Latest from Horse & Hound in World-horse-welfare

‘Their condition was heartbreaking’: owner banned for neglect after her two horses could not be saved

Eleanor Jones — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 08:40:41 +0000

A woman whose neglect meant her two horses found in a “heartbreaking” condition had to be put down has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Stacey Price, of Stanbury Place, Cleobury Mortimer, has also been banned from keeping horses for five years. The 39-year-old pleaded guilty to one animal welfare offence, at Worcester Magistrates’ Court on 9 June.

The court heard the RSPCA and World Horse Welfare were contacted in November 2024 with welfare concerns about two horses owned by Price, Doc and Ludo.

“Concerns were raised that Price had not been attending to the horses regularly enough, and they were subsequently in poor health, underweight with noticeable skin issues,” an RSPCA spokesperson said.

Officers from both charities went to the farm in Kidderminster at which Price kept the horses.

RSPCA animal rescue officer Rachel Ward said she found gelding Doc in a stable.

“I could easily see his ribs, hips and spine as well as a visible shelf from ribs to his spine and he also had very extensive rain scald with scabs and green discharge from some sores,” she said.

The spokesperson added that Ludo was in a field nearby, also in poor body condition. The officers contacted an equine vet, who examined the horses and certified they were at risk. Worcester Police put both into the charities’ care. Both were found to have high tapeworm burdens.

Stacey Price horse experienced hunger and pain

In a witness statement, the vet said Doc would have experienced hunger, and pain from his skin conditions, and that it was likely his nutritional needs had not been met for several weeks.

The vet said the rain scald was widespread and established and that there was no evidence to suggest it had been treated. The statement added that Ludo showed signs of malnutrition and hunger when examined, that his nutritional needs had not been met and worming had not been sufficiently carried out.

World Horse Welfare field officer said: “The condition Doc and Ludo were found in was absolutely heartbreaking. Doc especially was extremely thin and looked weak when he was walking. The untreated rain scald on his back would have been very sore and could have been completely avoidable with proper care. No horse should have to endure that.”

The RSPCA spokesperson added: “Sadly, despite best efforts of the RSPCA’s equine teams, both Ludo and Doc were put to sleep due to their ongoing health issues.”

In mitigation the court heard that Stacey Price did not intend to harm the horses and expected a third party would be looking after them.

She was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months, and disqualified from owning or keeping horses for five years, which she cannot appeal. She was ordered to undertake 150 hours of unpaid work and pay a victim surcharge of £154 and costs of £300.

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‘We don’t have much humility’ but we can all learn, every week, to improve horses’ lives

Eleanor Jones — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 15:41:48 +0000

Communicating and challenging ourselves better are key for the future of horse sport – but we also need a collective dose of humility.

These were among the messages from the 2026 World Horse Welfare survey of public perception of the involvement of horses in sport, which the charity has been commissioning annually since 2022.

The 2026 World Horse Welfare survey found that more of the public see horses as pets (65%) or leisure animals (64.9%) rather than working animals (56.1%), livestock (54.3%) or sport animals (49.4%). Most (70.5%) believe horses’ welfare should “always take priority, regardless of the effect on performance” (70.3%), and that short-term pain or discomfort to improve performance is not very or not at all acceptable (77.3%).

World Horse Welfare CEO Roly Owers said it is clear that equine welfare has a key role in the future sustainability of the global equestrian sector, citing the major strides made in this area.

“But we also hear criticism,” he said.”For some, welfare standards in sport are already so high, they do not need to change, and any attempt at improvement is only to appease the antis. That by talking about welfare, sport is only damaging its own reputation.

“Others say welfare initiatives launched to maintain social licence are all talk and no action. But concerns about welfare will not go away, and you can only address an issue if you face up to it. World Horse Welfare has always been clear that improving equine welfare is pivotal, not primarily because that’s what the public expects but because that’s exactly what it means to put the horse first.

“There is growing evidence that we can do better, and if we know better, we must do better. Doing right by our horses, putting a horse’s wellbeing at the centre of everyone’s decision-making, has to be the fundamental goal for every sport. Yes, this is what the public expects and it will enable the sport to thrive. As David Yellen summed up so well at last year’s event, the best form of PR is to do the right thing.”

The 2026 World Horse Welfare survey trends

Mr Owers said the 2026 World Horse Welfare survey results do not show a positive trend. This year, it was shown that the percentage of those who support horse sport only if welfare improves is about the same as in 2022, at just under 40%. But there has been a slight increase in the number who do not support involvement of horses in sport in any circumstances, from 19.5% to 24.4%.

Mr Owers said this increase may be “within the margin of error”, and not too much of a red flag, but it is “certainly one to continue to watch”.

A panel of experts considered the results and what they may mean. One key issue is that the majority of the public have no regular contact with horses and may never even have seen one.

“A fundamental underlying threat to all equestrianism, sports and non-sports, is that most people in the UK have never had any contact with a horse at all,” said British Equine Veterinary Association CEO David Mountford. “That creates a real problem that we need to get across, and that’s more than just snazzy videos or a social media presence.”

Racing broadcaster and journalist Lydia Hislop pointed out that with the increasing urbanisation of society comes a lack of understanding, citing for example the lack of mainstream coverage of Ros Canter’s Badminton win so soon after she had her second child.

“I think that’s what’s lacking, being able to give people the understanding to be able to watch something like that and see why it was good,” she said. “I think that’s a key form of communication needed to reach people, for further understanding.

“All horse sports have to work out how we can reach out, broaden people’s understanding, explain to people why they should be interested in this. I think that’s the key; communication in an instant, efficient way that grabs people’s attention. We’re all working in an attention economy, and that’s what I think everybody’s communications focus needs to work on.”

2026 World Horse Welfare survey debate: communicating is key

She added that if we look back at our increased understanding, “the idea that we wouldn’t bring new technology, new understanding to make things better is just an absurd position to hold. It’s a way of gently challenging ourselves, so we inside the sport, can look inside it and challenge ourselves to do better, then we’re also better armed with that understanding to communicate outside the sports.”

Former top eventer David O’Connor, chief of sport at US Equestrian (USEF) and chair of the FEI eventing committee, spoke of measures brought in by USEF to improve welfare, such as extending its jurisdiction to cover incidents outside affiliated competition. He also covered the strides made in improving eventing safety internationally; using data and, for example, frangible technology to reduce horse falls.

Asked about recent issues in dressage, and whether other disciplines are behind eventing, he said: “I think eventing is more comfortable with it because they’ve been in it longer.

“They’ve been doing this for 25 years and the other sports are starting to realise this is an important part of the equation. Racing is doing it, dressage is doing it; in the showjumping world, use of the whip that has been adjusted. I think other sports are realising how important this conversation is and that it is not going away.

“So how do we remain proactive? Through education, rules, telling the stories, which is a huge thing. Multiple pieces of the puzzle have to be worked on together; there’s not one thing that will fix it, and using data and science, such as on how animals think, it gives you a way to be able to measure whether you’re actually making a difference.”

Exceptional performance

Minette Batters, chair of British racing’s Horse Welfare Board, also mentioned Ros’s win, describing it as “probably the most exceptional performance I have ever seen”, from horse and rider, and that the sport must learn from it.

“These stories – you want people who want to be Ros Canter, work for Ros Canter, to be stable staff, climb the ladder, be champion jockey,” she said. “That’s the wonderful thing about horses, you can come from anywhere in life and rise to the stars, and that’s the story people want to hear, but you’ve got to be pulling that.

“There’s a lot to be learned from what happened with Ros, because we tend to follow influencers, celebrities, people with huge Instagram accounts, and it’s not all about that, that’s wrong for every part of horse sport.”

Baroness Batters said the welfare board is planning “welfare champions” on every yard in racing, and that another key is for the horse world to open its doors, invite people in, “bring them in and take them with us”.

David O’Connor agreed, adding that warm-up areas, as well as yards, need to be open to all eyes.

“We have an expression in the United States: if you can’t train in the middle of Central Park and explain it and have people like it, probably you’re doing it wrong,” he said.

“And dressage is looking at it, looking at the change. You’ll see things come out this year about judging. In the end I think openness and being willing to be open, whether it’s yards, training, warm-ups, competition, that’s going to permeate all the way through the decision-making.”

Humility needed

Sharing his views on the 2026 World Horse Welfare survey, Mr Mountford said he thinks progress is being made; good work is being done, awareness and engagement are high and the momentum needs to be maintained.

“But it shouldn’t be seen that we’ll get to a point and we can stop,” he said. “What needs to continue to improve is consistency and transparency, and making sure what’s written into codes and aspirations of groups like the Horse Welfare Board actually is reality and are communicated as being real.

“I think also what’s true in horse sports, racing, is that we don’t have much humility. How you achieve it, I don’t know, but we need to bring a big box of humility to the table. We can all learn every week, from a colleague, from someone with decades of experience or from the latest research on how horses learn.

“Riders at the very top will be having weekly lessons and people throughout the industry should be, on riding, but also on what’s going on with science, how they can improve, how we can learn.”

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More than 200,000 back petition for public animal abuse register – but concerns raised about vigilante behaviour

Becky Murray — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 06:30:34 +0000

A petition calling for a public register of animal abusers has been signed by more than 200,000 people – but concerns have been raised about the risk of vigilante behaviour.

Cleaner and social media influencer Bea Elton launched the Parliament petition on 12 March; it asks for a public register to be created for offenders convicted of animal abuse, and for anyone convicted of animal abuse or neglect to be banned from owning animals for life.

The petition runs until 12 September and to date has been signed by more than 210,344 people. As it has more than the required 100,000 signatures, it will be considered for a Parliament debate.

View the petition

Ms Elton told H&H that through her cleaning business she has seen “some highly distressing scenes where animals are left to survive in terrible conditions”. She would like any register to include all animals, including horses.

“There are instances where animals are being treated cruelly, and there are limitations to the processes that are meant to protect those animals from future abuse, even by abusers who are convicted in court,” she said.

RSPCA head of public affairs David Bowles told H&H establishing a register is “a really emotive issue”.

“Details of convictions and disqualification orders under the Animal Welfare Act are stored on the police national computer [PNC], but this is not open to non-police personnel to see for data protection purposes, and to avoid vigilante action,” he said.

“The current framework poses a significant challenge; even though courts can disqualify individuals from ownership, there is no central system for animal rescue centres, charities or private individuals, including breeders, pet shops or animal care companies, to check whether someone is banned from keeping animals before selling or rehoming an animal, or employing someone to care for animals.

“Gaps also extend to local authorities who grant licences to animal businesses. While legislation already states that people convicted of animal cruelty are ineligible to run animal businesses, knowledge to enforce these rules is key.”

Mr Bowles added that “we must find a system that helps everyone ensure that disqualified abusers cannot bypass the law and own, get access to or work with animals” – while “respecting that this information is only provided to appropriately selected enforcers”.

World Horse Welfare head of public affairs Kim Ayling told H&H although the charity understands the petition’s sentiment, it is not in favour of a public register owing to the risk of vigilante behaviour.

Instead, World Horse Welfare supports welfare charity the SSPCA’s manifesto for a register that allows enforcement agencies to monitor bans and track repeat offenders via connection to current intelligence systems but is not public (news, 5 March).

“Ideally, we would like to see this implemented not just in Scotland, but across the UK. While improving the flow of intelligence and information will make it easier to know if someone is banned from keeping animals, enforcement is key,” said Ms Ayling. “To prevent animals suffering in future, enforcement agencies need to have the capacity and resources to enforce bans.”

On 19 May a DEFRA spokesperson responded to the petition, stating that the Government has no plans to introduce a register – or automatic lifetime bans.

“The Government does not think it would be appropriate to introduce a publicly accessible animal cruelty register. The majority of the population comply with our high animal welfare laws,” said the spokesperson. “In the upsetting and unacceptable instances where these laws are violated or repeatedly violated, we already have these offences recorded.”

The spokesperson added that animal cruelty prosecutions recorded on the PNC may be shared with appropriate organisations at police discretion but it is important this information is restricted to “protect from misuse”; an approach consistent with the Government’s approach to the child sex offender and domestic violence disclosure schemes.

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‘I’m so proud of him’: meet Pirate Pete the one-eyed pony thriving after his rescue

Eleanor Jones — Sun, 26 Apr 2026 15:57:34 +0000

One-eyed Pirate Pete the pony is thriving after an “awful start in life” thanks to the collaboration of charities that went to his rescue.

The coloured youngster, now two, was found last winter with one eye so badly ulcerated, it had to be removed. Thanks to the RSPCA and World Horse Welfare, he now has a home and a secure future.

“Pirate Pete, as he’s fondly known, has adapted really well to life with one eye and has a bright future ahead at World Horse Welfare’s Hall Farm Rescue and Rehoming Centre, in Norfolk,” an RSPCA spokesperson said.

“During the thick of winter, the charities worked together to rescue him after World Horse Welfare field officer Rebecca Carter found the tiny piebald cob fly-grazing in a huge open field in Gravesend, Kent, after he was reported to the charity in October last year.”

Rebecca said she could see how sore Pirate Pete’s eye was, adding that eye injuries should always be treated as veterinary emergencies.

“They’re incredibly painful and the sooner they’re checked, the better the chances of recovery or at least minimising the damage,” she said.

Rebecca contacted the RSPCA, which sent staff to the field along with a vet and the police. The pony was signed into the RSPCA’s care and taken to Lingfield Equine Vets.

“Sadly, Pirate Pete’s eye had been so extensively damaged because of the length of time that he had been left without treatment – thought to be around a month by the time he was found – that ultimately it had to be removed, despite the best efforts of vets to save it,” the spokesperson said.

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

RSPCA head equine vet Roxanne Kirton said as well as surgery to remove the eye, Pirate Pete had to be treated for strangles, and a related mass was removed from his throat area.

“It was a long journey for Pete but the teams worked incredibly hard to pull him through his ordeal,” she said. “Our thanks must go to our amazing supporters whose donations help us to pay for veterinary treatment for ponies like Pete.”

Once Pirate Pete was strong enough, he was moved to Hall Farm, having been signed over to World Horse Welfare by the RSPCA.

Senior groom Megan Jarvis, who has looked after Pirate Pete since he arrived at his new home, said: “I’m so proud of how he has come on since he got here.

“When he first arrived, he was really quite nervous and was having to adjust to life with only one eye. I’ve been amazed at how quickly he progressed once I got him into a routine of regular handling. He’s such a quick learner and very brave.

“Pirate Pete has also coped really well with being introduced to life in a herd despite his limited vision. We turned him out with just a few ponies first to see how he got on, but now he’s out with a big group of geldings and absolutely thriving. I think he’s a wonderful little boy – someone is going to have a really lovely pony when he’s ready for rehoming.”

An abandonment notice was left at the field where Pirate Pete was found, but no owner came forward to claim him, so the charities could not investigate further.

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New vision for a good life for sport horses from the start to the very end

Eleanor Jones — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 08:32:34 +0000

A new World Horse Welfare vision or framework is aimed at helping start conversations and make changes to ensure all horses involved in sport have a good life, from start to finish.

The charity, which has long stressed that it supports ethical, responsible involvement of horses in sport, has now set out the guidance for all riders and carers, from grassroots to elite level.

World Horse Welfare CEO Roly Owers told H&H the “vision for the responsible involvement of horses in sport” is the first time the charity has put guidance together to show what a good life for sport horses looks like, taking into account current knowledge.

“We know the horse-human relationship is imbalanced because the human is in the position of power,” he said. “This is about trying to provide guidance and ideas and thinking about how, when we talk about responsible horse sport, we can make that relationship as balanced as possible. Those were the simple aims; articulating, in a more comprehensive way, what promoting responsible horse sport means in practice.”

The framework covers every stage of life, from responsible breeding to a good death, stating that at all times, all horses should have their species-specific and individual needs met, and “daily positive social interactions with other horses”. All should live in an environment that stimulates and maintains mental and physical health and development, have “meaningful enrichment opportunities” and the chance to make everyday, meaningful choices.

Horses should have “appropriate preventative care to minimise the risk of injuries and illnesses, with any treatment or performance-enhancing procedures critically considered from an ethical perspective as to whether the horse’s best short- and long-term interests lie at the centre of the decision”, and training should be progressive, compassionate and based on understanding of equine behaviour and learning theory, and each horse’s needs and skills.

A privilege, not a right

The framework covers each stage of life in detail, including competition careers and retirement, stating: “Involving horses in sport is a privilege, not a right. With that privilege comes a responsibility to respect their species-specific and individual needs and to put their wellbeing before our human ambitions.

“All those involved with sport horses have a responsibility to ensure that they are provided with a good life throughout all life stages.”

Mr Owers said he hopes all equestrians will benefit from this objective view, so if anyone questions what they are doing, this will help them determine the answer.

“We say we put the horse at the centre of our decision-making; so what does that mean in practice?” he said. “Within the five domains framework, we know horses feel joy, fear, curiosity and distress, so it’s really important when we think about that good life, it’s not just physical welfare, it’s mental wellbeing. And there’s a collective responsibility. It’s not just the carer or owner’s responsibility, there are many others, especially regulators, who have a role to play, too.”

Mr Owers said there is plenty of evidence of riders changing management to horses’ benefit and seeing improved performance, so it is a “win-win situation”.

“This is everyone’s responsibility and it lasts a lifetime,” he said. “Hopefully, this will be a framework, the start of a conversation and a constant reference through a horse’s life.

“The horse should come above any competitive or commercial influence, and this is hopefully a constructive and objective framework to be able to sense-check whether you really are living by those words. This isn’t about looking back and saying ‘We got that wrong’, it’s looking forward to what improvements we can make in future.”

World Horse Welfare vision for a good life

The aim is to ensure ridden horses have a good life – but can it be argued that involvement in sport can also enhance that quality?

“As an evidence-informed organisation, you need to say ‘Where’s the proof? And the public would ask how we prove that,’” Mr Owers said.

“I think how we can prove that actually our horses do enjoy it, and there is a benefit to the horse, is very much the Holy Grail here. Personally, I honestly believe horses can enjoy going for a ride, doing a cross-country course, but we’re not necessarily in a particularly objective position to say that. It’s going to be a while before that kind of evidence is produced, but I think there’s got to be a real focus around that research investment. Most importantly, that will help inform us about how we care and manage our horses, but it will really help future sustainability of the equestrian sector; showing the benefit to the horse will be a really powerful narrative.”

A British Equestrian spokesperson told H&H the framework is “an excellent resource for all equestrians”.

“The content is simple, clear and should resonate strongly with everyone in our guardianship of horses from their conception until the end,” she said. “Thank you to the World Horse Welfare team for developing the vision and we look forward to working with them and our member bodies to amplify the valuable messages it delivers.”

An FEI spokesperson told H&H the FEI welcomes initiatives that put horse wellbeing at the centre of horse sport.

“The vision set out by World Horse Welfare reflects a shared commitment to continually strengthen standards and ensure responsible involvement of horses in sport,” he said. “This approach is further reinforced by the work of the Equine Ethics and Wellbeing Commission, and aligned with the FEI’s welfare strategy action plan.

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‘Ask the question every day’: why welfare is what horses need – not what we think they need

Eleanor Jones — Sat, 28 Mar 2026 13:42:44 +0000

We should not assume we know what is best for our horses – but use the evidence they give us to ask them and take all the positives from what we do.

These were key messages from a World Horse Welfare webinar on assessing horses’ welfare, presented by Jill Fernandes on 18 March.

Dr Fernandes, founder of welfare and sustainability consultancy Animal Centric, had worked with organisations from aquariums to zoos before she collaborated with World Horse Welfare to create a programme for assessment and assurance of equine wellbeing. The aim of the presentation was to explain how the Horses’ Experiences of Yards (HEY) tool was created and how it can be used by all to assess their horses’ welfare.

Access the tool

“I’ve learned way more from animals than I’ve ever taught anyone,” she said. “I’m very grateful for all they continue to teach me.

“Before we go any further, animal welfare is not how we feel the animal is doing, it’s how the animal feels the animal is doing. It really is defined by the animal, and it’s from the animal’s perspective and it’s the animal’s emotional experience.

“It’s the positive and negative emotions the animal is experiencing inside their nervous system and body. Unlike animal ethics, which is human-centric and defined by human opinions and values, animal welfare is 100% animal-centric because it’s actually happening inside the animal.”

Dr Fernandes equated welfare to the weather; as people use multiple factors such as temperature, wind speed and pressure to define overall weather, we take in a huge range of evidence, including behaviour, appearance and actions, to understand what an animal is feeling.

She added that the overall aim for good welfare is to maximise positive experiences and minimise the negative, and that she prefers the five domains model to assess it. The domains are nutrition, environment, health, and behavioural interactions and their impact on the fifth, mental state.

“We can’t know exactly what the animal’s mental state is or what they may be experiencing, but if we have enough evidence about whether their needs are being met in the four functional domains, we can make a cautious interpretation about their mental state,” she said. “The more measures we have, the more complete that interpretation will be.

“The gold standard for assessing animal welfare is animal-based evidence, which includes behavioral measures and physiological measures.”

Assessing horses’ welfare

Dr Fernandes worked with the World Horse Welfare teams at each of the charity’s farms, developing key welfare criteria and then scoring each horse in each area, and discussing how the scores could be improved. Once changes were made, the team observed the horses in the long term, to check that their experiences had improved as a result. They used this to develop the HEY tool, which is free for all owners to use.

