Pagina en español
Basically, good horse care practices are those that improve the quality of life of horses in the domestic setting.
By understanding what large social non-ruminant grazing herbivores do all day we are in better position for providing a more stimulating domestic environment in an attempt to satisfy their natural programmes. In reality this is a requisite in many countries for farm and domestic animals, and welfare agencies around the globe have agreed on the basic or minimum guidelines known as the five freedoms;
1. Freedom from thirst and hunger
2. Freedom from discomfort
3. Freedom from pain, injury and desease
4. Freedom to express their natural behaviour
5. Freedom from fear and distress
Unfortunately for most horses, their maintenance and training regimes are a far cry from satisfying these basic guidelines. Welfare issues are constantly being discussed and debated by international bodies, but a general consensus seems far fetched as different interests and approaches clash heatedly. What these 5 freedoms really mean will be a matter of criteria.
It ain’t so much the things we don’t know that get us in trouble.
It’s the things we know that ain’t so.
-Artemus Ward-
We know that by maintaining horses with stereotipies isolated in boxes, and with a rich concentrate and low fibre diet is totally unacceptable, as it deprives horses of all five freedoms. A common cure for wind-sucking etc, is that of a restrictive collar many times following professionals advice, this is also unacceptable and vulnerates many freedoms by causing distress, pain, discomfort and injury.
It is not a matter of levels of horsemanship, better posture (although these help!) or faster horses, but more to do with levels of consideration.
After all, if you buy fish, you would put them in water would you not!
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Related topics:
- Article on welfare in Spanish: Bienestar Equina I – Victor Ros
- An Understanding of Horse – Intro
- Welfare page at EQUICULTURE.com
- FEI CODE OF CONDUCT FOR THE WELFARE OF THE HORSE
In UK many horses are subjected to long periods stabled during the winter, in many cases this almost is 24hrs, 7 days week. Liveries could and should adapt the 5 freedoms (promoted by RSPCA etc) , however there seems to be no awareness with alot of horse owners that present situation is bad. No awareness of link between lifestyle and physical and psychological health and behaviour.
Thanks June, The whole equine industry needs some fresh air, especially horses.