LPRO- 02206 Animal Welfare and Ethics 2(2-0)

Department of Livestock Management

University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Ravi Campus Pattoki, Pakistan

Care and welfare of Equines

By: Nasir Ali (Lecturer)

Department of Livestock Management
University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Ravi Campus Pattoki,
Pakistan
Principles of Equine Welfare
The responsible use for benefit of humans and animals

Equids must be provided water, food, proper handling,

health care and an environment appropriate to their use

Equids should be cared in ways that minimize fear, pain,

stress and suffering.

Equids should be provided with protection from injurious

heat or cold

Equids used in competition, should not be subjected to the

fraudulent use of drugs
 Principles of Equine Welfare
Events should continually strive to put the horse first
above all other interests.

Eliminate any inhumane acts adverse procedures or

training methods.

Equids should be transported in a manner which

minimizes the potential illness or injury,

Equids shall be treated with respect and dignity

The veterinary profession shall continually strive to

improve equine health and welfare
Equine cognition
Equine behavior,

Cognitive and sensory capacities,

Communication strategies,

Positive states and Welfare indicators,

Signs of stress, discomfort, pain, and fatigue, Including

stereotypic behaviors

Negative impacts on the horses in human environments

Daily needs
 The basic needs

 Long-term, daily foraging

 Fiber and Water.

 Free movement and time in

stalls

 Shelter

 The social needs.

Nutrition
 Affects health and behavior

 Access to quality fiber (grass or

hay)

 Additional feed depends on

individual health needs

 Requirement of feed? 1.5% of BW with forage having high ratio than

concentrates

 Requirement of water?
5-15 gallons of clean water per day depending on factors like temperature
and activity
Service Horse
 Horses who are not directly
participating in a service should be
relieved of saddles and pads, bridles,
bits, headgear.

 Breaks and opportunity to rest

 Psychological/emotional state and

not underestimate capacity to
experience stress pain suffering.
Equine training and handling
 Based on aligned physical,
mental, and sensory
capacities of horses
 Everyone handling horses
must have knowledge about
equine signs of discomfort,
stress, and pain
 Everyone handling horses
must understand, how
horses learn, and how
handling impacts the horse
physically and emotionally.
 Equine training and handling

 Constant pressure on the horse’s head from equipment

such as halter and lead rope should be avoided
 The horse’s living environment, their physical and
mental state, temperament, nutritional status, age, and
history with humans all impact training outcomes.
 The horse’s training program should follow their work
role, that is, what the horse should be able to do within
the service provided,
 Fleeing, fighting, or freezing reactions must be avoided
in training
 Equine training and handling

 Training protocols for the horse should be based on

reinforcement and follow scientific learning principles
And ethical frameworks such as LIMA (least intrusive –
minimally aversive).
 Correct use of habituation/desensitization, Operant
conditioning, Classical conditioning, and shaping, with
careful attention
 If high-stress situations arise in training, the approach
must be adjusted to ensure equine health and wellbeing.
 Horses who pull or carry participants must participate in
an ongoing muscle conditioning program focused on
specific exercises for fitness and core muscle strength.
Hoof care The coffin bone (also known as the distal phalanx or pedal bone) in horses
should ideally have a slightly positive palmar angle, typically between 2-7
degrees. A negative palmar angle, where the coffin bone points upwards, is
considered abnormal

 Coffin Bone Angle

 Hoof and Pastern Angle
 Hoof growth
 Weight bearing (front vs hind
hoof)
 Normal vs Flared hoof
 Dry pasture vs wet bedding
 Grain feeding
 vitamins A and D, 1ysine, biotin,
сalсium sеlеnium, and zinс
 Exеrсisе for strong hooves
Benefits

Footing area

Riding

Ponying,

Longeing

Treadmills
Ponying is the practice of leading one horse while riding another. It is a
useful technique for exercising and training young or recovering horses. The
key is using a calm, experienced "pony horse" that can lead the other horse
in a controlled manne
 Shoeing
Hoof shedding

Cleaning procedure

Shoes

Normal vs modified

Boots

Normal vs traction
Traction shoe provide extra friction for slippery floors
Further reading
• AAEP Principles of Equine Welfare (2016) by
American Association of Equine Practitioners
• IAHAIO international guidelines on care,
training and welfare requirements for equines in
equine-assisted services
• Horse hoof care by Chеrry Hill and Riсhard
Longeing is an effective training and conditioning technique that involves
working a horse in a circle on the end of a long line. It allows the handler to
exercise the horse, improve its gaits, and reinforce training without a rider.