“It has the same essence of that structured assessment we did, with 40 criteria,” she said. “You can identify positive and negative indicators for each need, then spot where changes might be needed and where you can take action.

“If I could ask you to do one action out of this, I would say ask the animal every day, if you can, what are you feeling? What do you want? Is this better for you? You can use the animal’s behaviour to answer those questions, but it’s important to actually ask the question in the beginning.”

World Horse Welfare education officer Rebecca Boulert said creating a shorter HEY tool for yards was an aim from the start, so all the criteria were decided on with other yards, to “get as many positive experiences out there for horses as possible, based on Jill’s excellent framework”.

Ideas in practice

Ms Boulert added that the charity has put the ideas into practice by, for example, removing some barriers between stables so horses can touch each other, and providing areas of woodchip or hardstanding, to see whether the horses take advantage.

“It’s still early days; changes are being made and we’ll talk about them more as we get more feedback from the horses,” she said.

Asked for a closing message, Dr Fernandes reiterated her key point, that welfare has to be from the horse’s perspective rather than ours.

Ms Boulert added: “I think it’s quite easy when we’re doing welfare assessment tools to spiral in on what might not be working so well. But when we were going through the process, it actually gave us a really good opportunity to reflect on all the positives we were providing for the horses in our care.

“So yes, we want to make sure we’re providing as many positive experiences as possible, but don’t go down a negative spiral. There are always positives to take away.”

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‘She is still fighting – and so are we’: next hours critical for neglected pony ‘left to die’ in field

Becky Murray — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 18:02:11 +0000

An equine charity has said “the coming hours are critical” for a severely neglected and underweight pony who is having urgent veterinary care after she was “left to die” alone in a field.

Annie, an 11.2hh mare thought to be around three or four years old, was taken in by the Horse Trust after she was rescued from a field near Basingstoke by World Horse Welfare. She was found weighing 157kg and had a body score of 0.5 out of five.

“She was identified by colleagues at World Horse Welfare as the thinnest in the herd. Before they could return with police support, she was moved. The team believes she was deliberately dumped nearby to evade investigation,” said a Horse Trust spokesperson.

The spokesperson said Annie, named after the charity’s founder Ann Lindo, is “fighting for her survival”. She has a heavy lice infestation and suspected significant worm burden, and there are “concerns about further gastrointestinal disease”.

“Treating Annie is a delicate balance. Intervening too aggressively could overwhelm her system; moving too slowly could cost her life,” said the spokesperson, adding that the mare is on a 24-hour trickle feeding plan, but shows “very little appetite”.

Horse Trust veterinary director Nicola Housby-Skeggs said Annie is in “very poor condition” – and the team needs to establish whether this is owing to neglect or disease.

“Despite initial concerns, Annie’s first blood tests show she is not in foal. Early indications suggest she may already have had a foal, having likely been kept in a mixed herd with stallions from very early on,” said the spokesperson.

Horse Trust chief executive Jeanette Allen added that Annie had “clearly suffered horrific neglect and abandonment” – and was “so covered in lice that she had become severely anaemic”.

“During her first veterinary examination she was so itchy that as the vet ran their hands over her skin, Annie started nuzzling the handler in relief. Even the lightest touch caused clumps of hair to come away,” said Ms Allen.

“What struck us most is just how utterly exhausted she is. She is now somewhere quiet and comfortable with another pony nearby for company, and we are hoping she can finally begin to rest before the life-saving treatments ahead.

“She is in a dangerously bad state, but we are doing everything we can for her. Right now, hope and positivity are playing a very big part in her care.”

Annie remains under “constant supervision” and the Horse Trust team will do “everything in their power” for her, but the charity “estimates a low chance of survival”.

“She is lying down for periods and has already needed help to stand again. At this stage, the team is monitoring her moment by moment, as even small changes could signal rapid deterioration,” said the spokesperson. “The coming hours are critical.”

Jeanne said if Annie does not make it, “she will at least have known care, comfort and kindness”.

“That matters. But we are not there yet. She is still fighting – and so are we,” said Ms Allen.

Donations towards Annie’s care can be made via the Horse Trust.

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Tiny 7hh pony found struggling to breathe recovering and stealing hearts

Lucy Elder — Fri, 06 Mar 2026 16:18:10 +0000

A tiny pony who “very nearly didn’t make it” after he was found unable to stand and struggling to breath has made a remarkable recovery.

World Horse Welfare field officer Charlotte Melvin found Pickle last year and he was rescued as part of a multi-agency operation, along with a number of other horses. He was taken for immediate treatment at a holding yard, where he was nursed back to health.

“As soon as I saw Pickle, I could tell he needed veterinary care urgently – he was really struggling to breathe. When he tried to stand as I walked up to him, he just couldn’t get up,” said Ms Melvin.

“He tested positive for multiple illnesses, including strangles, equine flu, and salmonella, and was so weak that he kept collapsing.”

Video below shows Pickle when he was found

She added: “The team worked so hard to nurse him back to health and his vet said she’s never known a pony test positive for salmonella as many times as he did. He very nearly didn’t make it, but eventually turned a corner and started to recover.”

He was signed over to the charity and once he was well enough, he travelled to World Horse Welfare’s Penny Farm Rescue and Rehoming Centre in Lancashire.

“I went and collected him with one of my colleagues and it was just incredible to see how bright he’d become. The contrast from that tiny foal who was too weak to stand and could barely breathe was extraordinary,” said Ms Melvin.

Watch Pickle enjoying time in the field

The little pony is so tiny that the World Horse Welfare team struggled to find a headcollar small enough, but the charity’s corporate partners LeMieux came through with one in “super mini” size.

“At a year old, Pickle is still only a teeny seven hands high (28 inches) so it’s no surprise that our visitors fall in love with him as soon as they set eyes on him. He’s both extremely cute and a really lovely character,” said Penny Farm centre manager, Adam Cummins.

“There’s going to be a long list of people wanting to rehome him when he’s ready – but that’s a long way off yet. For now, he’s enjoying being a happy young pony playing with his friends – he’s got a lot of fun to catch up on after being so ill at such a young age.”

Pickle has recovered well and is stealing visitors’ hearts at World Horse Welfare’s Penny Farm. (Image credit: creditUnknown)

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

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Laminitic pony in ‘extreme pain’ put down after owner refused veterinary treatment

Eleanor Jones — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 15:18:03 +0000

The owner of a pony in “extreme pain” from laminitis, who ignored advice and refused veterinary treatment even when a charity offered to help with costs has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Freddie, a Welsh section A belonging to Daniel Robert Briggs, of Hawthorn, Appledore, had to be put down after he was signed into charity care, as his “suffering was too great and his prognosis was so poor”.

Briggs, 62, was sentenced at Maidstone Magistrates’ Court on 3 February, having pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a pony.

The RSPCA worked with World Horse Welfare to help Freddie, who had not had appropriate veterinary care for chronic laminitis.

An RSPCA spokesperson said World Horse Welfare field officer Rebecca Carter visited Freddie in a field in Pluckley, Kent, last February, after members of the public had thought the pony was in pain relating to his feet.

“Ms Carter confirmed Freddie had severely overgrown and distorted hooves but said Briggs did not take her advice and refused to call a vet out to see Freddie, so she contacted the RSPCA for further investigation,” the spokesperson said.

The court heard Briggs had owned the 18-year-old pony since he was a foal; the RSPCA spokesperson said Briggs told Ms Carter he had “always managed the laminitis on his own without any input from an equine vet or farrier”.

Warning notice

“Despite being issued a warning notice by the RSPCA and a vet visit on 25 February, Briggs refused critical diagnostic tests (bloods/X-rays) and proper management, claiming Freddie was fine,” the spokesperson said. “He also cancelled a follow-up vet appointment.

“When World Horse Welfare revisited on 18 March following reports that Freddie had been lying down for three days, Ms Carter found him still in extreme pain. She was unable to persuade Daniel Robert Briggs to seek urgent treatment, even when the charity also offered to contribute towards the costs.

“This led to a joint visit with the RSPCA and an independent vet, during which Briggs was found to have withheld prescribed pain relief. Following a veterinary examination, Briggs signed Freddie into the care of the charities, and the pony was then transported for urgent veterinary assessment.”

An equine vet who assessed Freddie said in a witness statement that his welfare needs were not being met.

“He was suffering due to unmanaged, chronic pain from laminitis, exacerbated by inappropriate environmental management and untreated endocrine disease,” the vet said.

“These issues were longstanding and recognisable to the layperson due to the obvious signs of pain, poor mobility, and visible hoof abnormalities. The animal had endured extended periods of pain and compromised mobility.

“His suffering would have been continuous, particularly in the absence of adequate pain control, and was entirely preventable through appropriate veterinary care and basic husbandry adjustments.”

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

The spokesperson added: “Sadly, Freddie’s suffering was too great and his prognosis was so poor that the decision was made by the veterinary specialists and the two charities that the most compassionate course of action was to euthanise Freddie, to prevent him suffering any further.”

RSPCA inspector Kirsten Ormerod said this had been an “incredibly sad” case.

“As horse owners themselves, the welfare teams involved found it particularly upsetting to see a sweet, older pony suffering with laminitis despite offers of help and financial assistance,” she said.

“Laminitis is such a painful condition for equines – but one that can be successfully managed with appropriate veterinary care and treatment. Many horse owners are meticulous in managing conditions like this to make sure their animals live a good life, and so it was very sad to see Freddie had lived in pain.”

Ms Carter added that Freddie was in so much pain he could hardly stand.

“Finding Freddie in so much pain due to untreated laminitis was heartbreaking,” she said. “It’s one of the most painful conditions a horse can face and should be treated as a veterinary emergency. It was shocking that the owner failed to recognise this and denied Freddie the veterinary support he so desperately needed.

“It’s so frustrating because laminitis is both preventable and treatable. This sad situation could have been avoided had the owner listened to advice and, crucially, taken action. The seriousness of the situation has been reflected in the sentence given in court.”

In mitigation, the court heard that Daniel Robert Briggs cares for his wife and that vet advice was received but he disputes the recommended medication.

He was given a 26-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months and banned from keeping horses for five years. He was ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid work and pay £600 costs.

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Should horse rescues be licensed? MPs debate as Government to ask the question

Becky Murray — Fri, 06 Feb 2026 17:10:19 +0000

Equine welfare charities have welcomed a forthcoming Government consultation on mandatory licensing for animal rescue centres – if managed and enforced appropriately.

On 26 January, MPs debated a petition calling for licensing and regulation of dog and cat rescues, which had been signed by almost 110,000 people. The petition stated that by introducing “clear legal requirements, the Government can safeguard animal welfare”.

MPs discussed animal rescues more broadly and highlighted that although many do “great work”, there are some operating “without clear legal oversight, creating opportunities for unethical practices”.

MP Richard Holden said anyone, “regardless of their experience or intention”, can say they have an animal rescue or rehoming centre and not be subject to inspection or monitoring – and this has “resulted in animals suffering, not only dogs and cats but horses and other animals”.

The Government acknowledged the “need to crack down on poor practices” of some rescues in its animal welfare strategy, published in December – and committed to a consultation on licensing rescue and rehoming organisations.

Defra minister Angela Eagle referenced this consultation during the debate and said it will be used “to come to an appropriate decision about the best way to license and regulate” – and to ensure that any new framework is “proportionate”.

Defra told H&H the consultation will take place “in due course”.

Licensing for animal rescue centres: charities have their say

Equine charities have long called for the licensing of rescues, and H&H has reported on high-profile welfare cases involving sanctuaries in recent years.

World Horse Welfare head of public affairs Kim Ayling told H&H licensing “should improve animal welfare, if implemented and enforced appropriately” and the charity would welcome working with the Government, via the National Equine Welfare Council and British Horse Council.

“However, laws are not worth the paper they are written on unless they are effectively implemented and enforced by trained inspectors,” she said.

“The Government’s promise to work with local authorities to improve enforcement of the existing regulations for licensing of riding establishments, for instance, is welcome. Currently enforcement varies significantly from area to area and this must be improved before any further types of activities are licensed, including rescue centres.”

Redwings “welcomes” a consultation – having “been involved in multiple cases where serious welfare concerns have been identified in establishments presenting as sanctuaries”.

“The commitment, knowledge and resources needed to care for neglected, often challenging rescue cases should not be underestimated,” said Redwings campaigns and policy manager Helen Whitelegg.

“This needs to be reflected in a framework that acknowledges the work of those establishments who offer a lifeline to animals, while preventing those unable to meet the needs of animals from causing further suffering, and securing public donations without appropriate accountability.”

How it works in Wales and Scotland

In 2020 the Welsh Government launched a voluntary code of practice for animal welfare establishments, and in 2021 the Scottish Government went a step further by introducing mandatory licensing.

Redwings head of welfare Nic de Brauwere, who was involved in the work in Wales through his position of chair of the Animal Welfare Network for Wales, told H&H the voluntary code was “helpful because it underwent the safe process of drafting, consulting and Government checks as if it had been a statutory code”.

“We believe this set a new standard but, as expected, without the licensing framework to back it up, in particular to ensure access to all animal welfare establishments to check standards, the voluntary code was not, by itself, enough to raise standards across the board,” he said.

“The broad-ranging consultation by the Welsh Government in 2024 led to a high volume of responses and in 2025 the Welsh Government indicated it would develop proposals to consider regulation, to include a possible licensing scheme.”

What do you think of the proposals for licensing rescues? Write to us at hhletters@futurenet.com, including your name, nearest town and county, for the chance for your letter to appear in a forthcoming issue of the magazine.

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New whip use guide aims to start conversations and improve horse-human relationship

Eleanor Jones — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 09:02:25 +0000

A new guide on whether to use a whip, and in what way, has been published as part of ongoing attempts to see the world through horses’ eyes – and strengthen our relationship with them.

World Horse Welfare’s guidance, titled “Should I carry or use a whip?” is published today (29 January), the result of years of extensive work.

The aim is to start a conversation on whip use in equestrianism. The message is not that whips are bad; used wrongly, they can cause great harm, but there is a place for them if used correctly, which the guide aims to set out.

Equine vet Janet Douglas, who works with World Horse Welfare, said: “Challenging our own habits and beliefs is never easy but it is important that we start to consider whip use from the horse’s standpoint.

“If we can be brave and open-minded, ask questions of ourselves and others and follow ideas where they lead, the horse-human relationship will almost certainly be better for it.” Read Dr Douglas’s thoughts.

The guide states that the whip is an “optional piece of equipment that, when used correctly, can be an ethically acceptable way to train horses”.

“There may also be times when riders may feel that its use could be helpful in maintaining horse and rider safety,” it states. “However, when used in the wrong way or at the wrong time, a whip can cause a horse to become confused or scared, endangering both horse and rider. And undoubtedly, in uneducated or angry hands, its use can constitute abuse.”

Read the guide in full

The guide aims to encourage people to talk and think about whether they need to carry or use a whip. It explains equine learning theory, and how whip use can align with this in training.

“We’ve talked to a lot of people, from those who don’t think we should be using whips at all, all the way through to those who believe that actually using a whip with force at times is needed, not least for safety, and everyone in-between,” World Horse Welfare CEO Roly Owers told H&H. “Everyone has a perspective and it was really important to understand that.

“The origin of this was very much to simply ask the question: why do people pick up a whip? Because for so many people, it’s an instinctive thing. You’re going for a ride, you pick up the whip. I include myself; I’d feel almost naked if I didn’t have one. So it was: why do we do that? And the other question was: when we use a whip, does the horse understand?”

The key themes that emerged were ensuring that we understand how horses learn, and training them in a way that puts the horse’s experience at the forefront.

The guide explains operant conditioning, the way horses make associations between their actions and the results of these. It explains positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement (pressure and release) and punishment (see box) and asks riders to consider which approach they are taking and what the effects might be.

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

It then sets out how minimally aversive whip use can be used in training, giving examples of using light pressure, removed as soon as the desired behaviour is shown, and includes a series of questions to ask, to determine whether in any given situation whip use is appropriate or not.

“Very much the intention is to ask the questions, to be a conversation starter,” Mr Owers said. “One key challenge, I think, is that a lot of people think they know how horses learn, but when you start to dig under that, general understanding of how horses learn is not as good as it should be.

“Before you have a view on using a whip, or any aid or equipment, I think that’s a really important basis. It’s widely recognised that horses can get confused; they don’t think like us, and if they don’t understand what’s being asked of them, they can get confused, and that can have real negative consequences.

“So if I am to look through the horse’s eyes, I have to start with ‘how do they learn?’ It’s so important that as a first step, people really commit to understanding that better if they need to.”

Changing rules

Different governing bodies have changed whip rules in recent years; British Showjumping, the Pony Club and British Riding Clubs have all banned use of the whip to discipline or punish, reflecting not only a focus on equine welfare but scientific research that has found such use is ineffective in helping horses learn.

Equine vet and Horse Trust director of equine behaviour Gemma Pearson, who was involved in creating this guide, told H&H she was very impressed by how much work has gone into it.

“It’s not a document saying, ‘Don’t use whips in this scenario,’ it’s about how we should use them,” Dr Pearson said. “I think the whip can be a really valuable tool; it can make things easier for horses, it can make things clearer for horses, the problem is that people have traditionally used it very badly.

“I think first of all, you have to have the knowledge, and I don’t think many people have explained to them how we would use whip taps from a negative reinforcement perspective. And after that, the next thing really is changing that mindset, which is hard if you’ve been brought to believe something different.

“If you’ve been used to using a whip in a certain way for decades, someone saying that’s wrong can feel like a threat to your personal identity, to who you are as a person. I think the mindset change is going to take time, but the nice thing about this document is that it’s not telling people what not to do. It’s giving them options and telling them how to use it.”

Feedback

Mr Owers added that the guide’s publication is a first step; feedback will be taken on board and it will evolve as our understanding of equine learning and behaviour increases. There are other areas for it to expand on, such as safety.

“We absolutely recognise the paramount importance of rider and horse safety, but I think we need to be open when we say we’re using the whip for safety. Is that really the case, and is it really having the impact we think it’s having,” he said.

“We’ve just got to be open to challenging: that may be appropriate on occasion, but really, every time we think about using a whip, we’ve just got to challenge ourselves, and I hope that’s where the decision tree is so helpful.”

To all equestrians, Mr Owers added: “Have a read. Keep an open mind. Challenge yourself on how much you know about equine learning and how horses learn and commit to a better understanding. With that knowledge, take the guidance and each time you think about the whip, think about that framework of questions.

“At first it’s quite a laborious process, but like anything, it will become natural. As equestrians, we’re making decisions the whole time, and it’s so important those decisions are as informed as possible. Hopefully this guidance, this discussion and the questions we raise in the guidance, will really help people make better informed decisions about whip use, and improve their relationship with their horses.”

What do you think of this guide? Please write to us at hhletters@futurenet.com, including your name, nearest town and county, for the chance to appear in a forthcoming issue of the magazine.

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Equine welfare charities reflect on the challenges of 2025 – as the number of owners giving up their horses increases

Becky Murray — Sun, 28 Dec 2025 13:03:33 +0000

Financial challenges continue for horse owners, as equine welfare charities come under pressure too.

As 2025 comes to a close, charities have reflected on the year, citing rising costs across the board as an ongoing concern.

World Horse Welfare chief field officer Claire Gordon told H&H it had been a “challenging year”, exacerbated by the summer drought and its impact on forage yields.

“Charities are not immune from these challenges and the worrying impact we’re starting to feel is the resilience of the welfare sector shrinking – at a time when demand for our services is increasing,” she said.

“We’ve seen charities having to shut some of their centres, make redundancies, close to new intakes or decrease stocking levels to reduce running costs. Sadly, we’ve lost some charities who have closed permanently, finding the ever-increasing costs unsustainable.”

World Horse Welfare had rehomed 302 equines and taken in 200 by 30 November. Of the charity’s 2,200-plus rehomed horses and ponies, 155 were returned this year.

Ms Gordon reported that welfare cases involving large numbers of horses “continue to further deplete” rescue centres’ capacity.

“Some of the big operations have involved horses who have been sold or passed on by their owners to unknown fates, many later rescued from dealers and hoarding situations,” she said.

“We’ve also seen cases where owners and breeders have passed away or become very ill with no succession plan, leaving charities to pick up the pieces.”

This year Blue Cross launched a strategy, “designed to support private horse owners in times of need”. The charity took in 434 equines compared to 212 in 2024, the majority from private homes.

“There are many reasons owners are reluctantly having to relinquish their horses, but financial strain is the most common. Rising veterinary costs, combined with this year’s sharp increases in hay and straw prices, have placed significant pressure on households,” a Blue Cross spokesperson told H&H.

“To meet demand, the charity brings horses in for rehabilitation and rehoming, while also expanding its Home Direct scheme, which allows horses to remain in their homes while Blue Cross helps match them with new owners.”

Blue Cross reported a “dip” in rehoming figures, from 250 last year to 231 this year – thought to be “linked to the rising costs of hay, feed and winter care”.

By 30 November, Redwings had taken in 51 equines, down from 98 last year.

“While this is a big drop on recent years, this is unfortunately all the space we’ve had available. With around 1,200 existing residents, we must ensure we don’t compromise their continuing care over new intakes, and that has meant space has been very limited this year,” Redwings chief executive Lynn Cutress told H&H.

