Welfare issues related to transport and handling of both trained and unhandled horses and ponies

Abstract

Summary Dehydration and increased risk of respiratory problems are common outcomes of transport, and both appear to be related to journey duration, emotional effects, such as fear, and challenging environmental conditions. Welfare may be improved by familiarising equines with transport vehicles and loading procedures before travel starts, and by providing thermally comfortable and well ventilated conditions during the journey. For long road journeys, rest breaks with drinking water should be given. Both trained and unhandled animals should have sufficient space and freedom to adjust their posture and to lower their heads, but maximum safe space allowances are unknown. Mares and foals should be transported together. Injury during transport is relatively common, particularly in groups of horses travelling to slaughter, and is usually associated with driver error, internal fittings and vehicle type or design, but also with mixing of animals of different sex and weight leading to fighting. There needs to be better training and monitoring to prevent such avoidable risks to horse welfare. There is also a need for more research into appropriate prophylaxis and post transport therapy as knowledge of accumulated stress and depressed immune function following prolonged and repeated transport is poorly understood.

A Survey on Transport Management Practices Associated with Injuries and Health Problems in Horses

“…These findings support the assertions commonly found in the literature that horses should be managed during loading and travelling by experienced and educated people [13, 34, 35]. Our finding may be linked not only with limited experience in horse handling but also in driving skills.…”

Preliminary Study on the Effects of Long Distance Road Transport on Some Blood Constituents in Recently Weaned Thoroughbred Foals

“…Although the transport of horses is a common practice, the first transport event will always be a novel stressful stimuli [9], which could increase stress if performed closely to weaning. Results showed that cortisol was significantly greater after transport (T-A, Table 1) (P ¼ .001).…”

“…The effect of transport right after weaning has been studied in other species such as lambs [7] and calves [8]; however, there is scarce literature available on the transport of foals. Weeks et al [9] state that it is inappropriate to wean foals at the time of transport because the stress of transport can compound the social distress of weaning. Weaning is a stressful event that can cause behavioral and physiological disruption [10].…”

Effects of the different transport phases on equine health status, behavior, and welfare: A review

“…Tamed horses travel in single stalls within the vehicle, whereas unhandled 144 horses are more inclined to be transported in groups. It is common for mares to travel loose with their 145 foal within a box inside the truck (Weeks et al, 2012). 146…”

“…During 349 a 24 hour trip, a stop is needed at least every 4 hours to provide the horse with the opportunity to 350 urinate; horses urinate approximately six times daily and male horses in particular need to be able to 351 stand in a particular posture which is difficult to do comfortably en route (Weeks et al, 2012) . 352…”