COVID-19: Impact on United Kingdom Horse Owners.
Authors: Williams Jane M, Randle Hayley, Marlin David
Journal: Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
Summary
When COVID-19 lockdown measures took effect in March 2020, UK horse owners faced unprecedented disruption to their daily management practices and yard routines. Williams and colleagues conducted a rapid online survey distributed through equestrian social media channels to capture how owners adapted their horsemanship, yard protocols, and animal care during the initial pandemic phase. Over 65% of respondents reported substantial changes to horse management and human-animal interactions across all establishment types and geographical regions, yet a concerning gap emerged in biosecurity measures—whilst most yards implemented social distancing, nearly half failed to establish hand sanitisation or disinfection protocols for shared equipment and facilities, creating potential cross-contamination risks. Owners expressed genuine anxiety about compromised equine health and welfare due to restricted veterinary access combined with financial pressures, and many reported that diminished horse contact negatively impacted their own mental wellbeing. For equine professionals, these findings underscore the critical importance of establishing robust, sustainable infection control frameworks at yard level and maintaining clear communication channels with clients about biosecurity best practice during future health emergencies, particularly since the research reveals that perceived welfare concerns and psychological strain on owners may drive poor decision-making around horse management.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Biosecurity protocols must include both distancing measures AND practical disinfection of shared equipment; social distancing alone is insufficient
- •Establish contingency plans for maintaining essential veterinary care access during future public health emergencies to protect horse welfare
- •Recognize that restrictions on horse management and human-horse interaction have psychological impacts on owners; mental health support should be considered in crisis management plans
Key Findings
- •Over 65% of UK horse owners reported major changes in horse management and horse-human interactions during COVID-19 lockdown measures
- •Nearly 50% of yards failed to implement hand sanitization or disinfection protocols for shared areas and equipment despite social distancing measures
- •Financial constraints and restricted access to veterinary professionals created owner concerns about compromised horse health and welfare
- •Reduced horse-human interactions during pandemic negatively affected owners' mental health and wellbeing