Redwings rehomed 93 horses and ponies by the end of November, compared to 88 in 2024.

“We are pleased these numbers have held steady and encourage anyone looking to take on a horse to consider Redwings, or another equine charity,” said Ms Cutress.

The RSPCA admitted 546 equines by 30 November and rehomed more than 200.

“2025 has been a challenging year for the RSPCA and other equine charities, as rising costs for hay, veterinary care and other essentials have driven up the cost of caring for horses. This comes at a time when the cost-of-living crisis continues to impact horse carers,” said RSPCA equine expert Mark Kennedy.

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‘Excellent for increasing trust and confidence’: police welcome horses’ return after 26 years

Becky Murray — Thu, 25 Dec 2025 16:02:16 +0000

Police horses have returned to the West Midlands after a 26-year break, in a move aimed at creating jobs and contributing to public trust and confidence.

This month West Midlands Police launched its new mounted section as the first five horses began patrols. The unit will comprise two sergeants and 12 constables; seven other fully trained police horses have been identified and are “undergoing extensive health checks” before moving to the region.

The news follows the announcement in March that Gloucestershire Constabulary’s mounted section would close, as part of plans to save £12.3m over 12 months. One of Gloucestershire’s horses, Bruce, has transferred to West Midlands Police. H&H has asked Gloucestershire Constabulary where the remaining five horses have moved to.

West Midlands Police assistant chief constable Mike O’Hara said it is a “moment in history for West Midlands” as horses are welcomed back to the region. The unit was disbanded in 1999.

“We have been working on this project for over a year and the plans have been carefully considered. We are confident that our mounted unit will generate income from loaning the horses to other forces and in support of this work, we’re also exploring sponsorship options that could help cover food and other expenses,” he said.

Mr O’Hara added that jobs for both police officers and staff have been created as part of the plans. The horses are staying in temporary homes around the region until the unit’s new stable Tally Ho!, in Edgbaston, Birmingham, opens in spring, which will be run by an equine stable manager, police staff grooms and an apprentice groom.

The horses will be involved in routine local policing and “ultra-high visibility patrols” at major events and weekends in town centres.

“Our recent experience at football matches has shown that just six police horses can manage crowds that usually take one police support unit equalling over 20 police officers. This means those highly skilled officers can be assigned to other roles, actively preventing and investigating crime or supporting victims,” said a West Midlands Police spokesperson.

“More importantly, we have taken learning from other forces, and this has helped us to understand that horses are an excellent tool in increasing trust and confidence. They have been used to great effect when supporting victims and witnesses and for getting people to engage and talk to us.”

Mr O’Hara said West Midlands Police is “really grateful for the help and advice” from World Horse Welfare, which has helped “ensure that our working animals will be well cared for, right from the start”.

A World Horse Welfare spokesperson told H&H police horses are “one of many examples of the horse-human relationship in action”.

“We believe that their safety and wellbeing should be a top priority, so we welcomed West Midlands Police approaching us for advice when they were first looking to bring horses back into their force,” he said.

“We look forward to engaging with them further to help them ensure that their newest recruits will thrive in their new home.”

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Little donkeys find forever home together in time for Christmas

Eleanor Jones — Thu, 25 Dec 2025 14:46:56 +0000

Two little donkeys born weeks apart at an equine rescue centre can look forward to Christmas in their new home together.

Peanut and Popcorn were born last year at World Horse Welfare’s Belwade Farm rescue and rehoming centre, in Aberdeenshire, which had taken in their heavily pregnant rescued mothers Mia and Molly.

“Donkeys bond very strongly so Peanut and Popcorn, who were born 10 weeks apart, were looking for a home together once they were old enough,” a World Horse Welfare spokesperson said. “Rehoming a pair can often be tricky, as not everyone has space to take two animals at once – but luck was on Peanut and Popcorn’s side and they found the perfect home at the end of September.”

Carol, who has welcomed the two young donkeys, said someone she knew sent her the links to their profiles on the World Horse Welfare website.

“As soon as I read their profiles, I thought this would be the ideal home for them,” she said.

“I did take time to consider it carefully before applying though, as I already had two donkeys and needed to be sure it was right for them too.

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

“After I applied, I was invited to the farm to meet Peanut and Popcorn and could tell it would be a great match with my two older donkeys, Duffy and Henrietta. Peanut and Popcorn have fitted right in and they’re such characters – they’re very funny. They’ve really livened Duffy and Henrietta up and it’s lovely to see them all zooming round the field together.

“All my animals have a home for life, so hopefully this is just the first of many happy Christmases with their new friends. I can’t imagine them not being here now.”

Carol added that she has always been keen on rehoming, to give animals the second chance they deserve.

“Giving Peanut and Popcorn a home has made space for two more horses or donkeys in need to be rescued,” she said. “It’s been a brilliant experience for me – the Belwade Farm team were all really friendly and helpful, as well as very efficient. I’d recommend rehoming to anyone.”

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‘Heartbreaking to see him so afraid’ but foal dumped at six weeks old learns to trust thanks to positive reinforcement training

Eleanor Jones — Mon, 01 Dec 2025 12:52:37 +0000

A tiny foal who was dumped at six weeks old has been taken on by a broody mare – and learned to trust people thanks to positive reinforcement training.

The colt, named Malcolm after one of his rescuers was found alone and terrified a few months ago, but has made huge progress, and is learning to “be a normal horse”.

A spokesperson for World Horse Welfare said: “Malcolm was utterly terrified of humans after being found in July in a large open field, with a railway line on one side and a busy road on the other. Staff from World Horse Welfare rushed to his aid, fearing the frightened foal could bolt into danger at any moment.”

The charity’s director of UK Malcolm Morley, an experienced equine vet who leads UK welfare operations, said staff knew they had to get Malcolm to safety as soon as possible.

“He was so terrified after what he’d gone through that he needed to be sedated before he could be caught and loaded safely. It was a huge relief when he was on his way to our centre and the compassionate care he so deserved.”

The colt arrived at World Horse Welfare’s Glenda Spooner Farm “absolutely petrified of humans”.

Centre manager Claire Dickie said even stepping into the crew yard, an area designed for working safely with unhandled horses, would “send him careering around in panic”.

“At six weeks old, he should have been playful and curious about the world around him, so it was heartbreaking to see him so afraid,” she said.

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

It was far too early for Malcolm to have been weaned so the charity’s team has been hand-rearing him, which gave groom Amy McCormack the chance to build a relationship with him.

“Positive reinforcement is a vital training tool for us,” Amy said. “This means we’ve used feeding time to help Malcolm link people with good things. Wither scratches – a favourite friendly gesture for horses – have also helped to teach him that humans can be associated with comfort and safety.

“He’s now happy for me to touch him all over, which is huge progress. We’re taking it steady so as not to overwhelm him at any point, but I’m so proud of him already.”

The team also found a foster mother for Malcolm to help him learn to interact with other horses.

“We can’t tell you her story yet, as she’s part of a prosecution case,” said Claire. “But it’s amazing how she immediately took Malcolm under her wing. She’s had a foal of her own previously and got very broody when we had new foals born on the farm this summer, so we thought we’d try her with him.

“She adopted him straight away and is doing a wonderful job showing him how to be a normal horse.

“Given how his story began, it’s amazing to see how far he’s come. In time, we hope his tragic start will be just a distant memory and that he’ll go on to live a happy, healthy life in a loving home.”

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‘It’s not about winning, it’s about these wonderful horses’: Olympic medallist on her journey with her ‘best friends’

Eleanor Jones — Tue, 25 Nov 2025 17:43:24 +0000

“We do this because we absolutely love horses and respect them as animals, and we want to work together in harmony as friends. And I’ve got a huge amount to learn, but I do my utmost to do right by the horses.”

Eventing legend Pippa Funnell spoke of her journey in equestrianism, and her joy in that journey, and her philosophy of treating her horses as friends, at the 2025 World Horse Welfare conference on 21 November.

The theme of the event was “Through the horse’s eyes”, and Pippa, a patron of World Horse Welfare, said she decided quickly to accept the invitation to speak.

“I feel throughout my career, I have tried my absolute utmost to see things through the horse’s eyes,” she said. “They suffer nerves like we do. They need their hands holding with sympathetic riding and sympathetic handling.”

Pippa said her journey started as a pony-mad youngster who loved horses – and dogs – dearly. Her godfather Raymond Brooks-Ward gave her her first pony, Pepsi, a “little scruffy black pony” who lived out all year.

“I used to dream in those days that one day I would have a clipped-out horse, as I used to get my welly boots stuck in the mud, and would be scraping inches of mud off him before I rode him all through the winter,” she said.

Pippa’s second pony was Flighty from her mother Jenny Nolan’s great friend Ruth McMullen, who became Pippa’s long-term mentor.

Getting into horses’ minds

“Flighty was a four-year-old, so right from a young age, I had to learn how to get into the pony’s mind,” she said. “He tried at any opportunity to buck me off; I had to learn stickability, and I realised he was far less likely to buck when I rode him forward. That’s advice we give our riders now on young, fresh horses that come out a bit jolly each day, especially through the winter.”

After Flighty came Jeremy Fisher, whose conformation was not the greatest. Pippa said this meant she was most likely to succeed in “best rider” classes, so learned to ride as well as possible – and she found that when she rode better, the ponies went better.

Then came Sir Barnaby, bought as a fun horse, a Pony Club horse.

“Never, in my wildest dreams, would I imagine that Barnaby would have taken me through Pony Club right up to my first Badminton, my first Burghley, and winning at Gatcombe in the British open championships,” she said.

“Barnaby taught me that it’s important to have mutual respect. In the early days, he had no respect for me. I was very intimidated by his size, and he tried to take advantage of me at every opportunity. Every time he saw anything out hacking, he would spin around, and I realised that if I kept him straight, I’d be able to stop him from spinning. I had to do this because at some stage, he was going to hurt himself and he was going to hurt me.

“I had to learn that. So throughout my childhood, I really think I learned so much from all the youngsters I had, and those valuable lessons, I believe, have helped me throughout my career.”

Pippa Funnell and MCS Maverick finish ninth at Badminton 2024. (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Pippa spent eight years with Ruth, and watched her ability to get the best out of any horse.

“It was this time at Ruth’s that brings me to my first quote,” she said. “I use quotes with a lot of the young riders I help and mentor: ‘Work on your horse and your horse will get better. Work on yourself and all your horses will get better’.

“How true I found this over the years; any issues I have with horses, I first think ‘What am I doing wrong? How can I improve myself to help the horse?’ Another thing Ruth always used to say is that 90% of a horse’s problems are caused by the rider, riders using conflicting aids.”

Pippa cited riders who say a horse is strong, but they are driving with the seat and holding in with the hands, confusing the horse. She also stressed the importance of balance and an independent seat, as if the rider is unbalanced by a spook, and catches the horse in the mouth, that creates a bad experience for the horse.

“So actually, horses don’t just associate that monster or plastic bag with fear,” she said. “They associate that with a reaction from riders losing their balance. If you lose your balance backwards, be quick to follow with the hand.”

Taking time

Pippa also stressed that taking time is key, to perfect the basics and not rush a horse before he is ready. “Trust takes years to build, seconds to break and for ever to repair,” she said, citing one occasion when she lost patience with Jeremy Fisher and “set him back weeks”.

“I went to bed that night, I would have been 12 years old, and I never slept because I felt so bad about it,” she said. “I thought my pony does not understand the words ‘I’m sorry’. So I really did [take that on board] and I’ve stuck by it ever since.”

“If you want a good friend, you need to be a good friend,” she added. “Trust to me is built up by confidence, mutual respect, empathy and for me, above all, friendship.”

Pippa paid tribute to her great horses, including Bits And Pieces, Supreme Rock and Primmores Pride, with whom she won medals, five-stars and the Rolex Grand Slam of eventing.

“But it wasn’t about the winning,” she said. “It was more about working with these wonderful, wonderful animals.”

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How ‘change can come, if enough people want what’s right for their horses’

Eleanor Jones — Mon, 24 Nov 2025 18:08:39 +0000

The welfare of horses is so much more than health and safety – and we need the right legislation and role modelling to ensure it is the best it can be.

These were views shared by a panel of experts at the 2025 World Horse Welfare conference, the theme of which was “Through the horse’s eyes”.

British Equine Veterinary Association president Imogen Burrows, H&H editor-in-chief Sarah Jenkins, top eventer Zara Tindall and MP and horse owner Liz Saville Roberts discussed the way forward.

To start the conversation, broadcaster David Eades, who was chairing the session, asked: “What can we do to improve policies towards equine welfare so they reflect modern approaches from a horse’s perspective, which go beyond purely health issues?”

Ms Saville Roberts said the industry needs to be aware there will be “more and more questions” about the way we involve horses in our activities.

“Many people here will be very aware of what happened to hunting, and quite possibly [trail] hunting is going to follow the same route,” she said. “And there are questions about dressage. I think for everybody who loves horses, we need to be very alert to not being hidebound and automatically saying no to all changes that are going to be expected. We have to be ahead and make sure we respond in a way that is seen to put horses’ welfare first.”

She said that much legislation covering horses is devolved and stressed the importance of not assuming MPs know all the issues, so people should make them aware.

“In terms of legislation for welfare, the role in which we can enforce versus the role in which we encourage is always a very fine line,” she added. “And if enforcement is through environmental health and officers in local authorities, it may be statutory, but it’ll be way down from social care and education at a time when there’s been a decade of cuts.”

Future change

Asked about how she sees the horse world changing in the next 10 years, Ms Jenkins said she sees public perception and social licence as separate from what the horse world does.

“There’s a job to do in explaining to the wider public what we do and why we do it, but first we need to sense-check that what we’re doing is the right thing,” she said.

“If, for example, we can honestly go to the public and say our ceremonial horses are kept in a way that ensures they have the freedoms they need, we can genuinely reassure them there’s no reason for concern over their welfare. If that’s not the case, we won’t convince them.

“I think step one, understand what horses actually need. Step two, make sure that as horse people, we’re implementing that. Step three is letting the public know that’s what we’re doing. We can’t just go and tell them we’re OK.”

Changing approach

The panel was asked how yards, vets and others should approach truly seeing through horses’ eyes, and Ms Burrows said this could be done much better.

“We’re an industry that’s really being reflective around this, and I’m so privileged to be part of that,” she said, adding that her key in moving away from just equine health to overall better welfare was “what that horse’s experience was and how I could make that better”.

Panellists considered the fact that there are no mandatory qualifications to own or run a livery yard, and the possibility of licences for horse ownership.

“It does seem that the degree of knowledge of people working in the sector and owners is a matter of luck whether people are well informed,” Ms Saville Roberts said. “If people are in livery yards, you have an opportunity. But we need to be able to engage people with understanding animals’ needs in a way that is not necessarily looking to penalise, but that rewards knowledge.”

Ms Jenkins pointed out that enforcing any livery licensing scheme would be a challenge.

“We can try to ‘force’ people, but also we can show people how the best do it, and if the best are doing it in a way that’s brilliant for the horses, others will take that on,” she said. “Change can come about outside legislation, if enough people want what’s right for their horses.”

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How the story of a beaver who pawed her glass window could improve the way we keep horses

Eleanor Jones — Sun, 23 Nov 2025 12:56:14 +0000

The story of a North American beaver who went from repetitively pawing glass to successfully building dams could have repercussions for the way we keep our horses.

Rick Hester, director of animal care and wellbeing at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado, was among the speakers at the 2025 World Horse Welfare conference (21 November), the theme of which was “Through the horse’s eyes”.

Mr Hester, who has spoken at the International Society for Equitation Science conference, told guests it is clear the zoo and equestrian worlds “have a shared goal of improving the lives of the animals in our care through a compassionate science application”.

“I hope that this crossover continues, and I’m excited to see where it might lead us,” he said.

Mr Hester explained that to understand behaviour, we have to “know what the genes are doing, what the brain is doing and what the environment is doing”. He added that his role considers species’ natural history and behaviour, considering the role of the animals’ environment.

“When we behave, the environment changes too,” he said. “It’s like casting a stone into water, there’s a ripple. The environment responds; individuals act upon the world and change it and are changed in turn by the consequences of their actions. There’s this transaction, this interaction, exchange, between our behaviour and the world around us. And that’s what’s meant by the term operant behaviour. We’re talking about learned behaviour, the result of experience where the organism is an operator, they act on their world.

“So what does it look like? What does behaviour look like when an environment is lacking? An environment is insufficient when it lacks diversity, variety and variability, and similarly, a behavioural repertoire is insufficient when it lacks diversity, variety and variability.”

Repetitive pawing

Mr Hester showed footage of a beaver who, as seen on video camera, spent two to four hours a night repetitively pawing a pane of glass bordering her enclosure.

“We see in this way how behaviour and environment mirror one another,” he said. “She is not in a diverse environment, so she doesn’t perform a diverse repertoire.

“We call patterns of behaviour like this stereotypic. We’re talking about a narrowness, a lot of one thing. The problem is not inside the animal, the problem is inside this animal’s environment, so we change conditions, we change the environment to change behaviour.”

Mr Hester said that the zoo team provides elements to ensure each environment is responsive to changes resulting from operant behaviour. He cited a 1996 research paper that identified free operant freedoms, which guide engineering of environments.

“The first is the freedom to initiate, to start, stop, start over and skip an activity,” he said. “If I were to put an asterisk on one of these freedoms, it would be on this one. In the wild environment, animals are always free to initiate behaving for reinforcers [meaningful outcomes of behaviour].

“The second is the freedom to repeat responses, then to form responses, to inventively select what you do, and to self-pace. So what does this look like from a practical point of view?

“There are four criteria that help us improve engagement. We try to design environments where the resources the reinforcers are slow to deplete, to satiate or we’ve come in with a strong enough dose, there’s enough reinforcers present in the environment to be meaningful. And where there is some intermittence, the animal doesn’t succeed on every attempt, just like in the wild environment, they learn to be persistent problem solvers.”

Studying the wild animal

Mr Hester said that when trying to identify any species’ reinforcers, it is key to ask those who have studied them in the wild.

“If you ask that question for North American beaver, you tend to get these answers that they will be where there’s running water, abundant vegetation and manipulable substrates, dirt or mud,” he said. “So that’s what we provided for these beavers.”

The zoo could not provide running water in the beavers’ enclosure but having seen research that found the sound of running water alone had encouraged beavers to build dams, they provided a recording. They provided abundant branches and vegetation and, having seen one beaver digging in a particular place, moved the speaker to the same spot.

“They began building a dam there that night,” Mr Hester said.

There was no more pawing of glass and within a week, the beaver who had been pawing had refined her dam-building skills. A year later, the pawing had not returned.

“Here, we ask what reinforcers do we want animals behaving to get,” Mr Hester said. “Our focus is on the reinforcer, when we put those in the environment, behaviour will emerge to control them.

“How do we make environments responsive to animals? How will those reinforcers depend on their behaviour? When we map out the answers to those questions, we’re on the road to freeing up the operant and a more enriching lifestyle for the animals in our care.”

Translating to the horse world

Asked if this would translate to horses, Mr Hester said he is confident it is applicable.

“Behaviour is this uniting principle on the planet, so it has cross-species relevance that’s very exciting,” he said. “I’d start by looking at what horses do in the wild; what choices do they make in environments where their choices are maximal?

“I work with a conservationist named Michael Brown, and he calls the wild environment a decision landscape; it’s full of choices, but species make relatively predictable choices.”

Mr Hester said in the day’s other presentations, he’d seen video of horses in a diverse environment, including water holes, dust baths and play with other members of the herd.

“What are those features of the environment?” he said “That’s where I would begin, and when you put them in, then you stand back and watch; watch animals learn how to control those outcomes, and it often requires a few revisions.

“As you see the animals interact, like the location of the running water sound, we had to make a revision in order for that to work.”

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‘Never blame a horse for poor behaviour’: the five facts your horse would like you to know

Eleanor Jones — Sat, 22 Nov 2025 19:22:01 +0000

The need to move and forage, and the capacity to feel joy, are among key facts it is thought horses would like us to know, remember and respond to.

Janne Winther Christensen, an associate professor in ethology, the study of animal behaviour, at Aarhus University, Denmark, addressed the World Horse Welfare conference yesterday (21 November), the theme of which was “Through the horse’s eyes”.

The aim of the day was to start to see the world as horses do, to help give them a good life from their perspective, not ours.

Dr Christiensen, whose research has covered horse behaviour, behavioural needs and stress biology in relation to housing, management, handling and training, shared “five facts that I believe our horses would like us to know and remember”.

“Horses are sentient beings, and they have emotions just like us,” she said. “For example, horses experience fear, and when they do, it’s the same part of the brain that becomes activated, the same physiological and behavioral responses, as we experience when we experience fear.”

As well as fear and pain, Dr Christiansen added, “Horses can feel joy. They can feel satisfaction, but they can also become frustrated when their behavioral needs are not met, or when they are exposed to high mental or physical load. Some studies have also shown that horses may even be in a state of depression.”

Fact two is that “horses need to move and forage”.

Dr Christiansen showed graphs of the time horses spend eating, standing and lying down in different environments; when stabled and fed mainly concentrates, they spend far longer just standing, which can lead to abnormal behaviours.

Variety of forage

She also cited recent research showing that horses will forage on a variety of plants, even when grass is abundant.

