publications

(71 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…Horse owners were much more likely to choose other horse owners as a source of information whereas yard owners and especially veterinarians did not choose horse owners as regularly as part of their top three most likely sources of information to use. This was not an option covered in the previous studies [19,20]. These findings suggest that horse owners have a large influence on each other's knowledge, highlighting how easily social norms can shape behaviour as has been discussed by other authors [21].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 61%

Optimising the Efficacy of Equine Welfare Communications: Do Equine Stakeholders Differ in Their Information-Seeking Behaviour and Communication Preferences?

Pickering

Hockenhull

2019

Animals

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Information on the management of animals within domestic environments is freely available to animal owners and caregivers either online, or in paper form by request. However, awareness is growing within the animal welfare sector that simply providing written guidelines or educational material is not enough to affect a positive change in owners in relation to animal welfare. In the quest to improve equine welfare, understanding the way that owners and other stakeholders seek information and their communication preferences is key to effective dissemination of up to date equine welfare information and research findings. Three UK equine stakeholder groups—horse owners, livery yard owners, and equine veterinarians—were surveyed online to find out where they sought equine information. Their awareness of equine welfare Codes of Practice, how they respond when they are asked to give advice to horse owners and their communication preferences were included within the survey. All three stakeholder groups tended to seek information from people rather than from organisations, or digital and printed resources. Veterinarians were the most used information source across all three stakeholder groups This highlighted the importance of ensuring that equine veterinarians have access to up to date, evidence-based equine welfare information. While the majority of participants were aware of the equine welfare Code of Practice, fewer had actually read it, this was true particularly amongst horse owners. The primary reasons for this were the features of the Code as well as the issuing organisation. The stakeholders expressed a preference for information to be communicated in a neutral or positive way rather than focusing on negative aspects. Our findings suggest that industry professionals, particularly veterinarians, have an important role to play in knowledge transfer and the dissemination of research findings to horse owners. The efficacy of equine welfare communication could be improved if the information delivery preferences of equine stakeholders are were taken into consideration.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 61%

Optimising the Efficacy of Equine Welfare Communications: Do Equine Stakeholders Differ in Their Information-Seeking Behaviour and Communication Preferences?

Pickering

Hockenhull

2019

Animals

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“…However, this study did not distinguish between professional group, veterinarians or farriers, to which healthcare issues were directed. In contrast, in a study with Dutch owners, where this distinction was made, 69.6% of Dutch owners reported asking their farrier for information on horse care and health issues, which represented the second most important source of information, after the veterinarian [3]. As horse obesity and associated health risks remain a significant problem, and given the very low uptake and engagement of nutritional advice by owners, sources of support for owners need to be better understood [1].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Contracting for care – the construction of the farrier role in supporting horse owners to prevent laminitis

Lynden

Ogden

Hollands

2018

Equine Veterinary Journal

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“…Similarly, if respondents in Cluster 1 feel that they only have a limited behavioural control, because an objective measurement to check for space between the noseband and nasal plane is not implemented, they will have less intention of changing their behaviour. Numerous studies have examined the opinions and perceptions of horse enthusiasts related to horse welfare [11,13,14]. It is a common phenomenon that people are more concerned about the welfare of horses of other groups (professionals versus non-professionals [11], or disciplines [14]) than the welfare of their own horses.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Numerous studies have examined the opinions and perceptions of horse enthusiasts related to horse welfare [11,13,14]. It is a common phenomenon that people are more concerned about the welfare of horses of other groups (professionals versus non-professionals [11], or disciplines [14]) than the welfare of their own horses. Therefore, in the current study we not only included respondents' own attitude, but also the effect of a social factor, namely peer pressure.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The perceived behavioural control is the ease or difficulty of performing the behaviour and is assumed to reflect past experience as well as anticipated impediments and obstacles, which also influence intention [10]. In an explorative study on diversity in horse enthusiasts regarding horse welfare issues, it appeared that horse enthusiast can be categorised into four different groups regarding their believes and motivations for improving horse welfare in practice [11].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Practice of Noseband Use and Intentions towards Behavioural Change in Dutch Equestrians

Visser

Kuypers

Stam

et al. 2019

Animals

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Simple Summary:The space between the noseband and the skin of competition horses is a current welfare issue. The practices regarding the noseband tightness of Dutch horses was studied, as well as the intentions of Dutch equestrians when fastening the noseband. More than half (59%) of Dutch riders had their horses' nosebands tightened according to the new two-finger regulation, implemented 1 April 2019. Dressage horses and older horses wore less tight nosebands compared to show jumping and younger horses. Results of an internet survey on intentions for noseband use showed that 54.5% of the respondents agreed with the new regulation and 62% believe that it will improve horse welfare. The respondents could be categorised into three different groups that differed regarding their own attitude towards noseband tightening behaviour, how peer pressure may affect noseband tightening behaviour, and how they perceived the new regulation. To improve horse welfare, knowledge transfer should include different strategies for different groups. Moreover, to convince equestrians to adhere to, and ensure a successful implementation of, the new regulation, transparency and objective measurements should be put in place.Abstract: Understanding equestrians' noseband tightening practices and intentions is necessary to target welfare improvement strategies. Firstly, we measured tightness in dressage and show jumping horses in The Netherlands, shortly after implementation of the two-finger rule by the Royal Dutch Equestrian Federation. Noseband tightness decreased with age, was less tight in dressage horses than in show jumpers, and was dependent on the interaction between competition level and discipline. Fifty-nine percent of the riders tightened nosebands to such an extent that they adhered to the new regulation. Secondly, we conducted an online survey to gain insight into whether riders were aware of noseband use and tightening behaviour. Of the 386 respondents, 54.5% agreed with the new regulations, and 62% believe that it improves horses' welfare. Applying cluster analysis to statements regarding their own attitude, peer pressure, and behavioural control produced three clusters. Noticeably, a lower percentage of Cluster 1 respondents (38%) performing at higher levels was convinced that the new regulation improved welfare than Cluster 2 (77.9%) and 3 (89.0%) respondents. Designing strategies to ensure the successful implementation of the new regulation and to convince equestrians to comply would be most effective if targeted differentially, and should include a transparent and objective form of regulation.

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Diversity in horse enthusiasts with respect to horse welfare: An explorative study

Cited by 73 publications

References 31 publications

Optimising the Efficacy of Equine Welfare Communications: Do Equine Stakeholders Differ in Their Information-Seeking Behaviour and Communication Preferences?

Optimising the Efficacy of Equine Welfare Communications: Do Equine Stakeholders Differ in Their Information-Seeking Behaviour and Communication Preferences?

Contracting for care – the construction of the farrier role in supporting horse owners to prevent laminitis

Practice of Noseband Use and Intentions towards Behavioural Change in Dutch Equestrians

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