Animal category: Equines

Horses' attentional characteristics differ according to the type of work

Céline Rochais, Mathilde Stomp, Mélissa Sébilleau, Mathilde Houdebine, Séverine Henry, Martine Hausberger

Published in 2022

Scientific article testing the influence of work type, age, sex and breed of horses on their attentional characteristics. It shows that attentional characteristics are strongly related to the type of work the horses are trained for. Horses from equestrian centres had longer and less fragmented attention spans, the sporting activities of eventing horses were correlated to the fragmentation of attention.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Equines

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Learning, training, Cognitive processes

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Our industry, our standards - Principles Of Animal Welfare In Ireland's Horse Racing Industry

Horse Racing Ireland

Published in 2022

A booklet developed by all those involved in Irish horse racing to get the latest scientific knowledge put into practice to ensure good welfare levels in racehorses.

Document Types: Good practice guide

Animal categories: Equines

Keywords: Societal issues, Welfare indicators, Human-animal relationships

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Multiple handlers, several owner changes and short relationship lengths affect horses' responses to novel object tests

Océane Liehrmann, Alisa Viitanen, Veera Riihonen, Emmi Alander, Sonja E. Koski, Virp iLummaa, Léa Lansade

Published in 2022

Scientific paper showing that the parameters for a horse's previous and current interactions with humans (number of owners, regular handlers, familiarity and duration of relationship with handler) affect its distrust of new objects or situations

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Equines

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Anxiety, Enrichment, Human-animal relationships, Stress

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Welfare of equidae during transport

EFSA Panel on Animal Health and Welfare (AHAW): Søren Saxmose Nielsen, Julio Alvarez, Dominique Joseph Bicout, Paolo Calistri, Elisabetta Canali, Julian Ashley Drewe, Bruno Garin-Bastuji, Jose Luis Gonzales Rojas, Christian Gortázar Schmidt, Mette Herskin, Virginie Michel, Miguel Ángel Miranda Chueca, Barbara Padalino, Paolo Pasquali, Helen Clare Roberts, Hans Spoolder, Karl Stahl, Antonio Velarde, Arvo Viltrop, Christoph Winckler

Published in 2022

EFSA scientific opinion on the protection of equids during transport. Thirteen main welfare consequences were identified: gastroenteric disorders, handling stress, heat stress, injuries, isolation stress, movement stress, prolonged hunger, prolonged thirst, respiratory disorders, resting problems, restriction of movement, sensory hyperstimulation and separation stress. These welfare consequences and how they are measured on the animals are described. The hazards that cause them and recommendations to guard against these hazards and correct or mitigate their welfare consequences are presented.

Document Types: Opinions

Animal categories: Equines

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Animal-based measurements, Pain, Risk management, Welfare indicators, Human-animal relationships, Stress, Transport

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European Parliament: Written answer to Question E-002518/22: Action must be taken when equine traffickers break EU animal welfare rules

Aurélia Beigneux (ID), Catherine Griset (ID), Virginie Joron (ID), Annika Bruna (ID)

Published in 2022

Answer to a question on the European Commission's measures to prevent the trafficking of recreational horses, leading to their slaughter and fraudulent entry into the food chain.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Equines

Keywords:Societal issues, Stress

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European Parliament: Written answer to question E-002611/22: Banning the transport of live animals during heatwaves 

Aurélia Beigneux (ID). Reply: Mrs Kyriakides on behalf of the European Commission

Published in 2022

Answer to a question on the European Commission's position on the banning of the transport of live animals when the temperature exceeds 30°C, and on how it intends to strengthen the regulations to better control such transport of live animals.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Bovines, Caprines, Equines, Ovines, Porcines, Poultry

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Societal issues, Human-animal relationships, Stress, Transport

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Electric shock control of farmed animals: Welfare review and ethical critique

D. Grumett, A. Butterworth

Published in 2022

Scientific article presenting the available methods to control or confine of farm animals through the use of electric shocks and reminding readers that their use, which is likely to cause pain, must be ethically justifiable and provide clear welfare benefits. It sets out the potential welfare implications of each method.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Bovines, Caprines, Equines, Ovines, Porcines, Poultry

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Pain, Societal issues, Restraint equipment, Human-animal relationships, Stress

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Social behavior in farm animals: Applying fundamental theory to improve animal welfare

Victoria E. Lee1, Gareth Arnott, Simon P. Turner

Published in 2022

bonds, environmental influences on social behavior and welfare, mechanisms and development of social behaviors, ways to promote positive social interactions and minimize disruptions to basic social bonds

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Bovines, Caprines, Equines, Ovines, Porcines, Poultry

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Enrichment, Welfare indicators, Stress, Livestock farming system

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A Review of Equine Sleep: Implications for Equine Welfare

Linda Greening, Sebastian McBride

Published in 2022

Scientific review of equine sleep characteristics: what is "normal" sleep in horses? what methods are used to measure it? what factors affect sleep quality or quantity? and are changes in sleep quality and/or quantity associated with negative impacts on horse welfare? The review identifies knowledge gaps for future research.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Equines

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Consciousness, Memory

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Quality of Life within Horse Welfare Assessment Tools: Informing Decisions for Chronically Ill and Geriatric Horses

Mariessa Long, Christian Dürnberger, Florien Jenner, Zsófia Kelemen, Ulrike Auer, Herwig Grimm

Published in 2022

A scientific review, analyzing how tools for the assessment of equine welfare, quality of life and equine perceptions of quality of life, define and operationalize these concepts. It discusses how appropriate these tools are to the assessment of quality of life as part of end-of-life decision-making for chronically-ill or elderly horses.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Equines

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Societal issues, Risk management, Welfare indicators, Human-animal relationships

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