“This gives opportunity to have different tastes and smells and textures,” she said. “So this variable foraging is very likely related to improved welfare, because expression of an adaptive behavior is linked to positive mental experiences.

“So even when we do give our horses access to pasture, they’re very often in ‘grass deserts’, when it’s much more natural for horses to forage in areas with a much richer biodiversity. So I think we can benefit welfare of horses and our environment if we try to increase biodiversity in the areas our horses are pastured.”

The next fact is that horses need social contact; Dr Christiansen said a study found they will work for this; horses stabled without physical contact with others would press 40 times on a lever to get three minutes of contact with another horse.

“It’s also been shown that horses will show rebound behavior if they have been prevented from social contact with other horses for a period of time,” she said. “They show much more social behaviour than they would have done if they had not been prevented from social contact. It has also been shown that lack of social contact is linked to stress and development of stereotypies. And these three conditions are what characterises a behavioral need. So social need, social contact, is not just a nice to have, it’s a need to have.”

Communicating emotions

The fourth fact is that horses will communicate their emotions, “we’re just not always so good at listening to what they’re saying to us”.

Dr Christiansen showed videos of a horse enjoying a scratch from a human and a pony expressing discomfort while being tacked up. Spooking, tail-swishing and the “pain face” are also ways horse communicate.

The last fact is that horses do not plan ahead.

“We should not underestimate horses, but we should also not overestimate their mental capabilities, because this can have significant welfare consequences,” Dr Christiansen said.

“So if we use phrases such as ‘He’s just being naughty’, ‘he always wants to test his rider’, ‘he knows what he did wrong’, ‘he knows better’. ‘he’s lazy, he’s stubborn’, we put the blame on the horse, and putting the blame on the horse will justify punishment.

“We should never blame horses for unwanted behaviour, because horses are not capable of making detailed plans ahead.

“So to sum up, horses are sentient beings, they have emotions. Horses need to move and forage; we know that is not always reflected in our husbandry system, so this is something we can work towards. Horses need social contact – it’s not just nice to have, it’s a need to have. Horses communicate their emotions, but we need to become much better at understanding their emotions and the behaviours they’re trying to show us, and horses do not plan ahead, so we should never blame a horse for poor behaviour.”

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‘We’ve got to be better at listening to horses – their behaviour is their conversations with us,’ says equine welfare expert

Eleanor Jones — Thu, 20 Nov 2025 19:23:26 +0000

Truly putting ourselves in horses’ shoes and trying to understand the world as they do is a simple concept in theory – but could have a huge impact.

This is the message of the 2025 World Horse Welfare conference on 21 November, the theme of which is “Through the horse’s eyes”.

There has been a shift in thinking about equine welfare, from just minimising negative welfare experiences to ensuring horses have a life well lived – from their perspective rather than ours.

“We all like to think we give our horses what they need to have a good life, but how much do we truly consider how they experience the lives we create for them?” the conference preview states. “While we can never truly know what a horse thinks or feels, mounting evidence is painting a sometimes surprising picture that is challenging many of our beliefs about what good horse care looks like.”

World Horse Welfare CEO Roly Owers told H&H why the charity had chosen this theme.

“Everyone is talking about this broader perspective on welfare, yet part of our rationale is that it’s still not really landing,” he said. “People are still very focused on health and physical welfare; health is one of the five domains and a really important one, but it’s only one of them.”

The five domains model for welfare assessment comprises health, nutrition, environment, behaviour and mental state, and Mr Owers said the first four feed into the “ultimate state” – how horses feel in themselves.

“What’s relevant to the horse is how it feels at any moment in any environment,” he said. “That’s one line of thought, the other is very much about the pitfalls of being anthropomorphic.”

Anthropomorphism

Mr Owers gave the example that it was due to turn colder this week, so people may rug their horses, because they themselves are cold, whereas many horses would be better off unrugged.

“Laminitis is another example, when people provide lots of care, but quite often it’s the wrong care because they’re not thinking about it through the horse’s eyes,” he said.

“That’s obviously a very challenging thing, because you’re challenging some fundamentally held principles. That’s some of the rationale for why we really wanted to try to start to unpick what we recognise is a really complicated thing. We only know what we think. We don’t know what horses think. But more evidence, more understanding is coming all the time.”

Speakers include Janne Winther Christensen, an associate professor in ethology, the study of animals’ behaviour in their natural environment, at Aarhus University, Denmark. She has researched horse behaviour, behavioural needs and stress biology, and how human-animal interactions affect behaviour and welfare of both parties.

Top eventer Pippa Funnell will cover how her perspective on riding and training has evolved to consider it through the horse’s eyes and Sam Tibbetts, founder of equine nursing facility Loddington Coppice Equine Healthcare, how she has designed her yard in a horse-centric way. Guests will also hear from Cheyenne Mountain Zoo director of animal care Rick Hester and a panel discussion featuring experts including H&H editor-in-chief Sarah Jenkins.

“I think that in too many conversations, the point doesn’t land,” World Horse Welfare director of communications and public affairs Jessica Stark told H&H.

“A lot of people still look at it in terms of protecting health and safety of animals, but by trying to get people to see things through the horse’s eyes – what are they experiencing, how are they being affected by the environments we put them in, what we do and don’t allow them to do and how we engage with them – we can start to think more about how we can provide better lives for them.”

Small changes

Mr Owers said it may seem like a huge task but starting to shift our view is key. Simple starters could include watching stabled horses on camera to observe their behaviour.

“It’s not just horsemanship and listening to our horses and responding to them, it’s actually trying to get inside their minds, to look at the world the way they see it,” he said. “That’s a really complicated thing to do, a culture change in some ways, but what we’re really excited about is that this could help.

“We can each do our own thing to explore this more in our relationship with our horses, informing ourselves by the latest scientific understanding. There are lots of incremental changes we can all do daily, and we’ve got to be better at listening to our horses; their behaviour and manner are the conversations they’re having with us.

“There’s a really exciting message, about how it can almost open up a whole new aspect and dimension to our relationship with our horses. We only learn by listening, and that’s what this is all about.”

Register to watch the conference online

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‘When whips are fashion accessories, what message does that send?’ asks equine welfare expert

Eleanor Jones — Tue, 11 Nov 2025 13:01:46 +0000

What message do we send when we treat whips as fashion accessories?

This was a question posed at the British Equestrian Trade Association bits, bridling and saddlery conference (28-29 October), as experts looked into what all equestrians do to give horses truly good lives.

World Horse Welfare CEO Roly Owers spoke about “Welfare in riding – our role in influencing change”.

He told guests: “At our heart, we’re all about inspiring people to put the horse at the centre of everything they do.

“We’d all like a harmonious relationship with our horses, and that’s what the public wants to see. But we need to acknowledge there’s an imbalance of power in the relationship. We control everything the horse does, and want to control how they perform under saddle. But horses are way stronger than us, and that’s where tack and equipment come in. They’re key in how we exercise our power, so it’s vital we choose equipment that respects that imbalance, and doesn’t take advantage of it.”

Mr Owers said responsibility is shared; regulators determine what can be used, riders and coaches use it, educators teach about it. And equestrian trade also has a “pivotal” role.

“If people can’t buy a piece of equipment, they can’t use it,” he said. “Equipment that might compromise welfare can’t be used if it’s not available, equipment that might improve welfare needs to be available so people can use it.”

The horse’s perspective

Mr Owers said all equipment must be considered from the horse’s perspective.

“Riding involves physical pressure on the horse, so we need to ask fundamental questions,” he said. “Where does the horse experience pressure, and can we mitigate it? Does a piece of kit lead to conflicting or inescapable pressures? If so, why are we manufacturing it?”

Mr Owers said the trade can influence positive welfare by taking into account ongoing research, citing manufacturers such as Fairfax, which develop tack and equipment based on scientific studies, and having conversations with stakeholders to guide “evidence-based, pro-welfare design”. Learning about equine behaviour and expressions is also key, to ensure horses are “happy” and comfortable.

“Any of your communication strategies could be used to educate people about welfare and promote pro-welfare messages,” he said. “And finally, while not really lorinery or saddlery, whips have a legitimate place in training horses, when used in accordance with learning theory and in a way that’s minimally aversive. And if we’re honest, so much current whip use is neither, which harms both the horses and public acceptance. What message do we send when we treat whips as a fashion accessory?

“Every sector of the horse world has its part to play in promoting and protecting equine welfare, and there are multiple opportunities [in the trade], from design to marketing to messaging. Moving towards ethical evidence-based standards may be, will be, the best strategy to positively influence the welfare of the ridden, indeed all of the horses in our care.”

Ethical riding

Madeleine Campbell, professor of veterinary ethics at Nottingham University, looked into how everyone can play their part in ethical riding.

She cited the ethical framework for involvement of horses in sport, which she published in 2021 to work through whether any issue is ethical or not.

“The central tenets can be applied to pretty much any human use of non-human animals,” she said. “If we’re thinking about the way each of us can do the best by our horses every day; what does this horse actually need? What do I need to do to meet its welfare needs as well as I can? If we have at the back of our mind these three central tenets, always, that’s a help.”

Dr Campbell said the first tenet is to minimise negative and maximise positive welfare experiences – and although the first is “kind of obvious”, “we’ve only begun much more recently to understand what actually gives the horse a positive welfare impact, then to provide that”. The second is to identify and mitigate avoidable, unnecessary risks, such as introducing frangible devices to reduce the risk of falls in eventing, and the third is to comply with laws and governing bodies’ rules.

“The question is, what does that mean in everyday life?” she said. “Part of this is around shared responsibility for equine welfare, sometimes explained as a form of safeguarding.”

Safeguarding

Dr Campbell said that in safeguarding children, everyone involved in each child’s life shares responsibility not only for protecting them but for helping them flourish.

“This is the analogy for us, that all of us involved in equestrianism need to accept we share that responsibility for equine welfare, and that is part of our ethical approach,” she said, adding that this is everyone from riders and grooms to vets, farriers and saddlers. “They all have a role to play in optimising the wellbeing of the horse, so ensuring we’re approaching our use of horses ethically, and it’s crucial they all talk to each other.”

Dr Campbell cited ongoing work on equine behavioural indicators of positive welfare states as key, as this will allow us to know, and show, when horses are having positive experiences, and that any small changes to improve welfare will add up to better lives for horses.

“I do think it’s ethical for humans to use some animals, as I do think we can give them good lives. All of us can think of a horse, many horses, who we’re confident are having good lives, and if one is, they all can.”

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‘Think carefully about where horses you sell may end up’: warning to owners after six suffering equines owned by ‘horse trader’ had to be put down

Eleanor Jones — Thu, 06 Nov 2025 14:34:55 +0000

Equestrians selling horses have been urged to take care over where they may end up, after six animals owned by a “horse trader” were found in such poor health, they had to be put down.

Edward Caulfield, of Bryn Place, Llay near Wrexham, was given a suspended prison sentence and banned from keeping horses for 10 years, at Wrexham Magistrates’ Court on October 21. The 44-year-old had pleaded guilty to six animal welfare offences.

The court heard that when World Horse Welfare field officers went to his farm in Dark Lane, Rosett near Wrexham, last December, “there were obvious signs that horses were being neglected in filthy barns”, an RSPCA spokesperson said.

“Several were underweight and were suffering with dental issues and overgrown hooves as well as skin conditions, while some were lame and one foal was suffering with respiratory problems.”

The spokesperson said World Horse Welfare had raised concerns about equines on a visit to the farm a month before, but their condition had worsened, and a “very underweight” bay mare and her foal were of particular concern.

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Field officer Rachel Andrews said: “I was shocked as the mare had little to no fat or muscle cover across her body. Her spine, ribs and pelvis were protruding and her foal’s condition had deteriorated. The area in which they were being kept was very dirty, and the ground was a mixture of mud and faeces.”

The World Horse Welfare staff were joined by the RSPCA and police at the farm the next day to seize the mare and foal so they could be checked by a vet.

“A chestnut mare and a bay mare, both of whose ribs, spine and pelvis were visible, another chestnut mare and a small bay mare suffering with facial swellings were also removed from the farm,” the RSPCA spokesperson said.

“The bay mare, who had a parasite infection, later collapsed and was put to sleep by an on-call vet. Her foal was struggling to breathe because of a neck swelling which had narrowed the trachea and a vet, who examined her a week later, decided that the kindest course of action was to put the foal to sleep.

“One chestnut mare was suffering with lameness and dental issues, a bay pony had a parasite infection and the other chestnut mare was lame and suffering with overgrown hooves. The sixth, a bay mare, was suffering with very overgrown hooves and dental and eye problems. A vet decided that the kindest thing was for all these four equines to be put to sleep to end their suffering.

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

“The vet concluded that the defendant had failed to provide proper veterinary and farrier care, parasite treatment, dental care as well as an adequate diet and a suitable environment for all six equines.”

In mitigation the court heard Caulfield, who it was said was a horse trader, had been experiencing personal problems as his wife and father had been ill.

The RSPCA inspector who investigated said: “These horses were found in dreadful conditions with various health problems, but their owner failed to take heed of the advice given to seek out vet treatment and their conditions deteriorated further.”

As well as the 10-year ban on owing horses, Caulfield was given a 16-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to complete 10 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 230 hours of unpaid work and pay costs of £2,122.68.

World Horse Welfare director of UK Malcolm Morley, said: “We’d urge anyone considering selling a horse to think very carefully about where they may end up. We see all too many cases where formerly ridden horses have ended up in situations where their welfare has suffered.”

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Research confirms enrichment can have a positive impact on stabled horses

Becky Murray — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 13:35:01 +0000

Hay feeders, mirrors and activity balls can improve horses’ time in the stable, research has shown.

In a study published in Animals, US researchers assessed the physiological and behavioural responses of nine stabled horses to hay feeders, mirrors and activity balls, provided in addition to their usual bucket feed and hay fed from the ground.

The results showed that enrichment increased heart rate, foraging and locomotion and that overall, horses performed more “species-typical time budgets”.

“The hay feeder, activity ball and mirror appeared equally engaging, so we concluded that both edible and non-edible items can be effective enrichment,” lead author Miranda Brauns of the University California Davis told H&H.

“Additionally, enrichment decreased frustration behaviours, so we suggest that horses responded to enrichment with a positive emotional state, although additional research involving judgment bias testing is needed to more definitively conclude horses’ emotional states.”

Ms Brauns said the aim was to improve understanding so we can “better utilise enrichment as a welfare tool, particularly for horses who may spend sizeable time in a stable setting”.

“Enrichment effects on horses have been studied before, but there is very limited research that analyses both physiological and behavioural components. There is also limited research that compares multiple items within the same study. Therefore, our research incorporated these variables so we may obtain a more comprehensive understanding of enrichment,” said Ms Brauns.

“This study gives evidence that providing enrichment has a positive effect on physiology and behaviour, so it is strongly recommended to improve the overall welfare of stabled horses. We also found a time-of-day effect, so we recommend providing enrichment during times when horses do not have daily meal provisions.

“Individual horses may respond to enrichment in different ways, so horse owners are encouraged to try different enrichments to see what works best for their horse.”

In the study, the horses’ had at least one and a half hours of training and 30 minutes of turnout per day. H&H asked Ms Brauns if she felt the results might be different with increased turnout.

“I would hypothesise that results would be different if turnout time was greater. This is supported by enrichment studies that tested in larger paddocks and had differing results to ours,” she said.

“For example, Benhajali et al. 2009 saw a decrease in locomotion with enrichment whereas we saw an increase. Even if testing remained in stalls, a greater time in turnout may change how horses behave while in their stalls, due to the fact that turnout can be considered a form of enrichment itself. Therefore, this would be another interesting question future research could undertake.”

Read the full study

World Horse Welfare director of UK welfare Malcolm Morley said the charity always recommends that people turn out their horses as much as possible.

“It’s really important to provide horses with the three Fs – friends, forage and freedom. Nothing replaces regular turnout with companions,” he told H&H. “However, if a horse has to be stabled, they should ideally have continuous access to forage, supplemented by a variety of forms of enrichment that may help them cope, so it’s great to have some evidence to support this in the form of this study.

“As ever, we’d urge owners to treat all horses as individuals and try out several different types of enrichment and ways to provide forage to see what their own horse prefers – our farms have seen some quite distinct preferences when trialling this with our horses. More research on longer-term impacts and with larger groups of horses would be welcomed.”

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New ‘invaluable’ research to help owners understand grief in horses

Becky Murray — Tue, 07 Oct 2025 16:44:41 +0000

Allowing a horse to see the body of a companion following its death can help with the grieving process, research into grief in horses has confirmed.

Researchers from the University of Lincoln and the San Marco Veterinary Clinic, Italy, aimed to identify behavioural changes in horses who have experienced the loss of a companion. An online survey collected information on 325 surviving horses, including relationship details between the survivor and deceased, whether the survivor was present at the time of death, if they saw the deceased horse’s body and their behaviour at different time periods following the passing.

The researchers found that most horses showed a change in behaviour following the death of a companion; 58.53% showed an increase in arousal, 68.63% a change in vocalisation and 67.68% an increase in movement. In the first 24 hours, horses who witnessed the death generally increased their vigilance behaviour and reduced time spent eating and sleeping – which “may reflect an initial stress response”.

Horses who had the opportunity to spend time with the body, but who did not witness the death were more likely to have no behaviour change – a response that has also been reported in dogs.

“It is possible that having access to the body allows the surviving horse to gather information on the condition of the companion, such as its lack of responsiveness and/or state of the body, as does witnessing the death of the companion,” said the researchers.

“This might allow a better understanding of the situation – i.e. the ‘death’ of the other in the sense of some form of permanent loss of another.”

Lead researcher Claire Ricci-Bonot told H&H that “perhaps it was not surprising, but it seems that for the surviving horse seeing the body is important”.

“There is growing interest in terms of end-of-life decisions for horses, but there has not been much research about the remaining companion, so we wanted to better understand this,” said Dr Ricci-Bonot, adding that there is a need for further research on how grief links to separation anxiety.

The study found that horses who did not witness the death and/or had no time with the body were more likely to have changes in behaviour, such as increased arousal and vocalisation, during the next six months – similar to responses reported when the same horses had been separated, which “could indicate some form of distress associated with separation”.

“Separation anxiety is a topic that has not been studied much. The grief response is emotionally related to the sense of loss derived from separation from a companion, regardless of its permanence,” said Dr Ricci-Bonot.

Take part in the University of Lincoln’s study on separation anxiety in horses by completing this survey.

World Horse Welfare UK director Malcolm Morley told H&H: “We know that horses, as sentient beings, can experience positive and negative emotions, so this study into grief is invaluable for owners.

“Knowing that allowing a horse to see the body of their lost companion may help them to cope better, in the longer term, enables owners to make an informed decision about how to help their surviving horses through what can be a very difficult time.

“However, it’s important to recognise that it will not always be possible for horses to see the body – if, for instance, a horse passes away during an operation at a veterinary hospital – and that owners shouldn’t feel guilt in such situations, which are out of their control.”

Mr Morley added that ensuring horses have another companion, so they are not left on their own following the death of a friend, “can help greatly with the grieving process”.

“Anyone who loses a horse unexpectedly and has one left alone can contact us and we will do our utmost to find a suitable companion rapidly,” he said.

“We know that equine end of life and decisions around this is a hugely difficult time for owners and it’s absolutely OK to struggle with this. Our advice line is available in office hours on 01953 497238 for anyone in need of an empathetic, expert ear to discuss this decision with.”

Read the study abstract.

What has been your experience of how horses have reacted after losing a companion? Let us know at hhletters@futurenet.com, including your name, nearest town and county, for the chance for your letter to appear in a forthcoming issue of the magazine. Letters may be edited for clarity and length.

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‘Adorable’ but tiny 15kg foal carries a message to would-be horse breeders

Eleanor Jones — Sun, 17 Aug 2025 15:37:56 +0000

This tiny foal may be the smallest – and most adorable – you’ve ever seen.

Pint-sized Pam, who is 5.2hh or 22in tall and weighed 15kg at her birth in July, is likely to be hugely popular with visitors to her home, World Horse Welfare’s Glenda Spooner Farm in Somerset.

But although she and her mother Sophie have homes for life and a secure future, the charity said her arrival highlights the need for potential breeders to stop and think about whether any foal they breed will have the same.

“Adorable foals like Pam are – unsurprisingly! – very popular with our visitors,” said centre manager Claire Dickie.

“Thankfully, Pam arrived safely without needing veterinary intervention, but foals do present a huge cost to our charity, from initial vet visits – whether routine or emergency – to vaccinations, and microchipping and passporting them.”

Shetland Sophie was part of a group who were rescued last September, unhandled and nervous of people.

Picture by World Horse Welfare (Image credit: creditUnknown)

“Having been born in safety, tiny Pam has had good experiences from day one,” Ms Dickie said. “She’s already very confident and has taken meeting the vet in her stride.

“Both Pam and her mum have a safe future now, but I’d urge anyone considering breeding their own foal to stop and really think about whether they can guarantee them a good home for life. It’s very easy to think that if you’re only breeding a small number of foals – whether one a year or even one in your lifetime – that you’re not having a significant impact on the number of horses out there looking for homes. However, in reality there are thousands of people doing the same each year which adds up to a huge number of extra horses.”

