Using the Five Domains Model to Assess the Adverse Impacts of Husbandry, Veterinary, and Equitation Interventions on Horse Welfare

Abstract

Simple SummaryUsing an adaptation of the domain-based welfare assessment model, a panel of horse welfare professionals (with professional expertise in psychology, equitation science, veterinary science, education, welfare, equestrian coaching, advocacy, and community engagement) assessed the perceived harms, if any, resulting from 116 interventions that are commonly applied to horses. Scores for Domain 5 (the integrated mental impact) gathered after extensive discussion during a four-day workshop aligned well with overall impact scores assigned by the same panellists individually before the workshop, although some rankings changed after workshop participation. Domain 4 (Behaviour) had the strongest association with Domain 5, whilst Domain 1 (Nutrition) had the weakest association with Domain 5, implying that the panellists considered commonly applied nutritional interventions to have less of a bearing on subjective mental state than commonly applied behavioural restrictions. The workshop defined each intervention, and stated assumptions around each, resulting in a set of exemplar procedures that could be used in future equine welfare assessments.AbstractThe aim of this study was to conduct a series of paper-based exercises in order to assess the negative (adverse) welfare impacts, if any, of common interventions on domestic horses across a broad range of different contexts of equine care and training. An international panel (with professional expertise in psychology, equitation science, veterinary science, education, welfare, equestrian coaching, advocacy, and community engagement; n = 16) met over a four-day period to define and assess these interventions, using an adaptation of the domain-based assessment model. The interventions were considered within 14 contexts: C1 Weaning; C2 Diet; C3 Housing; C4 Foundation training; C5 Ill-health and veterinary interventions (chiefly medical); C6 Ill-health and veterinary interventions (chiefly surgical); C7 Elective procedures; C8 Care procedures; C9 Restraint for management procedures; C10 Road transport; C11 Activity—competition; C12 Activity—work; C13 Activity—breeding females; and C14 Activity—breeding males. Scores on a 1–10 scale for Domain 5 (the mental domain) gathered during the workshop were compared with overall impact scores on a 1–10 scale assigned by the same panellists individually before the workshop. The most severe (median and interquartile range, IQR) impacts within each context were identified during the workshop as: C1 abrupt, individual weaning (10 IQR 1); C2 feeding 100% low-energy concentrate (8 IQR 2.5); C3 indoor tie stalls with no social contact (9 IQR 1.5); C4 both (i) dropping horse with ropes (9 IQR 0.5) and forced flexion (9 IQR 0.5); C5 long-term curative medical treatments (8 IQR 3); C6 major deep intracavity surgery (8.5 IQR 1); C7 castration without veterinary supervision (10 IQR 1); C8 both (i) tongue ties (8 IQR 2.5) and (ii) restrictive nosebands (8 IQR 2.5); C9 ear twitch (8 IQR 1); C10 both (i) individual transport (7.00 IQR 1.5) an...

Determining a Welfare Prioritization for Horses Using a Delphi Method

“…Horses are unusual amongst other domesticated species in the degree of use and training that they usually receive, often by owners who themselves have had no specific education in learning theory or training practices. This lack of owner knowledge of equine learning or training methods was a significant concern in our study and in others [17,18,22]. There has been a recent increase in scientific studies assessing the impact of training, tack use and competition on equine welfare.…”

“…A Delphi study conducted in Canada identified lack of owner knowledge, delayed euthanasia decisions, inappropriate training or use, inappropriate feeding, lack of turnout and lack of social companions as important welfare issues at the individual horse level and issues with breeding, delayed euthanasia, biosecurity and owner ignorance as important welfare issues at the population level [17]. Finally, a study using the Five Domains Framework to assess horse welfare issues within different categories [22] concluded that the most severe impacts on horse welfare were abrupt individual weaning, feeding 100% low-energy concentrate, use of indoor tie-stalls without social contact, forced flexion (sometimes called 'Rollkur' or hyperflexion [15]), restrictive nosebands, ear twitches and transport, either individually or in a group with unfamiliar companions. A number of veterinary procedures or surgical interventions were also identified as causing severe welfare impacts [22].…”

“…Finally, a study using the Five Domains Framework to assess horse welfare issues within different categories [22] concluded that the most severe impacts on horse welfare were abrupt individual weaning, feeding 100% low-energy concentrate, use of indoor tie-stalls without social contact, forced flexion (sometimes called 'Rollkur' or hyperflexion [15]), restrictive nosebands, ear twitches and transport, either individually or in a group with unfamiliar companions. A number of veterinary procedures or surgical interventions were also identified as causing severe welfare impacts [22]. However, this study did not assess the likelihood or prevalence of these issues, only the most severe within a set of specific categories.…”

“…In our study, we specifically asked experts to address welfare by focusing on the amount of suffering caused by the welfare issue. The study of McGreevy et al [22] used the Five Domains model, which asked experts to focus on the impact on the mental state of the horses in determining the welfare impact. Although other studies did not appear to use a specific definition of welfare to direct respondents, participants may have utilized similar thinking about the impact on equine mental state and suffering of the welfare issues that were mentioned frequently.…”

Horse Welfare During Equine Chorionic Gonadotropin (eCG) Production

“…If horses are not observed carefully and regularly, animal neglect and abuse are more likely. There are numerous references available to describe welfare requirements for horses (see, for example, [22][23][24][25][26][27][28]).…”