Horse Owners’ Knowledge of Fundamental Care and their Perceptions on the Implementation of a Mandatory Certificate of Knowledge
Authors: Megan Watney, Bryony E. Lancaster, Hayley Randle
Journal: Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Horse Owner Knowledge and Mandatory Certification Nearly two-thirds of the 1,847 horse owners surveyed across 17 countries failed to demonstrate adequate understanding of fundamental equine care, with only 68% correctly answering knowledge-based questions—a finding that raises significant welfare concerns for the horses in their charge. The research revealed a particularly striking knowledge gap in behavioural interactions and pain recognition, domains critical to preventing inappropriate handling and training techniques that compromise equine wellbeing. Whilst 59% of respondents supported mandatory certification schemes for horse ownership, those already holding certifications performed only marginally better on straightforward questions, though they demonstrated superior understanding on more complex topics—suggesting that current certification frameworks may lack sufficient rigour or consistency. The disconnect between widespread support for regulation and the modest knowledge advantage conferred by existing certifications underscores the need for profession-wide consensus on evidence-based assessment standards before mandatory schemes can meaningfully improve welfare outcomes. For farriers, vets, physiotherapists and other equine professionals, these findings reinforce the importance of client education initiatives and highlight the potential value of advocating for standardised, evidence-based knowledge requirements that address the specific deficits identified here—particularly around pain signs and learning theory applications.
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Practical Takeaways
- •One in three horse owners lack fundamental care knowledge—education initiatives targeting behavior recognition and pain assessment should be prioritized to improve welfare outcomes
- •Current certification programs may not comprehensively assess or improve basic knowledge in all domains; any mandatory certification framework requires evidence-based development and validation
- •Horse owners recognize the need for knowledge standards (59% support mandatory certification), suggesting receptiveness to structured education if frameworks are designed with practical relevance
Key Findings
- •Only 68% of horse owners answered fundamental care knowledge questions correctly, with approximately one-third lacking essential knowledge
- •Horse owners demonstrated poorest understanding in behavioral interactions domain (ANOVA p < 0.01), particularly regarding pain recognition and learning theory
- •52% of surveyed owners held current equine knowledge certification, and 59% supported mandatory certification requirements
- •Owners with equine certificates performed better on complex questions but showed no significant difference in overall scores compared to non-certified owners (p > 0.05)