The charity has launched a quiz on its website for people considering breeding. Nine foals have been born in World Horse Welfare centres this year, including one to a mare rescued from being smuggled out of the country.

“World Horse Welfare is incurring significant costs for those 11 alone,” a charity spokesperson said. “To support Pam’s ongoing care, as well as to help other vulnerable horses rescued by World Horse Welfare, visit out website.”

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‘Out of sadness a wonderful friendship has blossomed’: abandoned donkey finds new friend in loving home

Eleanor Jones — Sat, 09 Aug 2025 11:11:56 +0000

A donkey who was abandoned while pregnant and who lost her friend has found a loving new home – and a new soul mate.

Young jenny Mia was taken in, heavily in foal, by World Horse Welfare’s Belwade Farm after she was abandoned last summer. She is now living with rehomer Alicia, whose donkey Duffy had lost her friend at about the same time Mia lost her companion Molly.

“Out of sadness, a wonderful friendship has blossomed,” a World Horse Welfare spokesperson said. “Mia and Duffy bonded very quickly and are now thriving together.”

World Horse Welfare groom Jodie worked with Mia before and after the birth of her foal Peanut.

“When Mia first arrived, she was very cautious of people – it took a long time to gain her trust,” said Jodie. “To catch Mia and her friend Molly, who was abandoned with her, for the vet the first time we had to use special treats and all our powers of persuasion! Mia was also very protective of her tummy and hind end and before she had Peanut, she would kick out at anyone who went near either area.

Mia with her foal Peanut. Picture by World Horse Welfare (Image credit: creditUnknown)

“With a lot of time, patience, and careful training, Mia’s relationship with people has completely transformed. Seeing her go from being so apprehensive to enjoying a cuddle and being ready to rehome has been amazing. It’s been a very rewarding journey with Mia and I’m so happy that she’s found a loving home.”

Alicia, who had already rehomed a horse from the charity, took Mia in last month.

“Mia is adorable,” she said. “She and Duffy spent five minutes zooming around together when they were first introduced, then they had a bit of a chat together, and that was it: best friends immediately.

“They’d both sadly lost their friend at a similar time – I hadn’t the heart to rush straight into finding a new donkey and I knew Duffy needed time to mourn. When I felt the time was right, Mia came up for rehoming just a couple of days later.

“Having already rehomed from World Horse Welfare once, I was pleased to do my bit by rehoming again to make space for another animal in need to be rescued. I also knew that Mia would have been fully checked over and that any considerations would be disclosed. Jodie explained that I’d probably need food to catch Mia, but after a couple of weeks in her new home she’s very happy to be caught without it. The team at Belwade Farm has done a great job with her and she’s lovely to handle. She’s a very sweet, gentle little donkey and she loves a fuss. I’m so pleased she and Duffy have bonded so well.”

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Rescued horses ready for new homes six months after strangles outbreak

Lucy Elder — Wed, 02 Jul 2025 12:32:55 +0000

World Horse Welfare’s Norfolk centre has restarted its rehoming scheme after a strangles outbreak resulted in a six-month pause.

A horse rescued from being smuggled out of the country tested positive for the disease on arrival at World Horse Welfare’s Hall Farm Rescue and Rehoming Centre in February. Despite the charity’s strict protocols, it spread to others on the farm.

The outbreak has been controlled and the centre is seeking to rehome a number of horses and ponies, as it is at “maximum capacity”. The farm remains closed to visitors at the moment.

“Due to the nature of our work, unfortunately we do sometimes see horses coming into our care with strangles,” said Hall Farm centre manager Sue Hodgkins.

The initial case was one of the “trafficked 20” – a group of horses found on an unsuitable lorry that was intercepted in Dover at the end of last year.

“We took swift and robust action to manage the situation and have worked with our vets every step of the way,” said Ms Hodgkins.

“With the outbreak well and truly under control, we’re delighted to be able to start finding new homes for our horses again.

“Hall Farm is currently at maximum capacity, so we can’t take in any more equines in need of our expert care until we make space by finding some of our horses and ponies loving homes of their own. I’d urge anyone looking for a horse to consider rehoming – by doing so, you’re not only offering that horse or pony a second chance in life but also making space for another one in need to come into our care.”

She added: “It’s been a really tough time for the team but our supporters have been amazing – we’d like to say a huge thank you for their support and understanding about not being able to visit during the outbreak.

“All being well, we’re hoping to be open to visitors again for the school summer holidays – anyone wanting an update can keep an eye on our news pages or our social media.”

World Horse Welfare’s director of UK Malcolm Morley said: “Taking in horses that need rehabilitating and rehoming those that are ready are such key aspects of our work that it’s had a huge impact not being able to do either of those things during the strangles outbreak.

“With our horses being very carefully managed, and separate teams caring for horses with different infection statuses, our paddocks have been designated as red, amber or green zones. As more and more of our horses have reached green zone status, meaning they’ve tested clear of strangles and been vaccinated, we’ve been able to restart our rehoming scheme.

“Every horse and pony now available for rehoming at Hall Farm has been screened using the gold standard test (guttural pouch lavage), completed a two-dose strangles booster vaccination course and spent a quarantine period in a green-zone paddock.”

Hall Farm’s rehoming coordinator Gemma Hamshaw said the centre has eight equines currently on the rehoming scheme; including six non-ridden companions and two ponies who may be able to be worked in future.

“Crumble and Petal, both aged two, have the potential to make brilliant children’s ponies when old enough,” she said. “The others range in age from five-year-old Captain Tom to 22-year-old Dolly, who will make a wonderful companion to another pony who needs to watch their waistline. We’d love to hear from anyone who thinks they could offer one of our horses and ponies the perfect home.”

For more information on the horses and ponies on the rehoming programme, visit: https://www.worldhorsewelfare.org/rehome/

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‘This is about more than sport’: fresh calls for digital equine passports in the UK and across Europe

Becky Murray — Fri, 27 Jun 2025 13:31:09 +0000

There is a growing demand for a digital equine passport system across Europe – as equestrian leaders say “this is about more than sport”.

On 4 June, stakeholders from organisations including the FEI, World Horse Welfare, the European Equestrian Federation (EEF) and Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) met at the European parliament to discuss revision of EU animal health law and equine identification. The European Commission is evaluating whether its animal health law, which includes rules on equine ID, is still fit for purpose; a decision on whether or not to update it is due in early 2026.

Jessica Stark, World Horse Welfare director of communications and public affairs, highlighted recent high-profile horse smuggling cases to illustrate “how the current paper-based system is not fit for purpose”.

“We must grab this opportunity to make equine identification across Europe fit for purpose,” she told H&H. “The meeting showed there is huge support for this change across the European horse world – from sport to breeding to leisure to tourism – all calling for a digital-first system to ensure horses are truly traceable.

“We need a digital system that connects across Europe, and is accessible by authorities in European countries. Updating the animal health law is our only chance of achieving this.”

EEF president Quentin Simonet told H&H the federation supports a digital system and “sees interest at a global stage”.

“Such evolution would not only provide a more efficient and secure way to follow the identity, health status and movements of horses throughout their careers and lives, but would also play a vital role in protecting animal health, ensuring compliance with welfare standards and supporting cross-border mobility,” he said.

“This initiative is particularly relevant in light of the ongoing evaluation of the animal health law review, which offers a unique opportunity to modernise the framework for equine traceability. This would help to close existing gaps between national systems and remove loopholes that the current paper version cannot fully address.”

At the meeting, FEI veterinary and welfare director Göran Åkerström presented on the FEI’s digital passport initiative – announced at the FEI General Assembly in November. The digital passport integrates features such as health documentation and journey logs, and enables real-time tracking and verification.

“The global veterinary community is moving towards electronic certification and identification, and the FEI’s digital passport is fully aligned with this. We are working closely with the World Organisation for Animal Health to ensure our system meets international standards, while also addressing broader societal needs,” Mr Åkerström told H&H.

“This is about more than equestrian sport. It is about public trust, food chain integrity, and supporting the ‘One Health’ agenda, which recognises the interconnected health of animals, people and the environment. Enhanced records of antibiotics used plays a critical role in tackling antimicrobial resistance by supporting the responsible use of antibiotics.”

Mr Åkerström said the FEI is “actively advocating” for EU legislation to replace “outdated passports with a digital system” – and “what the FEI is presenting is not only robust and user-focused, but offers enhanced functionality compared to existing options”.

Fine Gael MEP Nina Carberry, who co-chairs the European Parliament’s Horse Group and hosted this meeting, believes Ireland Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s (DAFM) equine action plan – in response to Professor Paddy Wall’s report highlighting the urgent need for reform in equine identification in Ireland (news, 27 March) – could “serve as a model for other member states”.

“The current paper-based passport system across Europe remains vulnerable to fraud undermining both animal welfare and public trust. Most horses are not traceable,” said Ms Carberry at the meeting.

“I believe we are moving in the right direction. Despite Brexit, we are continuing to work together to find solutions for data sharing and horse movement between jurisdictions. This collaboration is essential, not only for Ireland, but as a potential model for broader EU action. If we can coordinate efforts across Northern Ireland, Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland, then surely we can do so across the EU.”

Sonja Egan, HSI’s head of breeding, innovation and development, told H&H that the equine sectors in Ireland and across Europe have “faced well-known equine traceability challenges” and that HSI would “advocate for a system integrating central equine databases across EU member states”.

“HSI continues to implement innovative systems such as the Horse Source e-passport system and the genetic database software with the aim of continually improving the traceability of horses,” she said.

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Exam proposed to own horses – but ‘the best PR is doing the right thing’

Eleanor Jones — Wed, 11 Jun 2025 15:45:44 +0000

Mandatory qualifications to own horses could be one key to welfare and maintaining public acceptance – but all actions should be taken to benefit horses, not for PR.

These were suggestions made at a briefing on the results of World Horse Welfare’s fourth annual survey of the public’s attitudes to involvement of horses in sport, on 3 June.

This year’s study covered perception of sport horses’ quality of life, which many people think could be better.

“At last year’s event, we noted significant initiatives by equestrian sport and racing, and looked forward to the Olympics and Paralympics to provide even greater visibility for equestrianism, and that it did,” said World Horse Welfare CEO Roly Owers as he opened the briefing.

“Every single member of Team GB and Paralympics GB brought home a medal, Japan won their first eventing medal, all in the stunning setting of Versailles. But training practices were also sharply brought into the spotlight. The results last year showed that what riders and those involved with horses say and do has a significant influence on public opinion. What we in the horse world see as normal can sometimes be totally unacceptable to the public.

“So to maintain public acceptance, we must step outside our horse-world bubble to see what the public sees. We also need to be even more transparent and open with the public, which can be daunting and very difficult, but it is essential.”

Mr Owers also cited the charity’s research into what drives trust in equestrianism, which was in mind for this study.

“So what would increase their trust that sport horses really do live good lives?” Mr Owers asked. “The top three answers were allowing unannounced inspections of equestrian training facilities, making equine welfare education mandatory for all those who work with sport horses and publishing the results of welfare assessments.”

These were among the ideas discussed by a panel comprising British Equestrian eventing performance director Dickie Waygood, chair of the FEI vet committee Jenny Hall, vet Brad Hill and David Yelland, former editor of The Sun and PR expert.

Mr Yelland, speaking as “very much an outsider” to the horse world, said he has worked with many organisations that have lost their reputations.

“I don’t see that here,” he said. “I see actually people who care and are doing their best to try to avert problems.”

Changing perception

Mr Yelland cited the Army as just one organisation that has turned public perception from very negative to positive.

“You do that by working very hard, which I think this sport is generally doing, and by not going into denial,” he said. “And I really see you not doing that. Some of the problems I’ve just seen flagged, I don’t think necessarily are problems yet, or ever.

“But someone I’ve worked with longest is Lord Browne, who used to run BP, who was forced to come out in the 1990s. He says homophobia comes back, and you have to win that argument every 10 years with new generations in different parts of the world.

“This is the thing you will have to do; just because you won the argument now doesn’t mean you won’t lose it; you might lose it in five or 10 years. It’s a campaign, but I don’t walk into this room and see a crisis. I see people asking themselves how they would cope if a crisis happened.”

Dickie said it is very positive to see someone outside the industry recognising that we are “on the front foot”.

But he said there should be more education and sharing best practice, and that public perception can mean things are taken out of our hands.

“In Denmark, it went to government level, the use of a double bridle, for example,” he said. “I believe they’ve come up with a really good solution; you have to have a certificate and pass an exam to ride in a double bridle. I think the three million horse owners in this country should have a certificate or a licence and do an exam to own a horse in the first place, which does happen in some countries.”

Dickie said the challenge with this idea, and yard visits, is policing, but that if riders have to pay for the exam and registration, this could fund such a scheme. He added that the biggest influencers, on riders at all levels, are coaches and trainers, and “ educating coaches is one of the biggest ways we can influence, sell the story and subject and improve welfare and wellbeing”.

Dickie also supported mandatory registration and continuing professional development (CPD) for coaches, such as education on updated whip use protocol, and warned that use of language is key; horse sport often uses old-fashioned terms that may not convey the true picture.

Mr Hill added that he believes all owners have affection for their horses, and that no one likes punishing or hitting them.

A different answer

“I think in the moment, they don’t know any other answer to the question,” he said. “They might be presented with a situation and don’t know what to do with the horse, so think, ‘I’m going to give it a smack.’ I think they don’t get satisfaction [from this]; horse people love their horses. I think it’s about showing them an alternative method of training.”

Mr Yelland said the focus should probably be on “pinch points” such as the Grand National or emergence of negative videos, and agreed one suggestion, that coaches should have to undergo CPD to be insured, could be a good idea.

“But if your PR is leading your agenda, it’s never a good thing,” he said. “Don’t do things just for PR reasons; if you ban the whip, for example, that would be wonderful, it might be front page of the Mail, but the next day, there would be a huge focus on ‘What next?’ on areas you don’t necessarily want focused on. Doing things gradually, without announcements, without fuss, which seems to be generally what you are doing, is the best way.”

In closing, Mr Owers said how important it is we all “walk the talk”, improve education and show that this is the case, as the public “has a pretty good understanding of what good welfare looks like”.

“The question for the sector is, how much do we want to self-regulate, and how much do we want to be imposed on by governments?” he said. “And that is not an easy question to answer; we need to walk that line really carefully.

“How are we actually ethically ensuring that the lifetime of the horses we involve in sport is really cared for? I think each of the panelists has come up with a gem today, but possibly the best came from David; that the best PR in the world is to do the right thing.”

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What the public thinks of whips and spurs – and whether sport horses have good lives

Eleanor Jones — Tue, 10 Jun 2025 16:43:06 +0000

Less than a third of the public believes most sport horses live good lives, it has been found, so there is “plenty of work” the equestrian world can do to build widespread trust.

World Horse Welfare’s fourth annual survey of public acceptance of horse sport focused on the perception of equines’ quality of life within sport, and the acceptability of common training methods.

The results of the poll, of 4,600 UK adults, 2% of whom “regularly interact with horses” show little change in overall attitude since the first survey in 2022; 22% do not support involvement of horses in sport at all, 42% support it only if welfare improves and 58% want increased safety and welfare measures. But they “underscore the common sense of the UK public regarding what horses need for a good life”, a World Horse Welfare spokesperson said.

The survey found that 27% of the public believe that most sport horses live good lives, compared to 49% of people who interact with horses. Only 5% believe “all sport horses live good lives”, and 8% of equestrians.

The majority of the public (62%) believe it is important sport horses have contact with other equines and rest after competitions (64%). Nearly half (45%) recognise the importance of spending time turned out.

“Those who regularly interact with horses were more likely than the general public to believe that it was important to a sport horse to go to competitions (17% vs 8%), win competitions (12% vs 6%) and be ridden (35% vs 21%),” the spokesperson said. “This could be due to equestrians believing that their horses enjoy their work and competing, though there is not yet any concrete evidence that they do.”

Whip and spur use

There was very little support among the public for light use of a whip (21%), spurs (11%) or strong leg or rein pressure (7%). Only 3% of the public think using a whip with force is acceptable, or using fear or pain to train horses.

“When asked what training methods were acceptable, the public again appear to have good instincts about the importance of rewards, use of a soft voice, light pressure on the reins or horse’s side, but they do not seem to like the use of the whip, even for light tapping,” said World Horse Welfare CEO Roly Owers at a briefing to reveal the findings.

“Horse people were more likely to understand the use of light pressure to train a horse, but somewhat worryingly, a notable proportion were also more complacent about using a loud voice, using a whip with force and using pain or fear to train a horse. These practices, of course, are unethical and not supported by the public.”

In terms of building trust that sport horses do live good lives, over half of the public (53%) cited unannounced welfare inspections of equestrian training facilities and mandatory welfare education for all involved with sport horses (51%).

“The UK public has an instinctive common sense about what horses need to have a good life, including having contact with other horses and the ability to make choices for themselves,” Mr Owers said. “But the vast majority do not believe that all sport horses live good lives, so there is plenty the horse world can do to build that trust. We hope today’s event sheds light on where opinions between the public and the horse world differ and what we can do to bridge that gap.”

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New research on equine facial expressions a ‘game-changer for anyone working with horses’

Becky Murray — Mon, 09 Jun 2025 17:06:14 +0000

A new study has shed light on what equines are trying to communicate with their facial expressions, and is a reminder to “consider the whole horse, not just isolated behaviours, when assessing welfare”.

Researchers at the University of Portsmouth analysed 805 equine facial displays shown with 22 behaviours, observed during horse-to-horse interactions. An ethogram was created to map how horses use their faces to communicate emotions such as playfulness, aggression, curiosity and attention.

The study found that horses use a variety of facial cues depending on the situation – for example, and “contrary to common assumptions, horses often exhibit neutral facial expressions during friendly interactions” instead of pricked ears – and “playful interactions involved a dynamic range of facial movements, including depressed lower lips, wide-open mouths and flattened ears”. Backward-facing ears, dilated nostrils and lowered heads “served as clear signals of aggressive intent”, and when horses are alert or investigating stimuli their ears are “typically forward and adducted”. Additional indications include increased blinking and adjusted head positions.

The researchers also identified a previously undocumented facial movement involving the platysma muscle in the neck.

“This action, which causes the side of the face to tighten and makes the underlying structures become more prominent as a consequence, has only been observed in humans and gibbons, in species with existing facial action coding systems. Its discovery may enhance cross-species comparisons and aid in assessing emotional states and pain in horses,” said the researchers.

Lead researcher Kate Lewis told H&H she was surprised by “how complex and rich the horses’ facial repertoire was”.

“Being able to identify these nuances in the horses’ emotional state or subjective experience can only make us better horse people, whether that be owners, trainers, grooms or vets,” said Dr Lewis, who added that other work is considering horse-human interactions.

“There is such a growing movement to move away from just wanting to avoid pain and suffering towards wanting a positive life for all animals. And I think this really leans into that; we can identify when our horse is having fun or when they’re generally happy. That’s really important, because we want to optimise the amount of time they spend having those experiences.”

Leanne Proops, University of Portsmouth association professor in animal behaviour and welfare and co-author, said the study “opens up new possibilities for understanding equine emotions and improving welfare”.

“This is the first time we’ve been able to systematically document how horses combine facial movements into meaningful expressions,” she said.

“This work is a game-changer for anyone working with horses. It gives us a new lens through which to view and interpret their behaviour, ultimately leading to better care and stronger human-animal relationships.”

World Horse Welfare research and education officer Alana Chapman told H&H the results of this study will help “to interpret horses’ emotional states more accurately, which can only be a good thing”.

“We welcome any research that helps us better understand equine behaviour and can support us in providing a good life for horses. Investment in these types of studies is vital to fully understand how horses think and feel,” she said.

“World Horse Welfare believes in a whole-horse approach when it comes to measuring welfare and the research findings align with this: demonstrating that facial expressions can vary in meaning depending on the situation highlights the importance of considering the whole horse, not just isolated behaviours, when assessing welfare.”

“We look forward to seeing how the findings of this study are translated into practical guidance for those involved in the care of horses, and hope this work will be widely used to support more empathetic, responsive and evidence-based approaches to horse care, training and management.”

Read the full study.

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Joy from suffering: ‘miracle’ foal born to mare likely saved from export to Europe for slaughter

Eleanor Jones — Mon, 02 Jun 2025 16:39:25 +0000

A pregnant mare who was one of a lorryload intercepted en route to Europe – probably for slaughter – has defied the odds to give birth to a healthy “miracle” foal.

Amy was one of the “trafficked 20”, a group of horses crammed into an unsuitable lorry and intercepted in Dover at the end of last year. Many of the horses were too sick to travel, and five had to be put down.

But Amy has given birth to a filly, who has been named Joy and has been taken her first steps at World Horse Welfare’s Norfolk rescue and rehoming centre.

A spokesperson for the charity said: “This lucky foal’s story of survival against all odds highlights the need for tighter regulations around equine identification and traceability to disrupt the illegal trade of horses. They are transported thousands of miles in appalling conditions to an unknown fate that can include having their lives cut short in a European slaughterhouse.”

The group, including Amy, included leisure horses, thoroughbreds and Connemaras whose journey had started in Northern Ireland. They were on their way to the Continent when they were stopped by Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) in December owing to concerns about their welfare.

