Housing Horses in Individual Boxes Is a Challenge with Regard to Welfare

Abstract

Simple SummaryHorses are mainly housed in individual boxes. This housing system is reported to be highly detrimental with regard to welfare and could trigger the expression of four behavioural indicators of a compromised welfare state: stereotypies, aggressiveness toward humans, unresponsiveness to the environment, and stress-related behaviours. The aim of this study was to investigate whether several factors commonly observed in boxes (e.g., the presence of a window toward the external environment) and management practices (e.g., time spent being ridden) could alleviate the negative effects of individual boxes on welfare. The results show that the majority of the factors studied did not influence the expression of the indicators. In addition, the longer the horses spent in individual boxes, the more likely they were to express unresponsiveness to the environment. Overall, the main conclusion of this study is that the detrimental effects caused by the spatial, social, and dietary deprivations of this housing system could not be alleviated by small facilities in the box or changes in management practices. To preserve the welfare of horses, it seems necessary to allow free exercise, interactions with conspecifics, and fibre consumption as often as possible, to ensure the satisfaction of the species’ behavioural and physiological needs.AbstractHorses are mainly housed in individual boxes. This housing system is reported to be highly detrimental with regard to welfare and could trigger the expression of four behavioural indicators of a compromised welfare state: stereotypies, aggressiveness toward humans, unresponsiveness to the environment, and stress-related behaviours. The aim of this study was to identify housing and management factors that could alleviate the detrimental effects of individual boxes on welfare. A total of 187 horses were observed over 50 days by scan sampling. The impact of 12 factors was investigated on the expression of the four behavioural indicators in three different analyses. The results show that the majority of factors tested did not influence the expression of the behavioural indicators. Only three (straw bedding, a window opening onto the external environment, and a reduced quantity of concentrated feed) would have beneficial, although limited, effects. Furthermore, the longer the horses spent in individual boxes, the more likely they were to express unresponsiveness to the environment. To preserve the welfare of horses, it seems necessary to allow free exercise, interactions with conspecifics, and fibre consumption as often as possible, to ensure the satisfaction of the species’ behavioural and physiological needs.

Common Feeding Practices Pose A Risk to the Welfare of Horses When Kept on Non-Edible Bedding

“…The digestive system of the horses is in construction and function adapted to long feeding periods and a continuous feed intake, distributed over the 24-h day. Any major deviation from this disrupts the digestive process [36] and leads to behavioural disorders and even stereotypies (e.g., wood-chewing, ingesting wood-shavings and performing coprophagy, crib-biting, windsucking, weaving) [7,44,56,58]. A current study confirms alterations in the behaviour of horses housed in individual housing systems with restrictive feeding and non-edible-bedding.…”

“…A current study confirms alterations in the behaviour of horses housed in individual housing systems with restrictive feeding and non-edible-bedding. In particular, horses kept on straw express less aggressive behaviour compared to those living on non-edible bedding [58]. In our observations during the present study we noticed several times that horses on shavings showed abnormal behaviour and were aggressive towards horses on straw.…”

“…Moreover, the result of a current study is that roughage significantly influences the horsesẃ elfare if they are housed individually. If hay is fed restrictively, straw as bedding prevents dietary deprivations of horses [58].…”

Temporary Relocation during Rest Periods: Relocation Stress and Other Factors Influence Hair Cortisol Concentrations in Horses

“…During the relocation period, horses were subjected to solitary free exercise, which seems to be related to a higher degree of stress [28]. However, the external environment provided by the paddocks could ensure important behaviors and physiological needs [29]. Diet composition and changes in feeding frequency can produce fluctuations in horse hormone patterns, including cortisol [30,31].…”

Welfare of Free-Roaming Horses: 70 Years of Experience with Konik Polski Breeding in Poland

“…For working horses, i.e., leisure and sport mounts as well as draft equines, aside from the quality of their living conditions, the techniques used as well as the intensity of work are of primary importance for their welfare. Horse welfare compromise has been addressed in studies considering inappropriate feeding [3,4] and keeping conditions [4], restriction of movement and social needs [4,5], and practices that constitute physical and psychological [6,7] abuse.…”