Horse Activity Participants’ Perceptions About Practices Undertaken at Activity Venues, and Horse Welfare and Wellbeing
Authors: Julie M Fiedler, S. Rosanowski, Margaret L Ayre, Josh D Slater
Journal: Animals : an Open Access Journal from MDPI
Summary
# Editorial Summary The international movement of competition horses to unfamiliar venues creates significant welfare challenges that extend beyond simple logistical management. Fiedler and colleagues surveyed experienced equine professionals to identify which on-site practices they perceived as most effective for maintaining horse welfare during competitions and events, analysing responses through qualitative methodology to extract recurring themes. Four key practice areas emerged as priorities: strategic venue management to reduce environmental stress, pre-event fitness assessment protocols, proactive digestive health maintenance, and systematic behavioural observation as a decision-making tool—with participants consistently selecting interventions designed to facilitate adaptation, promote calmness, and prevent disease. The research demonstrates alignment between these field-validated practices and both the Five Freedoms and Five Domains frameworks, suggesting that venues adopting the Five Domains model can feasibly retrofit existing management protocols rather than undertaking wholesale operational overhauls. For the equine sector, this practical evidence base strengthens the case for evidence-informed welfare standards at activity venues, directly supporting both individual horse health outcomes and the industry's broader social licence to operate.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Focus on four actionable areas when preparing horses for activity venues: environmental adaptation strategies, fitness assessment protocols, digestive health maintenance, and regular behavioral monitoring to guide management decisions
- •Use both input-based (Five Freedoms) and outcome-based (Five Domains) welfare frameworks to evaluate and improve your current venue management practices
- •Implementing structured welfare updates at activity venues is achievable and strengthens the sector's credibility and public trust
Key Findings
- •Experienced horse activity participants identified four key management themes that promote welfare: venue management, fitness monitoring, digestive system health, and behavioral observation
- •Participants prioritized practices that help horses adapt to unfamiliar surroundings and remain calm during relocation to activity venues
- •Management practices aligned with both the Five Freedoms and Five Domains welfare frameworks across all identified themes
- •Current practices at activity venues can be systematically reviewed and updated to align with the Five Domains model to enhance welfare outcomes