“It is believed that seven of the horses, who were claimed back by their owners, were being moved legitimately and may have provided a cover for those being moved illegally,” the spokesperson said. “The remaining horses were likely destined for slaughter or intended to be sold for a purpose they weren’t suited for due to health or age. Many were too sick and weak to travel yet had been crammed into an unsuitable lorry. One foal was on the floor and unable to get back on his feet.”

Amy when she arrived at World Horse Welfare’s Hall Farm. Picture by World Horse Welfare (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Amy was one of eight horses who were taken in by World Horse Welfare; many were underweight, some had strangles, two pneumonia and others skin conditions.

“Initial checks also revealed that Amy had two microchips and therefore two identities – a practice often used by those involved in the illegal trade in horses to create a smokescreen to hide their actions and the horses’ history,” the spokesperson said. “Investigations into the backgrounds of the Trafficked 20 are ongoing and the charity is using the findings from this case and what it has already uncovered about the Dover 26 to support a call for action.

“Given the horrific conditions Amy endured during the journey, and her poor condition, it’s remarkable that both mother and foal are doing so well. Amy is now safe, and Joy is taking her first steps surrounded by care and the promise of a lifetime of love and security at World Horse Welfare’s Hall Farm.”

The charity’s chief executive Roly Owers said even sick and underweight horses such as these can make profits for “unscrupulous traders”.

Picture by World Horse Welfare (Image credit: creditUnknown)

“Smugglers cut costs by cramming horses on to overloaded vehicles and skipping feed and water,” he said. “If they don’t sell for riding or breeding, some still end up going for fattening and slaughter where traders make a final profit, no matter how poor the horses’ condition.

“The ban on live exports to slaughter now makes it illegal to export horses from Great Britain for fattening and slaughter, but sadly it is still all too easy for once well cared for horses to be exploited by those who only view them as commodities. Those involved in the trade know they can operate with impunity as a result of a flawed system.

“Horses crossing borders with different jurisdictions and identification policies, and paper-based ID, the mainstay for most, simply isn’t good enough to protect these vulnerable animals. For the evidence to be robust and those responsible held accountable World Horse Welfare is working with the wider horse sector, to push for a digitalised equine identification and traceability system in the UK and EU.”

The spokesperson added that the care of Amy, Joy and the other rescued horses has been possible thanks to supporters’ donations.

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Cost of riding school licences varies by thousands of pounds, new report finds, among other inconsistencies

Becky Murray — Mon, 21 Apr 2025 11:33:28 +0000

The cost of a riding school licence can vary by more than £2,500 between local authorities – as a new report highlights inconsistencies.

At the end of December Defra published its findings from a post-implementation review of the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018, which H&H reported had taken place two years ago (news, 2 February 2023).

The review considered evidence on the effectiveness of the regulations. Under the hiring out horses section, it was reported that stakeholders agree the regulations have “successfully improved animal welfare” and there is “broad support for the robust safety provisions in the guidance”.

The report stated “in terms of improvements”, there was limited knowledge among local authority inspectors of the needs of donkeys, and a “need for clarity” on whether carriage driving is a licensable activity, and calls for safeguarding provisions to be added to the regulations as a large proportion of riding schools’ customer bases are children.

Licensing fees and processes were discussed and it was stated that the licensing system – which includes pet boarding, pet sales and dog breeding – is “intended to be broadly self-financing, with local authorities charging applicants and operators fees to recover the costs of administration”.

Local authorities that responded to the review, which were not named, believed that the costs to them of implementing the regulations had increased – in part by the need to outsource to vets or appropriately qualified inspectors from other local authorities “to address the shortfall (or absence) of qualified inspectors”.

“These impacts on local authorities may have been passed on to scheme applicants,” read the report.

The report said the regulations “allow local authorities to charge fees they consider necessary” for applications and inspections. But the regulations require that “these fees do not exceed the reasonable relevant costs anticipated by a local authority”.

The report said data confirms a variation in licensing costs; an example given for hiring out horses, was a three-year licence costing £51 from one local authority, £2,775 from another.

It was also noted that local authorities have “different individual processes and approaches”.

“Some may choose to employ their own full-time licensing inspectors, others may appoint veterinarians or subcontract the work to neighbouring local authorities. Local authorities may have a higher or lower number of licence-holders within their boundaries and this, together with other local differences, suggests that some variance is to be expected,” the report stated.

“Businesses also reported facing increased costs associated with meeting the licensing conditions. These reports have centred around the costs of complying with the administrative and record-keeping requirements, and the costs associated with training staff.”

British Horse Society (BHS) chief operating officer Sarah Phillips told H&H the society agrees that the updated licensing system has “helped to provide clarity across the industry”.

“Notably, the inclusion of all relevant equestrian activities and businesses under this licensing framework has made a positive difference in delivering improved welfare practices,” she said.

“For greater success, it is important this licensing model is implemented consistently and we would like to see more uniformity across the country.

“However, we do also recognise that fees will vary, as they are determined by the size of the property and/or business. The processes have to take many factors into consideration, including demand in the area of the local authority and the resources they have available. Naturally, this is going to lead to differing approaches.”

Ms Phillips added that in collaboration with other equine organisations, the BHS continues to work with local authorities and the Government to “evaluate any discrepancies and to nurture the best processes possible”.

“These conversations are essential to guarantee the stability for equestrian businesses and critically, equine welfare,” she said.

Kim Ayling, World Horse Welfare head of public affairs, said the charity has “concerns regarding a lack of consistency in the licensing of riding establishments, particularly when it comes to assessing welfare and the cost of a licence, as identified in the review”.

“This not only has a negative impact on the welfare of the equines but can also be detrimental to the viability of these businesses,” she said.

“While the review outlines that training has improved, it has also highlighted the lack of appropriately qualified inspectors. This is a significant barrier to the effective and consistent implementation of the licensing of activities.”

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See how a tiny filly found on the brink of death with ticks ‘sucking the life out of her’ looks now

Eleanor Jones — Sun, 13 Apr 2025 19:21:00 +0000

A tiny filly discovered with hundreds of ticks “sucking the life out of her” and on the edge of survival has been given a second chance at a happy life.

Elouise, an 11.2hh three-year-old cob, was found alone on a fell in Northumberland by a World Horse Welfare field officer, after concerns were raised about her condition.

“She had only recently appeared on the land and the charity believes she had been abandoned,” a World Horse Welfare spokesperson said.

“Elouise was dangerously thin and on the very edge of survival. But what made her suffering more acute were the hundreds of ticks that were literally sucking the life out of her.”

Elouise was covered in hundreds of ticks. Picture by World Horse Welfare (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Elouise was transferred to World Horse Welfare’s Penny Farm Rescue and Rehoming Centre near Blackpool, where staff mobilised everything to give her a chance of life.

The spokesperson said Elouise was in very poor condition.

“The team faced some challenging moments due to significant medical concerns, including liver issues and malnutrition,” she said. “However, with intensive veterinary care and a great deal of care and attention, Elouise has made a remarkable recovery.

“The sweet and gentle pony is now thriving and is easy to handle and groom, and is affectionate with all the grooms. She is doing well, and the team is happy with the progress she is making.”

Elouise is now on the road to recovery. Picture by World Horse Welfare (Image credit: creditUnknown)

The spokesperson added that Elouise is not alone; the charity is seeing an increasing number of “heartbreaking” cases of neglect, and the number of cases involving more than 50 horses has increased sharply.

The average cost of caring for these rescued horses, including emergency vet treatment and nutrition, has increased from an average of £5,000 per year to £7,000.

“World Horse Welfare currently has nearly 350 horses in its care across its four rescue and rehoming centres, each needing health checks, farriery, vaccinations, grooming, shelter, feed and socialisation to heal and thrive,” the spokesperson said.

The charity’s latest appeal enables supporters to donate to different care packages.

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41 neglected horses including pregnant mares and foals removed from breeder in ‘very sad case’

Eleanor Jones — Thu, 03 Apr 2025 15:24:29 +0000

A breeder who neglected more than 40 horses including pregnant mares and foals in a “very sad case” has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Thomas Nicholas, of Bickerton, Cheshire, was sentenced at Chester Magistrates’ Court on 26 March, having pleaded guilty to three animal welfare offences.

The RSPCA and World Horse Welfare went to Nicholas’s farm in February 2024 with police, who removed 41 horses from the site.

An RSPCA spokesperson said these included mares and their foals, and pregnant mares. Some horses were kept on loan and others were owned by Nicholas.

The court heard the RSPCA and World Horse Welfare field officers found the horses kept in locations including “filthy” stables, and that many of them, including some of the foals, had ailments including poor body condition, rain scald and lice infestation.

In her witness statement, RSPCA inspector Nadine Pengilly said one of the stables, which housed one mare, was “very dirty with several weeks worth of faeces and there was no water or fresh hay provided”.

She added: “The next stable contained a bay mare and she had a young foal with her, and both were in poor body condition. There was no water provided for them or any fresh haylage, and when given water, the mare and foal drank ravenously. The foal did collapse on several occasions due to him being very weak, and the mare had rain scald and lice. The environment was also dirty with no clean bedding provided.

“The next stable contained another black mare who was also in very poor body condition and had rain scald and lice. Her stable was also very dirty with weeks’ worth of dirty bedding and faeces, and she had no water or access to any fresh hay.”

The horses were removed by the police and put into RSPCA and World Horse Welfare’s care.

After sentencing, RSPCA inspector Will Lamping said: “This was a very sad case to investigate, and it was difficult to see such a large number of horses and foals living in poor conditions. Nicholas failed to meet the needs of the horses in a number of ways, from failing to provide a suitable environment, veterinary care, adequate endoparasite treatment, a suitable diet to ensure correct weight, adequate water, dental care and hoof care.

“Providing all of these is part of basic horse care and it was essential that action was taken to ensure the horses’ welfare going forward. We’re so grateful to Cheshire police as well as our colleagues at World Horse Welfare for working with us to secure the welfare of his large number of horses. Between our two charities, we’ve seen some great improvements in the horses since being under our care. It is a case that shows how successful partnership work can be when it comes to animal welfare.”

World Horse Welfare field officer Rae Andrews said this is another sad case of tens of horses’ being removed rather than one or two, something that has become more common.

“When animals are merely viewed as commodities, as was apparent in this case, the care and attention they need is often lacking,” she said. “In this case, it was highlighted by the horses’ high worm burdens and poor dental health, and some of the individuals were amongst the thinnest I’ve seen in my time as a World Horse Welfare field officer.

“I must commend the support provided from the other agencies involved and the teamwork between us was excellent. It goes without saying that all of us involved welcome the lifetime ban on keeping animals that was handed out as part of the sentencing.”

It was noted during sentencing that Nicholas had a low risk of reoffending. He was given six weeks’ custody, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to complete 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days, with 100 hours of unpaid work, and to pay a victim surcharge of £154. He was banned from keeping horses indefinitely.

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Experts call for change as animal welfare law system is lacking

Becky Murray — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 10:13:54 +0000

Calls have been made for a review of the enforcement of animal welfare legislation – as the current system is “lacking”.

On 24 February the Government’s animal sentience committee published an independent report on the “compliance and enforcement” of animal welfare regulations.

The report highlighted issues including inconsistencies in monitoring and enforcement of the legislation, discrepancies in actions taken by the different agencies responsible, and in welfare inspector training.

Among the topics, the committee addressed reporting and prosecutions, stating that it was “striking” that in the UK many potential welfare breaches are directed to an animal welfare charity such as the RSPCA rather than a Government agency – and that “if charitable donations were to diminish, capacity to deliver this public service could not be relied upon”.

The report said the “landscape of enforcement has recently changed”, as the RSPCA, previously responsible for a large proportion of animal welfare prosecutions, explored the possibility of ceding this to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). But it added that, “it was unclear whether the CPS has the necessary resource or expertise to assume this responsibility, and whether this is likely to become adopted policy”.

“The RSPCA has indicated a rise in animal welfare offences linked to organised crime, which it feels ill-equipped to take on through private prosecution; this would suggest a need for the state to take a greater role to protect animal welfare,” said the committee.

An RSPCA spokesperson told H&H the charity agrees with the report’s assessment that the state should play a bigger part in prosecutions.

Active discussions

“Although the CPS is the statutory body with responsibility for criminal prosecutions, the RSPCA currently undertakes 85% of animal welfare cases. For the last two years, we have been actively discussing the transferral of our prosecutions to the CPS with the Government,” said the spokesperson.

“We have a 200-year history of investigating and prosecuting in this crucial area and until the UK Government allows us to transfer our prosecutions to the CPS, we will continue to responsibly bring cases.

“Wherever possible, we work with owners to improve welfare for their animals, through education, support and advice, which means less than 1% of reports of cruelty and neglect result in prosecution. When we do take a prosecution, we apply the same robust tests as the CPS and have safeguards, including independent solicitors who review our cases and an independent oversight panel.”

The spokesperson added that the RSPCA’s prosecution success rate is more than 90%.

The committee’s report concluded that “although due regard to animal welfare has been given in policy decisions, the current structures are, in part, inconsistent for effective enforcement of animal welfare”.

It said that although progress has been made, including the updated sentencing guidelines and introduction of fixed penalties, the committee considers that “an effective, structured, fair and integrated system of animal welfare surveillance and enforcement is lacking”.

The committee recommended a “wholesale review” of animal welfare enforcement to provide a resource for policymakers, improve or enhance delivery of current legislation and “maintain public trust in the enforcement process”.

Suggestions include creating a central body responsible for coordinating animal welfare law surveillance and implementation, setting out minimum resource allocation for animal welfare enforcement – including budgets for training, creating a centrally recognised mechanism for reporting welfare offences, and appropriate and effective use of fixed penalty and improvement notices.

Review welcomed

Kim Ayling, World Horse Welfare’s head of public affairs, told H&H the charity supports the recommendations “overall” and “wholeheartedly welcomes” a review.

“Equine health and welfare laws are worthless if they are not backed up by robust and consistent enforcement,” she said.

“From our own experience, the lack of any prosecutions around the recent cases of horse smuggling highlights there are significant concerns with enforcement. These are due to inconsistencies in interpretation and implementation of legislation, gaps in information and intelligence sharing across enforcement agencies and a lack of adequately trained and resourced animal welfare officers.”

Ms Ayling added that World Horse Welfare was “disappointed” the report did not include the suggestion of a centralised system for people banned from keeping or caring for animals.

“We are aware of a number of recent equine welfare cases where it has been challenging for authorities to establish whether an individual was banned from keeping those animals,” she said.

“As part of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Animal Welfare (APGAW), we are working with local authorities and other welfare charities to implement one of the key recommendations of APGAW’s report Improving the Effectiveness of Animal Welfare Enforcement to set up a panel of representatives from local authorities engaged in enforcing animal welfare law to cover not just farm animals but companion and exotic animals, too.

“This would allow them to work collaboratively to share information, best practice and ensure better consistency in their approaches.

“While we welcome the points laid out in the report to protect equine welfare, we would like to see a ring-fenced budget to support these measures. A centralised and digitalised ID and traceability system is also essential for enforcement, as we know without it horses are vulnerable to suffering at the hands of those that see them merely as commodities.”

A Defra spokesperson told H&H the government “welcomes” the committee’s report and will be “considering all recommendations carefully”.

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‘They can say no’: how techniques used to train zebras and rhinos could benefit horses

Becky Murray — Tue, 04 Mar 2025 17:46:48 +0000

Training techniques used in zoos could have benefits in the horse world, as owners are encouraged to consider whether their horse is an active participant in what is being asked of them.

“Cooperative care” was the topic of a World Horse Welfare webinar on 29 January, featuring zookeeper and equine behaviourist Barbara Dreyer, and equine behaviourist Samantha Couper.

Ms Dreyer explained that “cooperative care” is training animals using positive reinforcement to willingly participate in their own care and husbandry tasks, including grooming, hoof care and medical examinations.

“Rather than using force or restraint, animals are taught behaviours that allow them to stay calm and engaged during these procedures,” she said.

“It’s all about choice and trust – the animal learns that participating leads to positive experiences, and they always have the option to say no. This reduces stress for both the animal and the handler, making care safer and more efficient.”

Cooperative care has been used in zoos since the 1980s, starting with marine mammals and extending to animals including bears, big cats and hippos. “Target” and “recall” training are used for activities, such as encouraging movement or to come in and out of an enclosure. Ms Dreyer has trained eastern black rhinos to accept blood-testing and Grévy’s zebra to accept worming treatments using these methods.

Ms Dreyer said cooperative care can be used in the horse world to help with medical procedures, standing still, hoof care, clipping and loading. She advises owners starting out to ensure that horses’ everyday routines are stress-free and remain consistent, to create a comprehensive training plan and to be prepared to take a step back when things do not go to plan.

“You can’t train a stressed animal,” she said, adding that there will be days when a horse does not want to participate.

“And that’s OK – they have to have the right to say no,” she said. “You have to work with the horse you have in front of you, not the one you had yesterday or the one you want. The more you give them the choice to say no, the less they will do it.”

Ms Couper gave an example of cooperative care helping a “feral” horse under her care who had sustained an eye injury. Training resulted in his accepting treatment.

“We took something that was going to be stressful and dangerous to a thing the horse actively enjoyed, and from then on he was much easier to catch,” she said.

In a question-and-answer session, Ms Couper addressed horses’ continuously seeking treats from their owners during cooperative care training.

“One of the first things we need to do is teach the horse what is actually getting the food. Those behaviours where they start searching, and they get muggy and bite, or they get frustrated, are occurring because the horse doesn’t understand how the food is being obtained. Once they understand that if you set up the foundation really well, you shouldn’t see those behaviours.

“If you’re seeing them, it’s an indication that either you’re not being clear or you might be seeing frustration with the process, and you might need to break it down further. If done properly, that behaviour should not occur.”

It was asked whether cooperative care can still apply when dealing with emergencies, and it was agreed that animal welfare should always come first. But Ms Couper said that when working with horses, she will try to train them for “as many scenarios as possible” so when situations occur, they are prepared for them.

Ms Couper said the take-home message is for owners to try to find ways to give their horses opportunities to have more control in deciding whether to engage.

“Even if you’re not doing cooperative care directly, figure out what your horses are searching for and try to meet them so that you stay away from those bigger behaviours, and try and make both of you more happy,” she said.

Ms Couper said the “cooperative care skill set” is still growing in the equine community and it can be difficult to find local trainers. But she said that owners can find support and resources online, including courses through the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants.

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Gymnastics turned its sporting ‘crisis’ into welfare reform – can horse sport follow suit?

Eleanor Jones — Wed, 19 Feb 2025 15:09:19 +0000

Learning from gymnastics could be a key to equestrian sport’s thriving – as could asking every horse, “Are you OK?”

Experts spoke at World Horse Welfare’s virtual conference on 13 February, titled “Accountability for welfare in equestrianism: looking beyond the obvious”. It followed last year’s event, at which leaders from other industries spoke about how they had strengthened public acceptance (news, 8 February 2024).

“Today’s conference brings the conversation back to us,” said World Horse Welfare CEO Roly Owers in his introduction. “It considers the factors that may lead to unwanted practices in equestrian sport and offers innovative and progressive solutions to the challenges, which will surely help show the public we’re serious about improving the welfare of horses that provide us with so much enjoyment.”

British Gymnastics (BG) CEO Sarah Powell considered culture shifts in sport.

A review of British Gymnastics commissioned in 2020 said gymnasts’ wellbeing and welfare had “not been at the centre of British Gymnastics’ culture”, within its damning findings. Ms Powell, who took the job in 2021, said she had wondered what her sport and horse welfare had in common, “but the more I’ve listened and spoken to people, I can see real synergy within our journey of reform and the journey you’re taking”.

Ms Powell said although her sport was “in crisis”, there was denial; people seeing it as “a few bad apples”, or that issues such as long training hours were needed for success. But the Whyte review made key recommendations for change, which led to BG’s “Reform 25” strategy.

“That word is key,” she said. “If you’re truly going to reform, you need to change people’s attitudes and beliefs.”

She added: “At the outset, there was absolute acknowledgement and an ownership of the issues, not just an apology.”

Ms Powell said BG considered cultural norms, developing training and awareness rather than policing, addressing outdated coaching methods and encouraging people to talk about issues.

“Engaging with experts has been fundamental,” she said. “Previously, we had this information in policy documents; we’re shifting them to much more user-friendly information, so people know what’s right and wrong.”

Expertise, experience and consultation

BG used the Whyte position statements and “underpinned this with expertise, science, legislation, experience” and consultation, as “we need to bring people with us, because these are big shifts within our sport”. Ms Powell said policy can change practice very quickly.

“We are constantly reminding people that it is care of the individual that comes first, not performance,” she said. “We’ve taken forward a lot of actions and are starting to see the impact. We’re starting to see conversations changing, people coming forward to say, ‘I’m not sure we’re doing this right.’

“Those conversations weren’t happening before. We’re still challenging ourselves and getting lost a bit, but we’re far more self-aware. We’re curious to learn from others and I hope if we can keep our conviction, we will actually feel the bounty and make a difference for everybody.”

The second speaker was Mette Uldahl, an equine vet and chief consultant in horse and animal welfare for Animal Protection Denmark, who considered, “Why do good people do bad things?”

Dr Uldahl looked at how people’s integrity might be lost; the way someone who loves horses may treat them badly.

