Potential effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on horse behaviour in the UK between March and October 2020
Authors: Nellist Jenni
Journal: UK-Vet Equine
Summary
# Editorial Summary: COVID-19 Pandemic Effects on UK Horse Behaviour (March–October 2020) When the UK lockdown commenced on 17 March 2020, equine management practices shifted dramatically, though the extent of change depended heavily on livery arrangements and owner circumstances. Nellist's investigation examined behavioural consequences across three broad management contexts: home-kept horses (which experienced minimal disruption beyond reduced ridden exercise), full and part-livery animals (similarly stable in their routines), and DIY yard horses (facing substantially greater stress from reduced owner visits, breakdown of communal care rotas, and financial uncertainty). The research identified that DIY yard horses were at particular risk of behavioural deterioration due to these compounded management gaps, whilst an unexpected secondary concern emerged from increased public access to countryside spaces, with uncontrolled supplementary feeding by members of the public creating additional unpredictability. Conversely, horse sales and welfare organisation rehoming activity increased during this period, suggesting some owners actively sought to redistribute their animals. These findings highlight how pandemic-related disruptions to routine management and socialisation protocols—particularly in non-professional livery settings—can precipitate measurable behavioural changes, reinforcing the importance of maintaining consistent care standards and owner contact even during crises, and the need for yard protocols to protect against inadvertent public interference with grazing animals.
Read the full abstract on the publisher's site
Practical Takeaways
- •DIY yard owners should establish robust care rotas and backup systems with other owners to maintain consistent horse management during periods of restricted access.
- •Be aware that sudden changes in exercise routines and management consistency can affect horse behaviour; gradual transitions and maintaining regular handling help mitigate stress.
- •Manage public interaction risks by securing pasture boundaries and educating the public about not feeding horses, particularly during times of increased countryside footfall.
Key Findings
- •DIY yard horses experienced greater management disruption due to reduced owner visit frequency and interrupted care routines compared to full/part livery horses.
- •Reduction in ridden exercise during lockdown occurred as owners chose to limit riding to reduce personal injury risk.
- •Increased public countryside access led to uncontrolled feeding of horses by the public, presenting management challenges.
- •Owner anxiety related to uncertain income during pandemic may have had knock-on effects on horse behaviour through indirect pathways.