Response of UK Horse, Pony and Donkey Owners to the Early Stages of the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Authors: Hockenhull Jo, Bell Catherine, White Jo, Rogers Suzanne
Journal: Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Equestrian Decision-Making During Early COVID-19 Lockdown When the UK government escalated pandemic restrictions between 16 and 23 March 2020, equestrian owners faced a complex challenge: maintaining their animals' welfare and routine whilst navigating rapidly evolving biosecurity guidance. Hockenhull and colleagues administered a rapid cross-sectional survey to 452 horse, pony and donkey owners across all four UK nations within 48 hours of the initial government guidance, capturing real-time decision-making during this critical period. The research revealed two distinct phases of behavioural response: owners initially prioritised yard biosecurity measures and reduced yard attendance, but after 18 March shifted focus towards activity modification—particularly avoiding "high-risk" pursuits such as busy-road hacking, jumping, and handling young or nervous animals. A concerning finding was the minimal proportion of respondents reporting an emergency contingency plan should they become incapacitated, highlighting a significant gap in preparedness infrastructure. These insights suggest that future crisis communication targeting equestrian professionals should emphasise not only immediate biosecurity adjustments but also the importance of structured emergency planning, whilst recognising that risk perception in equestrian contexts operates differently when layered with broader health security concerns rather than sport-specific injury prevention.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Equestrian owners lack preparedness for care contingencies; promoting emergency care planning (designated backup caregivers, documented feeding/medical protocols) should be integrated into yard management practices before future crises.
- •Risk perception in equestrian activities is highly responsive to external health threats; educating owners on maintaining routine and appropriate activity during uncertainty may improve welfare outcomes.
- •Biosecurity measures adopted during acute pandemic phases may represent best practices worth maintaining year-round for disease prevention in shared yard environments.
Key Findings
- •452 UK equestrians demonstrated rapid behavioral shifts in response to government guidance between 16-23 March 2020, with early emphasis on yard biosecurity and cessation of riding activities.
- •After 18 March lockdown announcement, owners shifted focus from biosecurity to activity modification, avoiding high-risk riding such as busy roads and jumping.
- •Few respondents (not specified percentage) reported having emergency plans for equine care should owners become unable to provide daily care.
- •No significant differences in pandemic response were identified between the four UK countries despite varied local conditions.