Preference for shelter and additional heat in horses exposed to Nordic winter conditions

Jørgensen, Grete Helen Meisfjord; Aanensen, Lise; Mejdell, Cecilie Marie; Bøe, Knut Egil

doi:10.1111/evj.12522

Cited by 18 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…Mental health issues can be a taboo subject within Traveller culture, with Traveller men in particular reluctant to discuss these issues [44], therefore, the subject of mental health and horse ownership within this group requires further investigation. Further, horses are often regarded as friends by Travellers rather than as possessions [89].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Study of Traveller Horse Owners’ Attitudes to Horse Care and Welfare Using an Equine Body Condition Scoring System

Rowland¹,

Coombs

Connor³

2019

Animals

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Traveller horses are often perceived to be exposed to poor welfare due to Travellers’ traditional way of horsemanship. However, few studies have investigated Traveller horse welfare. Hence, the present study aims to explore Traveller horse owners’ attitudes to horse care and welfare. Semi-structured interviews and discussion groups examined 14 Irish Traveller horse owners’ attitudes and approach to horse ownership. Additionally, a body condition scoring (BCS) instrument was assessed for its accuracy and ease of use when applied by Traveller horse owners. Additionally, the BCS system was used to assess 18 horses. Results show that Travellers have a good understanding of horses’ natural behaviours and environment, which is reflected in their management practices. However, barriers to improved welfare are land availability, since landowners are often reluctant to lease to Travellers, and the impoundment of horses as a consequence of fly grazing, under the Control of Horses Act 1996 (Ireland). Furthermore, Travellers regarded the BCS as a useful tool, but would require training to apply the scoring successfully. The results suggest that attitudes and management practices are favourable, but Travellers have limited means to overcome barriers. Therefore, it is necessary to increase capacity building and assist with the acquisition of land.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Study of Traveller Horse Owners’ Attitudes to Horse Care and Welfare Using an Equine Body Condition Scoring System

Rowland¹,

Coombs

Connor³

2019

Animals

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“…Standardbred weanlings hence had equal opportunities as the Finnhorse weanlings to access the concentrate feed and the haylage. Jørgensen et al [ 51 ] reported that the adult Warmblood horses chose heated shelter more often than the Coldblood horses when weather was rainy and windy [ 51 ]. Since haylage was only available outside the shelter, it is possible that the Standardbred weanlings might have spent more time in the shelter and therefore ate less than their Finnhorse counterparts.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A comparison of unheated loose housing with stables on the respiratory health of weaned-foals in cold winter conditions: an observational field-study

et al. 2017

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BackgroundNewly weaned horses in Finland are often moved to unheated loose housing systems in which the weanlings have free access to a paddock and a shelter. This practice is considered to be good for the development of young horses. The daily temperatures can stay below − 20 °C in Finland for several consecutive weeks during the winter season. However, the effect of unheated housing in a cold climatic environment on the respiratory health of weanlings under field conditions has not been studied before. This investigation was an observational field-study comprising 60 weanlings among 11 different voluntary participant rearing farms in Finland. Weanlings were either kept in unheated loose housing systems (n = 36) or in stables (n = 24) and were clinically examined on two separate occasions 58 days apart in cold winter conditions.ResultsThe odds of clinical respiratory disease were lower in the older foals (loge days); OR = 0.009, P = 0.044). The plasma fibrinogen concentration was higher when the available space (m2/weanling) in the sleeping hall was smaller (P = 0.014) and it was lower when the sleeping hall was not insulated (P = 0.010). The plasma fibrinogen concentrations at the second examination were lower with a body condition score above 3 (P = 0.070). Standardbreds kept in loose housing systems had a lower body condition score than Finnhorses or Standardbreds kept in stables at both examinations (P = 0.026 and P = 0.007, respectively). Haemoglobin level was lower in weanlings in loose housing systems compared to their counterparts at the first examination (P = 0.037). Finnhorses had higher white blood cell count than Standardbreds at first (P = 0.002) and at the second examination (P = 0.001).ConclusionsKeeping weanling horses in cold loose housing systems does not seem to increase the occurrence of respiratory disease, but special attention should be focused on ventilation, air quality and feeding-practices. Our field study data suggest it might be advantageous to keep Standardbred foals born late in the season in a stable over the Finnish winter.

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“…Morgan (1997 b) found that a dry winter coat had a thermal insulance of 0.123 m2 K W-1 in a cold and calm environment. Horses with a thick hair coat have been observed to spend more time outdoors during winter, compared to horses with a thinner hair coat (Jørgensen et al, 2016). This insulance might however vary considerably with differences in the hair coat characteristics.…”

Section: Hair Coat Characteristicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of hair coat characteristics on radiant surface temperature in horses

Jørgensen

Mejdell

Bøe

2020

Journal of Thermal Biology

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Horse owners may lack knowledge on natural thermoregulation mechanisms in horses. Horses are managed intensively; usually stabled at night and turned out during the day, some are clipped and many wear a blanket, practices which reduce the horse' ability to regulate the heat dissipation. The aim of this study was to investigate the relation between hair coat characteristics, body condition and infrared surface temperatures from different body parts of horses. Under standard conditions, body surface temperature of 21 adult horses were investigated using infrared thermography. From several readings on the same body part, a mean temperature was calculated for each body part per horse. Detailed information on horse breed, age, management and body condition was collected. Hair coat samples were also taken for analyses. A mixed statistical model was applied. Warmblood horse types (WB) had lower hair coat sample weights and shorter hair length than coldblood horse types (CB). The highest radiant surface temperatures were found at the chest 22.5 ± 0.9 °C and shoulders 20.4 ± 1.1 °C and WB horses had significantly higher surface temperatures than CB horses on the rump (P<0.05). Horses with a higher hair coat sample weight had a lower surface temperature (P<0.001) and hind hooves with iron shoes had a significant lower surface temperature than unshod hind hooves (P=0.03). In conclusion, individual assessment of radiant surface temperature using infrared thermography might be a promising tool to give horse owners objective management advice, based on the individual horse's actual needs at the time.

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Preference for shelter and additional heat in horses exposed to Nordic winter conditions

Cited by 18 publications

References 18 publications

A Study of Traveller Horse Owners’ Attitudes to Horse Care and Welfare Using an Equine Body Condition Scoring System

A Study of Traveller Horse Owners’ Attitudes to Horse Care and Welfare Using an Equine Body Condition Scoring System

A comparison of unheated loose housing with stables on the respiratory health of weaned-foals in cold winter conditions: an observational field-study

Effects of hair coat characteristics on radiant surface temperature in horses

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