Genetic predisposition, not just intensive management conditions and surroundings, may be a factor in the high crib-biting prevalence in some breeds, and warrants further investigation. Little evidence exists to suggest horses learn the behaviour from other horses, and isolation may cause unnecessary stress.

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This review addresses the question of whether Thoroughbred horse racing is sustainable in the context of current social values. A recently acknowledged framework, known as ‘Social License to Operate’ (SLO), provides us with a lens through which to view and assess racehorse welfare. In multiple surveys of the general public, the horse owning public, and university students, the primary topics of concern regarding Thoroughbred racing show considerable concordance: concern about catastrophic injuries—particularly as related to track surfaces, concern over the racing of two-year-olds, whip use by jockeys, drug/medication policies, and aftercare opportunities for retired Thoroughbred racehorses. Legitimacy of an industry, consent from industry stakeholders, and trust between the community players, are all essential to have and maintain SLO. In the current era of 24/7 global media access, and the proliferation of social media providing an interactive platform for all interested parties, a dramatic change has occurred in commentary related to racehorse welfare concerns. The situation at Santa Anita (California, USA) from late December 2018 through mid-November 2019 demonstrated just how tenuous the SLO for horse racing is. This article will provide a brief review of what ‘Social License to Operate’ is, along with a brief literature review of five of the areas of primary concern voiced by stakeholders.

No abstract

This chapter reviews various horse handling methods, including imprint training and positive methods of training, horse transport and issues related to horse slaughter. The review of imprint training studies indicates that there have been mixed positive and negative results, and that the process may interfere with foal bonding with the mare. Brushing and stroking the mare will facilitate approaching and handling the foal. Positive methods of training, such as clicker training, are very helpful for training horses to enter a trailer. Horses can become stressed when they travel alone, and the position facing rear to the direction of travel may be less stressful. Stalls in horse trailers should be designed so that horses can see each other. During transport, horses will drink less water and there should be stops every 16 to 24 h for feed and water. Since the US horse slaughter plants were closed, horse rescue groups are overwhelmed. In Europe, transport laws are not enforced, and one-third of the slaughter horses that arrive in Italy are not fit for transport. Cortisol levels are higher after transport than after stunning at slaughter.