“If a rider has been educated to interact with the horse in a way where the horse understands intentions and the rider does not compromise or pressure the horse, then all is good,” she said. “If the rider has been taught since a child to whip, kick or put excessive pressure on the horse, or to interact in ways the horse does not understand, the horse’s welfare will be compromised.

“Many riders have been brutalised, while being told that certain practices are OK or even necessary to become a skilled rider. Over time, the rider experiences a loss of integrity.”

In one research project, Dr Uldahl spent time in riding schools and heard how people talk about horses’ behaviour; saying, “he refuses because he’s mad” or “he looks stupid when I tighten the girth”, rather than just stating the horse’s actions mean the speaker is “an honorable member of the department of deception”.

“How we see and if we choose to listen defines how and if we’re going to react when the horse tries to communicate,” she said. “A horse can’t shout, whimper or scream if we do not react when we recognise them talking to us.”

Changing behaviour

Dr Uldahl said riders, especially those feeling pressures of competition, can think they are doing right by their horses when they are not, and that changing attitudes and behaviour is always hard. So a strong governing body is needed to “hold their hands” and set markers to determine whether horses are physically comfortable.

“We have also started to look into the mental wellbeing of the horse, asking, ‘How are you?’” she said. “However, the main question asked in sport is still, ‘How does the horse perform in competition?’

“This question is related to all the things humans are impressed by; there’s a judgment, a prize handed to the rider,” she added. “Fitness of the horse is usually evaluated by officials; we have evidence that there’s no correlation, or very little, between looking at the horse’s objective behaviour.”

Dr Uldahl said horses do not choose to compete; we do, so we must safeguard their welfare – and the winners should be the happiest horses.

“Let’s focus on the rider’s ability to communicate with the horse, making it comfortable,” she said. “We can add a primary filter on all disciplines, objective evaluation of horse behaviour. If the horse is not OK, the rider can’t have a prize.

“A lot of people in horse sport support structures as they are. If these structures initiate people to do the wrong thing to become winners, we all help in producing bad actors in horse sport. Everyone who can learn more, listen more and communicate better with horses has a responsibility to do so.

“We all influence the outcome of horse welfare and horse sport. And we do that wrongfully, if we support traditions and culture that should be improved according to modern knowledge. Reluctance to admit the need for even minor changes to secure horse welfare and sport, in a modern context, is a problem.

“We only need to add one expert ingredient, to ask the horse, ‘Are you OK?’ The main reason good people do bad things is to recognise how difficult it is to change human nature; I would like to change the question and ask, ‘Who is the right winner?’”

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William Fox-Pitt says ‘It must be the right thing’ about ‘game-changing’ directory of tack fitters

Lucy Elder — Sat, 15 Feb 2025 19:33:54 +0000

An independent database of verified saddle, bridle and bit fitters has launched with the hope of being a “game-changer” for owners and benefiting horse welfare.

The Equine Fitters Directory is a searchable list of professionals who meet certain criteria and have applied to be on – and been accepted into – the directory.

It was launched on 3 February at Saddlers’ Hall in London by the Equine Fitters Council, an independent, not-for-profit company established by the Worshipful Company of Saddlers and the Worshipful Company of Loriners.

To be eligible, fitters must meet the qualification and experience requirements set out, hold insurance, pursue continuing professional development and agree to abide by the code of conduct and complaints procedure. Fitters can also be delisted from the directory.

“We have an absolute duty, more than ever, to do our best for our horses,” said Hugh Thomas, Equine Fitters Council chairman.

“A well-fitting saddle, bit, bridle or harness is essential to their comfort and overall wellbeing. When fit is correct, horse and rider are comfortable, confident and able to work without issue. Working with a competent and professional fitter helps owners make informed decisions, but above all, be confident that they are looking after their horses’ wellbeing and welfare.

“I want to emphasise that we very much see that fitters are part of a team, not just one more service provider brought in maybe once a year. They should be a key part of the regular care team of the horse alongside the obvious other people, long accepted vets, therapists, coaches and footcare professionals.

“Finding a professional, experienced fitter can feel overwhelming to the horse owner, but it shouldn’t. That is why we need this. The directory is designed to make it easy to search: compare fitters based on their location, their expertise, their specialisation, whether you need saddle, bridle, bit or harness fitter, so you can find the right practitioner for you and your horse.”

Mr Thomas added: “The key message of tonight is overwhelmingly aimed at horse owners: please look on the directory when you want a fitter. If you’ve got a fitter and they are not on the directory, ask them, ‘Why not?’”

In a panel discussion at the launch, World Horse Welfare chief executive Roly Owers said that when considering the involvement of horses in sport, the equestrian world has “a deep responsibility to ensure we are placing horse welfare above all else”.

“Equine fitters play such a fundamental role in that,” he said. “There’s a lot of noise out there, so to have an equine business directory to [help you] find someone you can really trust is going to be right for you and for your horse is a really huge step forward.”

William Fox-Pitt, who won 14 five-stars during his top-level eventing career, lent his support to the directory.

“We know that regularly checked and well-fitted tack both improve the welfare of our horses and their overall performance,” he said.

“I can reflect on numerous times in my career when even small alterations to match the ever-changing size and shape of my horse has made a fundamental difference. Having a ‘one-stop’ online directory that lists professional fitters that all riders and horse owners can trust must be the right thing.”

Dr Kathryn Nankervis, associate professor at Hartpury University, said that everyone who rides “would like to think their horse is comfortable” in the equipment we use, but research shows fit “isn’t always as good as it could be”.

“We have to try and raise the bar,” she said. “I’m really supportive of this initiative because anything that helps horse owners find a fitter and discover the benefits that optimal saddlery fit can bring has to be a good thing for owners and horses.”

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Five horses put down after shipment including sick equines and terrified foals intercepted

Lucy Elder — Thu, 06 Feb 2025 18:30:50 +0000

Five horses have died after sick horses including unhandled foals “matted with faeces” were intercepted after they were found travelling from Ireland in horrific conditions.

Many of the horses were too sick and weak to travel, yet had been crammed into an unsuitable lorry in which one foal was on the floor and unable to get back on its feet. Five Irish thoroughbreds had to be put down following the ordeal.

World Horse Welfare shared its “outrage” at the discovery of the 20 horses in December 2024 – a year after it rescued 26 equines from being transported out of the UK.

Horses on board the transporter included Irish thoroughbreds, Connemaras and leisure ponies – alongside animals who were being moved legitimately. At the time of their journey from Ireland, across Britain and towards mainland Europe, the UK and Ireland were experiencing stormy conditions.

Port of Dover officials were alerted to the transporter and upon inspection discovered the “downed” foal, resulting in the lorry being redirected to a holding yard where the true horror of the ordeal was uncovered.

World Horse Welfare field officer Rebecca Carter said she was “faced with a heartbreaking scene” at the holding facility.

“The equines were so still and quiet and appeared shell-shocked from their ordeal,” she said.

“A number of the horses were underweight and had strangles. The infected horses were suffering from painful abscesses and fever. Two also had pneumonia, and some were suffering from skin conditions and various other health issues.

“There were three unhandled foals who were matted with faeces as nobody could get hold of them to clean them up. They were completely terrified and when I approached them, they buried their heads into each other and huddled together in a corner of the stable.

“Overall, it was an incredibly sad sight to see this very mixed group of horses, some of which were fully clipped and shod, so previously well cared for, now looking bewildered, poor and depressed, with vacant expressions.”

The charity suspects some were being smuggled for fattening and slaughter, despite the fact live export for slaughter from the UK was banned in May 2024.

Seven of the horses who were in better health were claimed by their owners. The remaining eight were abandoned – including a pregnant mare and the foals.

“It’s not just the health of these horses which was put at risk, there’s a bigger issue here in that these horses were carrying highly contagious diseases and therefore a biosecurity threat to all those they came in contact with,” added Ms Carter.

The holding yard and Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) helped World Horse Welfare. RoR provided support and funds to cover costs connected with the two surviving Irish thoroughbreds.

Philippa Gilmore, RoR’s head of welfare operations, said: “We were deeply saddened by this case and that the live transportation of horses to slaughter continues despite the recent change to the law.

“Thanks to our excellent working relationship with World Horse Welfare, we were able to step in and provide financial support for the two surviving Irish thoroughbreds, ensuring they could receive care at World Horse Welfare’s exceptional facilities.

“We look forward to these horses receiving the proper support they deserve and finding loving homes in the near future.”

The unclaimed horses were signed over to World Horse Welfare and were quarantined before being taken to the charity’s Hall Farm Rescue and Rehoming Centre in Norfolk.

All are receiving care and medical treatment with a view to rehoming in future.

World Horse Welfare chief executive Roly Owers said: “We applaud the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) for stopping the transporter in the first instance and ensuring the horses were taken to a safe holding yard. Thanks to their quick actions these horses were relieved from their horrendous journey and given the care they desperately needed.

“We always knew that the passing of the Animal Welfare (Live Exports) Act 2024, whilst a huge step forward, was never going to work in isolation. Nevertheless, it is shocking to have been involved in another high-profile rescue of equines at Dover, many of whom were very likely being exported for slaughter.”

Mr Owers added: “We make no apology for sounding like a broken record, and pretty much on the 12th anniversary of the horsemeat scandal, without a proper, robust digital equine identification and traceability system in the UK and across Europe, the welfare of equines being transported will never be fully protected.

“We believe that horses are regularly being transported out of the UK illegally and until such a system is in place, horses will continue to be exploited for profit.”

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What the public really thinks and how horse sport can gain trust

Eleanor Jones — Tue, 28 Jan 2025 11:28:37 +0000

Emphasising the value of horses in society, and engaging more people with them, will be key to equestrianism’s thriving in future, with equine welfare always at its heart.

The results of “groundbreaking” research into the UK public’s view of riding horses have been released. It’s the culmination of a cross-industry project, designed to “understand the current state of public sentiment towards equestrianism in the UK and the drivers behind public trust and acceptance of our activities”. The results show that we are on the right track – but that there is still much work to do on equine safety and welfare.

The study, facilitated by World Horse Welfare and conducted by engagement science specialists Voconiq last spring, involved questionnaires completed by 5,000 people representative of the UK public. It was backed by British Equestrian and some of its member bodies, racing and polo organisations and the British Equine Veterinary Association, in the “first major collaboration of the leading equestrian bodies and organisations working together to ensure a sustainable future for the equine sector”.

It investigated not only what people think of horse sport but why they think it, and that trust is the main influencer of acceptance.

The results showed that social importance of horses is the main driver of public trust, followed by procedural fairness – the extent to which the public feels as if horse sport listens to and respects their concerns – and transparency about horse welfare. Regulation is also key, as is distributional fairness – the extent to which people feel they get a fair share of the benefits that horse sport generates.

World Horse Welfare CEO Roly Owers said understanding these drivers of trust are key to being able to influence them.

“I think that’s a really exciting part; that there are actions to take but they’re interconnected,” he told H&H. “So if you work in one action, for example, around procedural fairness, if you’re listening to concerns from within and outside the sport more effectively, that’s going to improve that outcome, but improve other areas as well. The fact there is this solid framework on which to base activity, I think is really encouraging.”

On an acceptance scale of zero to five, the report rated equestrianism at three, a solid foundation but one that could be rocked.

“But headwinds will inevitably come down the track,” Mr Owers said. “You do need greater insurance for those risks. I think there’s a real call to action, but at the same time, there is confidence that actually you’re starting in a pretty good place.”

There are public concerns about euthanasia that should be addressed, as many struggle to see that this is often the best welfare option for horses. Other key findings are that horses’ mental wellbeing is as important as physical, and that making competitions safer for horses must be prioritised.

And the results show the “vital importance of equestrian organisations clearly showing competence, humanity and integrity, and that has to drive all decision-making,” Mr Owers said. “We know public trust is driven by actions, not words, and we’ve got an opportunity here and a clear pathway, a real willingness to go on that journey together, which is brilliant.

“The public needs to see those steps being taken and that’s the exciting opportunity.”

British Horse Society (BHS) CEO James Hick told H&H it is key the report sets out how the industry can work together towards a common goal.

“You remove the anecdotal sense and feeling that we all have our own drivers and beliefs, and this helps us to be very structured about how we can support public trust and acceptance,” he said. “Protecting horses in society is the number one thing in our three-year plan that the BHS will be focused on, but it’s the structured elements I think this report gives us – such good foundations to work on.

“And this is not purely how the public feels about welfare, which has been really useful in the past. Welfare is the stick of rock that runs through everything and we all get that. But this, for me, is so much more powerful, because it’s about trust and acceptance. And why do people feel the way they do and how will it influence how we work with horses?

“For me, the most important thing really is that anybody who comes into contact with horses is 50% more likely to advocate for horses. So if we do nothing else, focusing our attention on sharing the good and the great of horses with more people is going to safeguard horses for the future.

“If you remove all the complexity of the report and all the stats and all the methodology, it’s all about more people, more engagement with horses, and we’re going to be safeguarding horses forever.”

Mr Hick also emphasised the fact that this report will not just stand – there will be frequent following up of its recommendations, which include embracing welfare, highlighting horses’ social and economic value, increasing public engagement and addressing perceptions of elitism.

“We know what is important to society and people more broadly,” he said. “So now’s the time for us to be accountable for that. This allows us to move from the theory of reports into actionable outcomes, to change the way people are actually perceiving what we do.”

James Given, director of equine regulation, safety and welfare at the British Horseracing Authority and member of racing’s Horse Welfare Board, said: “There is real strength in coming together as a horse sports sector to share best practice and to address what matters most for the horse and to the public.

“This research shows that British racing is on the right track with the work it is undertaking, but there is always more to be done. Our investment in equine welfare will only increase as we move forward.”

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‘Feeding straights isn’t better’ and another horse nutrition myths busted

Eleanor Jones — Wed, 01 Jan 2025 20:21:41 +0000

Feeding horses “straights” is not necessarily better, a hay-only diet could cause harm – and riders must be aware of buying supplements and feeds from trusted sources.

These were key messages from a World Horse Welfare webinar on 11 December, featuring independent equine nutritionist Clare MacLeod, who aimed to bust feeding myths, or “nutribaloney”.

“I love this subject because it’s slightly amusing and entertaining, but it’s also really serious, because it’s about welfare,” Ms MacLeod said. “I’ve got four common nutrition myths to go through, and I’m going to remind everybody about how you can discern because that’s the big thing, isn’t it? When you read something or learn about something, it’s knowing whether it is the truth or not.”

Ms MacLeod said it is important people used trusted sources for nutrition advice.

“There are companies and individuals selling products, feeds or supplements, and they are trying to deceive,” she said. “We’ve got wonderful companies to buy our horse products from, but undoubtedly there are some that maybe aren’t so ethical, and they could be deceiving us in terms of the claims they make and what’s actually in their products.”

Ms MacLeod wanted to make this point before she went on to myth-busting; she said there are good profits to be made in equine supplements, and companies who make “outrageous, unfair and sometimes additional claims”.

“And these can compromise horse welfare,” she said. “We have to be very careful about which products we buy. We have to be careful we don’t feed a product that’s going to be harmful, but also, we don’t want to waste money on something that actually doesn’t do anything. This relates not just to products, but to generally how you feed your horse.”

Ms MacLeod said one myth gaining traction is that a hay-only diet is best for horses.

“I find it on social media in groups trying to keep horses more naturally,” she said. “There are many good factors associated with that, making sure horses have enough movement and social contact. It’s wonderful we’re more aware of that. But what about just feeding hay only?”

Ms MacLeod said such a diet “is actually really going to be very harmful to your horse or pony, long-term”, adding: “I do tend to bang my head on the desk a bit when I hear this one. It’s nonsense, it’s nutribaloney. It really is about basic nutrition fundamentals.”

She explained that hay’s nutritional value varies much less than some might think, and it will never give horses enough copper, selenium or zinc. This means, long-term, harmful deficiencies.

The second myth Ms MacLeod said has become fashionable is that “straight” feeds are better than compound mixes or balancers, for example. She pointed out that reputable feed companies specifically create their products to provide balanced diets, which straights may not do, and which is essential for optimal health.

And although knowledgeable people can provide a balanced diet using straights, many owners do not understand enough to realise the diet they think is superior is lacking in essential elements, such as giving a feed high in phosphorus without extra calcium.

“Straights are not better than compound feed,” she said. “They’re not balanced, and they need to be supplemented. Straights can be harmful if not balanced correctly. Yes, you can use them, but why not use the specialists who have come up with their products, which are balanced, and they’ve used straights in them.”

The ‘Marmite’ of horse feeds

Ms MacLeod also mentioned that alfalfa has become the “Marmite” of horse feeds in that many owners shun it, but that it is “very nutritious and it’s safe for most horses and ponies”.

The last myth she mentioned is that many owners think carrots are too high in sugar to feed, when they are 80% water and just 5% sugar.

“I have seen owners dump bags or buckets of carrots into their field or stable and obviously, that quantity of carrots might not be very good, but a controlled portion isn’t going to tip over the edge your [equine metabolic syndrome (EMS)] horse or pony, if it’s in good health, and their EMS is controlled,” she said.

In a question and answer session, Baileys Horse Feeds’ nutritionist Liz Bulbrook endorsed Clare’s opinion, and busted some myths herself.

Asked about horses who seem to become more excitable if fed a balancer, she said: “We know it is a myth that balancers directly cause excitability. And I think that it’s really important that we look at a horse’s natural temperament.”

Ms Bulbrook explained that the most likely reason is that a horse with an unbalanced diet could be feeling lethargic, as people do, but with the correct nutrients, will feel better and so be more likely to go forward.

“It’s not that you’re aggravating the natural temperament,” she said. “You’re actually seeing, ‘I feel better. I can do my work now.’ I think that’s where confusion comes when people say a balancer has given the horse more energy. It’s just made it a healthy, balanced diet, which means you’ve got good health.”

Ms Bulbrook added: “My final thoughts would be, talk to people who have got relevant qualifications, experience. That might be the feed companies that have a team of nutritionists. Go to their websites, look for their articles that will have scientific support, but also independents like Clare. My biggest take-home is, don’t be frightened to ask questions.”

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Showing our love of horses – what we can all do to help secure equestrian sport’s future

Eleanor Jones — Sat, 28 Dec 2024 08:05:11 +0000

Go back 10 years and had anyone mentioned the words “social licence” in relation to equestrianism, there would have been blank looks all round. Today, most of the industry has come or is starting to come round to the fact that this is an issue that isn’t going to go away.

So what is social licence to operate?

“Most societies regulate human activities using laws that state clearly what is, and is not, legally permissible,” Roly Owers, Madeleine Campbell and Janet Douglas state in their 2022 published study on the topic. “However, there is a second layer of permission that is granted – or revoked – by the public.”

This “second layer” is social licence, which, the authors explain, “represents an intangible, implicit agreement between the public and an industry or group”.

“The public may approve of an activity, in which case it can proceed with minimal formalised restrictions, or it may disapprove, and this may herald legal restrictions, or even an outright ban.”

If this seems an extreme or negative view, or scaremongering, think back less than two years, to the protests at the Grand National. Animal Rising, the group behind the demonstrations, wanted to highlight the “broken relationship” between humans and animals.

Protestors, people who want horse sport banned, are in the minority, but they are vocal and capable of influencing others. Three years running, World Horse Welfare has conducted research to find out what the public thinks of horse sport and the figures have stayed at roughly the same levels; about 20% do not support it in any circumstances, and another 40% would only support it if horse welfare is improved. If these 40% can be convinced that horse welfare is, as it should always be, the highest priority of all in the sport, we carry on.

So how to convince those people? How do we get more of the public on side?

Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) CEO Michael Bishop, an amateur event rider, believes horses’ social relevance is key. The more people who have horses in their lives, the more supporters equestrianism has.

“A core part of this is a societal connection with horses,” Michael told H&H. “We have to find ways of reaching out to people and engaging them with horses so they understand what we’re trying to do and how powerful that bond and relationship is.

“All of us can have a role in that, because all of us might be able to contribute something to the local RDA group, riding school, BHS centre, whatever endeavour that connects people to horses. We have a duty and responsibility, I think, to make sure there’s a social relevance connection that brings horses to the attention and positive interest of wider society.”

Michael does not believe this can be done by sitting in our ivory tower – or tack room – and showing the wider world what we do and how good it is.

“We have to do it by saying ‘Here are the challenges that society faces’,” he said. “Be that loneliness, or access to physical exercise for disabled people; here’s a way where horses are well placed and equipped to support those challenges. Everyone who’s engaged in horses understands some of those societal challenges, because we’re all facing them. Exploring the role of hosting that and supporting the groups, of course like RDA, who deliver on that, I think is paramount.”

So this is something everyone can do; if every horse owner has an opportunity to engage a non-horsey member of the public, perhaps this is not a duty, but an opportunity, to bring someone new on board.

Michael mentioned Park Lane RDA in Teddington, London, which has a stable with a window overlooking the street. Whichever horse is in there can look over the “cuddle door”, allowing city passers-by a quick glimpse into the equestrian world.

“You watch kids going to school, people on their way to work, taking a diversion down this unassuming suburban street to pat the pony,” Michael said. “It’s a really good example of a small bit of practice change that is engaging more people with horses, and I think it’s a really powerful story. It’s made a horse relevant.”

Everyone in the industry has connections with people outside it, and so all of us are advocates; we have a responsibility, Michael believes, to share the power of horses in a way that’s relevant to others. If each of us can convince one person, the cumulative effect would be huge.

