Don't Fence Me In: Managing Psychological Well Being for Elite Performance Horses

Abstract

This article posits that stereotypical behavior patterns and the overall psychological well being of today's performance horse could be substantially enhanced with care that acknowledges the relationship between domesticated horses and their forerunners. Feral horses typically roam in stable, social groups over large grazing territories, spending 16-20 hr per day foraging on mid- to poor-quality roughage. In contrast, today's elite show horses live in relatively small stalls, eat a limited-but rich-diet at specific feedings, and typically live in social isolation. Although the horse has been domesticated for more than 6000 years, there has been no selection for an equid who no longer requires an outlet for these natural behaviors. Using equine stereotypies as a welfare indicator, this researcher proposes that the psychological well being of today's performance horse is compromised. Furthermore, the article illustrates how minimal management changes can enhance horses' well being while still remaining compatible with the requirements of the sport-horse industry. The article discusses conclusions in terms of Fraser, Weary, Pajor, and Milligan's "integrative welfare model" (1997).

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

“…Although it is well known that horses are social animals (Henderson, 2007) and that social isolation results in stress Ladewig, 2004, Visser et al, 2008), most horses in Northern European countries (.75%) are housed individually Stauffacher, 2002b, Søndergaard andLadewig, 2004). This is also the case in the Netherlands; according to the present study, 2.7% of the respondents housed their horses in group housing (inside) and an additional 12.8% housed their horses (at that time of the year) in groups at pasture, whereas 51.7% of the respondents housed their horses in individual stables and 29.6% housed horses in another way.…”

“…Stereotypies, such as weaving, are one of the most obvious signs of recent or past discomfort in horses (Henderson, 2007). A mere 1.7% of the respondents did not know what weaving was, whereas 90.8% thought that a weaving horse was frustrated, and 6.1% of the respondents believed that horses learn to weave by copying this behavior from other horses.…”

“…''Weaving'' is often seen as frustrated attempts to move toward a desired goal. It may originate in a walking sequence intended to reach social contact (conspecifics) and has been abbreviated to a repetitive sequence in which the horse shifts its weight from forelimb to forelimb and swings the head from side to side (Henderson, 2007).…”

A minimum of roughage and a maximum of starch – necessary benchmarks for equine diets

“…Feeding management can create a high impact on behaviour particular at low fibre intakes and reduced feeding times. Behavioural problems are recognized as a major problem in modern horse husbandry (Boyd 1986, Bachmann et al 2003, Henderson 2007, Motch et al 2007, Parker et al 2008, Minero and Canali 2009). As roughage intake contributes most to the portion of the daily time budget covered by feed intake, it is logical to define roughages a contributor to both energy and behavioural needs.…”

Massage or music meant to be relaxing, result in lowering salivary cortisol concentration in race horses

“…Moreover, the commercialisation of race tracks alter the living conditions towards circumstances inconsistent with the biology of horses (MacTaggart et al 2010). Keeping a racehorse in a box for most of the day, results in restricted freedom of movement (Henderson 2007). An unfamiliar environment, isolation, and short feed intake can also deepen the stress level (Waters et al 2002).…”