Moving toward Fear-Free Husbandry and Veterinary Care for Horses

Abstract

Husbandry and veterinary procedures have the potential to generate fear and stress in animals. In horses, the associated responses can pose a significant safety risk to the human personnel involved in the procedure, as well as to the animal itself. Traditionally, physical restraint, punishment, and/or threat of an aversive, have been the most common strategies used to achieve compliance from the horse. However, from a welfare perspective, this is less than ideal. This approach also has the potential for creating a more dangerous response from the horse in future similar situations. When caring for companion animals, and captive animals within zoological facilities, there has been a steady transition away from this approach, and toward strategies aimed at reducing fear and stress during veterinary visits and when undertaking routine husbandry procedures. This review discusses the current approaches to horse care and training, the strategies being used in other animal sectors, and potential strategies for improving human safety, as well as the horse’s experience, during husbandry and veterinary procedures.

How equestrians conceptualise horse welfare: Does it facilitate or hinder change?

“…A veterinarian may face external pressures, such as subsequent appointments and financial concerns, which limit their capacity to take a more welfare-driven approach. However, veterinarians' continued reliance on pain-based restraints, such as ear or nose twitching (Pearson et al 2020;Carroll et al 2022) to shut down unwanted behaviour is inconsistent with good horse welfare (Doherty et al 2017). It could also inadvertently reinforce equestrians' perceptions that 'problem' horse behaviour should not be tolerated, and pain is an acceptable approach to eliminating it.…”

Rewilded horses in European nature conservation – a genetics, ethics and welfare perspective

“…While strict legal enforcement controlling human-animal interactions is necessary to avoid abuse of companion or farm animals (Webster, 2001;Verga and Michelazzi, 2009), these regulations pose challenges with free-roaming animals in more extensive environments (Veit and Browning, 2021). Indeed, while domestic horses habituated to regular veterinary interventions can manage stress well (Carroll, et al 2022), captures and veterinary care may cause acute stress levels in free-roaming horses (Hinchcliffe et al, 2021, Scasta et al, 2021, and endanger their lives (e.g., injuries caused by fear (Winther, 2006)). Medical treatments may also harm horses, (e.g., due to toxicities or reduced immunity, Ang et al 2022;Flood and Stewart, 2022) affecting their shortand long-term life-quality (Rombke et al 2010;van Klink et al 2015).…”

Handling and Training of Wild Animals: Evidence and Ethics-Based Approaches and Best Practices in the Modern Zoo

“…Headcollars and halters are often used for various hoofstock species, such as equids, caprids, and camelids, particularly when moving them between different areas of their habitat or to restrain them in place for certain health and other care procedures. The management of hoofstock using welfare-conscious and positive handling methods has received limited attention in the literature, despite these animals frequently being subject to aversive physical methods to achieve compliance despite an understanding that these methods create fear from the animal's perspective and put human caregivers at risk of injury [136].…”