Changing minds

Equestrianism is far from the first industry to experience the pressure of public opinion, and many others have turned things round.

Charlie Arnot, who grew up in agriculture, founded Look East as he had realised that “attacking those who attacked us wasn’t effective”, and he wanted to help agriculture businesses build public trust.

He told H&H one of the most important things any industry can do to secure support is to be transparent.

“Generally, people like the concept, but then they quickly are concerned about reckless oversharing and decide to do nothing because they’re not sure what to share and with whom,” he said. “So it’s a matter of going through a structured process to say ‘Here are the stakeholders that are important to our sector. What’s important to them? What do they want to know, and how do we engage with them in a way that will meet their information needs? It’s not sharing everything with everyone, it’s identifying who are the stakeholders who are interested.”

The second key is to welcome criticism and scepticism as an opportunity to engage.

“Often, when people say ‘I don’t like what you’re doing, I don’t like the way you treat those horses, I don’t think they should be used in competition’, our first response tends to be defensive, as opposed to listening and finding a place where we can make a connection,” Charlie said.

But when the connection is made, both people become “someone like me”. Look East’s shared values communication training has been taken up by thousands of people.

“Generally, when someone raises a concern about what’s happening in the equestrian world, what they’re saying is, ‘I care about animals. I’m not sure you do’,” Charlie said. “That’s the fundamental claim. So rather than becoming defensive in providing data on why this is the ‘right thing to do’, we can embrace that concern, and say ‘I really appreciate you raising that concern; I can tell you care a great deal about animals and horses. I respect that because I care a great deal about horses as well. What specific questions do you have and how can I provide information that’s important to you?’ Rather than doing a data dump to say ‘I’m right and you’re stupid’, we invite the conversation. ‘We have something in common, we both care about horses, so I welcome the conversation to better understand your concerns’.”

Once people feel acknowledged, Charlie said, they allow you to give them the information. But people have to listen, listen and listen; appreciate concerns, ask more about them and the questioner’s experiences that have shaped their opinion, understand, make the connection and then share their thoughts.

“That’s something everyone in the equestrian world can do,” he said. “Whatever your role, you have the opportunity to lean in.”

People have to resist the temptation to be defensive; a natural reaction if someone is attacking something that is so much a part of all of us.

“Most people want permission to believe these elegant animals are being well cared for,” Charlie said. “If you can give them enough information to give them permission to believe that, you’ve accomplished what you need. That won’t happen with a data dump, it’s by engaging them because you want them to trust you.”

Another key, Charlie says, is that if someone in the industry shows practices that are not acceptable, to the public or insiders, this has to be condemned – the action, not the person.

“You can say ‘What happened is completely unacceptable. It’s unacceptable to you. It’s unacceptable to us. We look forward to working with this individual to help him or her come back into the standards that we’ve established for our industry and that we know you expect of us,” he said.

“You can condemn what happened without condemning the person. We’ve done that with a lot of other sectors; when there’s been an undercover video related to animal abuse on a farm, industry bodies now are much more comfortable coming forward to say it’s not acceptable. The retailers used to say they were going to ban that farm from their supply chain. Now they say: ‘We’re going to put that farm on suspension until we have assurance they’ve got their program back in place’.”

Other riders can take a similar approach in such instances; condemning the action but not the perpetrator, as not doing so could imply that the behaviour is accepted and widespread. But often, many of us do not know what to say to try to help in a sticky situation.

Be part of the solution

“This is something that, in my opinion, has been really neglected,” equestrian PR expert Rhea Freeman told H&H. “The thing that’s been terrifying, is this silence, which doesn’t give people any guidance about how to help.

“Then denial about there being a problem when there clearly is something amiss, but we all need to be part of the solution.”

Rhea said she has heard from top riders who are worried about posting on social media for fear of sharing the “wrong thing”, so as a result don’t share anything.

“But we need to be putting more stuff out, showing behind the scenes, the love and the affection we feel for our horses,” she said. “Them winning at a competition is great, but actually, that’s such a small amount of their day.

“Ros Canter and Carl Hester do some of that, horses in the field together, and I think that’s what we need more of. Not just the shiny bits, we need more of the real life, day-to-day, love, affection and care of these horses and the relationships. That’s why we traipse across the field, rain coming in sideways, hanging on to a torch, getting soaked to check they’re ok. No sane person is doing that. But you do it because you love them, it’s that relationship, isn’t it?”

One rider Rhea cited as being very good at boosting public acceptance is Paris dressage team bronze medallist Becky Moody, who shares blogs “written by” her medal-winning home-bred Jagerbomb on social media.

Conveying the love

“A lot of horses genuinely do love doing it, and I think that’s a really hard thing to get across,” Becky told H&H. “I think we have to look at how we can do that. We have a bit of an issue within the equestrian community to improve the image. At the moment it’s dressage, but my feeling is that although it is dressage at the moment, we all have to come together, because it’s not going to remain just dressage.”

Becky said she has been struggling with some of the negative attention to the sport and has been doing what she can to change this.

“We have to be more open,” she said. “We have to learn to be better communicators. We have to make other equestrian people realise that although we’re competitors and competitive, we love our horses so much, and they’re so important to us. And the fact horses love doing it.

“There are people who think horses love hacking, and being turned out in the field, and that’s about it; they shouldn’t be ‘made’ to do other things. But I think it’s so good for their bodies, and their minds, and we have to try to find a way of communicating that.”

Becky has sought advice on trying to change perceptions but has had no “particularly insightful” answers.

“So through my own social media, I try as much as possible to get across the love we have for our horses, how much they do enjoy doing it,” she said. “And when I’m writing Bomb’s blog, there’s maybe some literary licence there! But his reaction to atmospheres, to people, his excitement, it’s all genuine. That is what he feels.”

Jagerbomb is a public equine figure who is clearly happy in his work, but Becky pointed out that she has other horses trained and managed in the same way but who are not at the same level, and the picture they present is not perfect. And in those cases, she says, we have to show that we know it is not yet perfect, but we are trying our best to get there.

“We just need to be trying to do the right thing,” she said. “Our sport is in trouble, but unless we start working together, it’s going to really be in trouble. There is no other way to look at it. We have to be more open and we have to be more communicative.”

Listening and communicating

Communication is key, within and emanating from the industry, and those with concerns need to know they are being listened to. Gemma Pearson, an equine vet, behaviour specialist and racing fan, is the co-author of a study published after last year’s Grand National demonstrations, looking at what the industry said in response. The main findings from that were that although the protestors’ aim was to prevent equine fatalities, the replies from the industry were mainly about how well they are looked after off the course.

“Trust, as we know, is one of the cornerstones of social licence, and transparency comes from that,” Gemma told H&H. “So we shouldn’t try to downplay things. We shouldn’t try to normalise when there are problems. And the more we can be honest and say ‘Yes, this is not where we would want to be in the industry, but we are working hard to change it’, people will trust us far more than if we try to say either it doesn’t occur or ‘That’s just normal for horses, and it’s not something we need to worry about, let’s focus on the positives instead’.

“If someone challenges and says, ‘I think horse racing is cruel’, the worst thing you can do is say ‘They’re looked after like kings’. The best thing is to say, ‘Why do you think it’s cruel?’ Then if people say, because of the number of horses killed on race tracks, you can say, ‘We are aware that’s a problem, and there’s work being undertaken by the British Horseracing Authority, among many other organisations, and we’re showing a reduction in that over time. ‘We know we’re not where we need to be; we have to do a lot better, but we’re working towards that.”

Gemma backed much of what Charlie said about digging into and understanding people’s specific concerns. One issue raised is that it is “not natural” for horses to be ridden.

‘To that, you could say ‘That’s a fair point, horses were not designed for people to ride them, but at the same time, dogs didn’t evolve as a species to be owned as pets by people. That’s ok, providing the animal has a good experience.

“We’re not just looking for a life worth living, but a good life. I think you can make an argument that if a horse is looked after according to its basic needs; friends, forage and freedom, it is sound and comfortable when ridden, training can actually increase little spikes of dopamine in the brain, which is the motivation and reward neurotransmitter.

“So actually, we know we can produce happiness through training and riding horses. And I think you could argue that taking a horse for a hack has some similarities to taking a dog for a walk; they get the opportunity to have environmental enrichment and see more of the world that they wouldn’t do otherwise.”

And a “natural” life is not necessarily the best one for an animal, it is worth pointing out. If they lived natural, wild lives, horses would have no access to veterinary care if injured or ill, or optimal nutrients, and they would be at risk of being hunted by predators. But on the other hand, horses are not necessarily better off, and no one opposed to equestrian sport would be convinced otherwise, by trumpeting about the amount of money spent on stables or rugs.

The biggest thing of course, Gemma said, is that even if the majority of the public did support horse sport, and believe welfare is the top priority, this is no good if the trust is misplaced, with which World Horse Welfare CEO Roly firmly agrees.

The real focus

“This may sound a very odd thing to say, but as this journey evolves, and we are clearly on the journey, I would almost encourage people to stop thinking about social licence or public acceptance,” Roly told H&H. “Because if there’s any indication that we’re doing anything just for how it looks, that will certainly not benefit our horses. And equally, it will not benefit building public trust, which is a key driver for acceptance.”

So despite everything all of us can do to increase support and relevance of horses, the biggest, most important thing is for each of us to ensure we are doing our utmost to give our horses a good life at all times.

“What we can all do is reflect back on what we are doing in our own world, with our own horses, or whatever association we have with the equine world, and constantly challenge ourselves,” Roly said. “Are we truly putting the horses as the number one stakeholder?

“I think a good measure is to think of the decisions we are making about our horses through the horses’ eyes. We don’t live in a perfect world, and you can’t always do what you believe is best for the horse, but we can always, or in most situations, do what’s better.

“If we constantly challenge ourselves to really show ourselves that’s what we’re doing, putting the horse at the centre and doing what’s in their best interests, that will relate to a narrative, a story, that will build trust, and public acceptance. Although we, of course, are delighted people are talking about it because it is an issue, you’ve got to get the sequencing of it right. And there is a danger of putting the cart before the horse in this regard.”

Key is, Roly added, at all times weighing up the potential risks and benefits to horses of all actions, and if the former outweigh the latter, to consider whether it is the right thing to do. And if a welfare issue is spotted, take the official paths; submit the issue and the evidence for investigation and official sanction – “as the standard you walk past is the standard you accept,” Roly said – rather than plastering accusations online for social media to be judge, jury and executioner.

We must all constantly be questioning and challenging ourselves and the status quo, be open to learning from trusted sources and taking new scientific evidence on board. And if we are truly doing everything we can to do what is genuinely best for our horses, that will be evident to all.

“Like everything in life, you can be an optimist and you can be a pessimist,” Roly said.

“I’m an eternal optimist, but I do honestly think that this is an exciting journey to be on. And if people aren’t excited to be on that journey, you possibly question whether horse ownership is right for them now. You need to have a real appetite for that, for both you and your horse.”

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Equine charities report owners’ ‘desperation’ and large-scale rescues as living cost crisis continues

Becky Murray — Fri, 27 Dec 2024 20:33:06 +0000

The cost-of-living crisis and owners struggling to cope continue to be major concerns for equine welfare charities, which have been helping “desperate” owners and taking in large groups of horses this year.

Although some living costs have steadied in 2024, and inflation in November was 2.6% compared to 10.7% in November 2022, families around the UK continue to face high bills and financial pressures.

World Horse Welfare reported a 44% increase in welfare cases involving owners having more than 10 horses, up from 109 in 2023 to 157 in 2024. Cases involving owners with more than 50 horses have doubled.

“This is significant because not only do these rescues fill up the centres, they put pressure on the field officer team too,” a World Horse Welfare spokesperson told H&H, adding that the charity has had to invest in more equipment such as trailers and pens to accommodate these cases.

Word Horse Welfare launched its Help for Horse Owners initiative in February with the aim of preventing serious welfare cases by providing early intervention.

“We have lost count of the people we have helped when they have nowhere else to turn and are often at their lowest ebb,” said World Horse Welfare chief field officer Claire Gordon, adding that those the charity has helped usually say they wished they had known about the initiative sooner.

“We hope by highlighting this, we can reach more of the people who are struggling now, so they know a channel exists to seek help from, without judgement.”

By the end of November Redwings had taken in 98 equines, compared to 96 in 2023 – but the charity’s rehoming figures continue to decline. It rehomed 88 equines to guardian homes – who can be returned to the charity at any time – down from 101 in 2023.

“Rehoming has taken a worrying downturn with horses who would have had lots of interest in the past receiving limited interest despite our best efforts,” Redwings chief executive Lynn Cutress told H&H.

“We presume that this is yet another result of the cost-of-living crisis, which as a charity with over 2,000 equines to look after is affecting us in every way.”

Looking at the larger picture the RSPCA reported an overall decline in the past 10 years in reports of cruelty to and neglect of equines. But the number of equines taken in since 2014 “shows a less steady picture” – peaking at more than 900 in 2014, and again in 2017. The charity reported a “continuous drop” in this number between 2019 and 2021, but said the number has risen again since 2022.

“The cost-of-living crisis may explain the rising numbers of abandonments and horses taken into care in the past few years, and it is worrying that we have seen an increase in abandonments in 2022 and 2023 – although abandonments are still less than half what they were 10 years ago,” said RSPCA horse welfare expert Mark Kennedy.

“But our research suggests that there is a growing epidemic of poor welfare in the equine population of England and Wales. Often issues may not meet the legal threshold for us to take action under current animal welfare law. But it does mean that many horses may be surviving rather than thriving – and that should concern all of us.”

South Bristol-based HorseWorld reported a 143% increase in reports made to the charity from 40 in 2014 to 97 in 2024; from members of the public, other charities, landowners, and police.

“In many calls we’ve had from owners, especially in the last 12 months, we’ve heard how they have been struggling to make ends meet for some time,” said HorseWorld’s head of equine welfare Sarah Hollister.

“It’s rarely one thing which has caused them to reach out. We’ve repeatedly heard from owners for whom the rising costs of everyday life have had a massive impact on what was already a very tight budget. It just takes one thing to go wrong, or for one unforeseen cost or illness, and they’re desperate.”

The charity also reported that the total equines it estimates “are potentially at risk” in its area has increased by 38%, from 156 in 2014 to 216 in 2024.

“Since 2014 we have been involved in a number of cases involving very large numbers at one site. For example, in 2021 we saw an exceptional peak of identifying over 600 equines being potentially at risk; caused by one case involving over 300 ponies, two cases involving over 70, as well as a number of other large groups,” said Ms Hollister.

HAPPA chief executive Sarah Arthur said the type of help needed by owners has changed.

“Reports of cruelty and neglect are still being reported, however cries for help from owners trying to do the right thing are more prevalent. We are seeing an increase of owners reaching out for help due to financial and medical difficulties. Intervention is needed by way of advice and or a sign over to ensure that the welfare of the equine is not compromised,” she said.

Ms Arthur added that when the Control of Horses Act came into force in 2015 there was an overall drop in abandonment cases; prior to 2018 approximately 40% of the equines taken in annually by the charity were classed as abandonment cases. Between 2018 and 2022 this decreased to less than 5%, but in recent years 20% of HAPPA’s intake figure is attributed to abandonment.

“The change in the demographic certainly seems to be a response to the cost-of-living crisis. Demand for HAPPA’s services remains consistent, the type of help needed is changing, and intake and rehoming figures remain balanced. Will this be a trend that continues, only time will tell,” she said.

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‘A better future for all horses’: welfare charity looks to 2025 with ‘hope, determination and commitment’

Becky Murray — Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:33:29 +0000

World Horse Welfare has reflected on a “monumental year” as it looks ahead to 2025 with “hope, determination and commitment”.

In World Horse Welfare chief executive Roly Owers’ annual Christmas message he reflected on the charity’s work during 2024, and shared a positive update on the “Dover 26” – the group of horses and ponies rescued from an overloaded transporter in Kent in February.

“It’s been an incredibly busy and sometimes challenging year for us here at World Horse Welfare. But ultimately it’s been a hugely monumental one,” said Mr Owers.

“In May Britain’s bill to ban the live exports to slaughter finally became law, a huge milestone and a defining moment in our nearly century-long and founding campaign.

“Alongside the banning of the legal movement of horses to slaughter, I’m delighted to say that several of the illegally smuggled horses, known as the Dover 26, have now found loving new homes and the rest, are making great progress.”

Mr Owers added that while the group’s story was “tough to hear”, their “legacy has been profound” in enabling the charity to highlight this terrible trade and to call for better legislation to protect vulnerable horses.

“With the invaluable support of our friends; fellow charities, experts, and advocates, we’ve continued to drive forward Ada Cole’s mission to be the horses’ voice,” he said.

“To put it simply, none of this would have been possible without you – our extraordinary supporters. Once again we want to say a massive thank you, for enabling us to do the work that needs to be done to ensure we work towards a world where every horse is treated with respect, compassion and understanding.”

Mr Owers said as the charity reflects on the year, it is reminded of Ada’s final words, “The work must go on”.

“There is still much to do but we’re looking forward to facing 2025 with hope, determination and commitment to creating a better future for all horses,” he said.

“For now, from us all here at World Horse Welfare two-legged and four, we wish you a very merry Christmas and a happiest of new years.”

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Tiny foals born to rescued mothers take centre stage this Christmas

Eleanor Jones — Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:21:49 +0000

Two donkey foals born to rescued jennies are taking centre stage at World Horse Welfare as the charity’s Christmas campaign stars.

Mia and her foal Peanut, and Molly and her baby Popcorn, have already experienced a seasonal snowfall at World Horse Welfare’s Belwade Farm, where they have had attention from charity patron and social media influencer Esme Higgs.

“Donkeys are clever, loving, and full of personality but they need special care,” Esme said.

“I met the gorgeous Peanut and Popcorn and their rescued mums Mia and Molly, on a recent visit to Belwade Farm, and it was wonderful to see they are getting the support they deserve and learning to trust humans. This season, your help can make all the difference to these amazing animals.”

The farm’s manager Eileen Gillen said the charity was delighted to be able to share pictures of its two donkeys.

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

“In this case, and thanks to our supporters enabling us to be there for them, Mia and Molly are doing well here at Belwade and were able to give birth to beautiful, healthy foals,” she said.

A spokesperson for the charity said that although donkeys may appeal as pets, their needs are often misunderstood, which can cause welfare issues.

“Although they are like horses in that they like to live in a herd, donkeys also need to pair-bond with another donkey – this behaviour is instinctive and essential to their wellbeing,” the spokesperson said..

“Separating bonded pairs causes them a lot of stress and donkeys who have lost a mate can literally die from a broken heart – as the effect of this stress on their health can lead to a condition called hyperlipaemia, which can be fatal.”

Shelter is very important as donkeys’ coats are not waterproof as horses’ are, and they need a specific diet and daily enrichment activities. Foot care can also be an issue as they do not cope well with the wet UK climate.

“As far as understanding their care goes, it’s important to consider how different they are to horses as they are very good at masking their pain as a survival mechanism,” Ms Gillen said.

“This can lead to them not receiving the care they need at the right time, as the signs of ill health can be easily missed.

“While we don’t take many donkeys in at World Horse Welfare, when we do the reasons are usually the same. Rather than deliberate neglect it tends to be more down to a lack of understanding and knowledge on behalf of those responsible for their care.”

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‘Your love and care is priceless’: more than 1,000 say thank you to hard-working grooms

Lucy Elder — Sat, 16 Nov 2024 19:25:29 +0000

Grooms at World Horse Welfare have received more than 1,000 messages of support as part of an initiative by the charity to celebrate its hard-working yard staff.

World Horse Welfare asked supporters to secretly send in messages for its 46 grooms, which would be read out to them. A video showing staff reading some of the messages was shared yesterday (15 November).

For example, “Keep going, your love and care is priceless and I thank you for everything you do for these wonderful beings” and “your love, dedication and patience […] is so precious and saves many lives”.

The charity is now marking the date as World Horse Welfare’s Groom Appreciation Day.

“One of the most challenging day-to-day experiences as a groom at World Horse Welfare is having to accept that there will be some ongoing long-term effects of neglect on horses, no matter how well cared for, after their arrival,” said Kathryn Coombes, who has been a groom at Hall Farm Rescue and Rehoming Centre in Snetterton, Norfolk for more than two years.

“But it is very rewarding to know you are having a positive impact on the horses’ lives.”

Abi Tuckwell, a senior groom at Belwade Farm in Aberdeenshire, added: “I came to the farm as a groom in July 2015, I must love the place as I have been here nearly 10 years!

“All of us love the horses we care for and when things go wrong, we really feel it, as this isn’t just a job for us. If we didn’t love them all, we wouldn’t be working here to try and make a difference.”

Tony Tyler, deputy chief executive at World Horse Welfare, said that anyone who has worked or works with horses will understand the daily challenges they face, especially during the winter months.

“For our grooms it can be particularly hard work with horses and ponies that have been neglected, mistreated and poorly handled,” said Mr Tyler.

“We felt their investment in the welfare of these horses, ponies, donkeys and the occasional mule is something to be celebrated.”

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(Image credit: World Horse Welfare)

‘Be aspirational’, don’t throw mud and listen to what horses are telling us, say experts

Eleanor Jones — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 10:02:38 +0000

We must “be aspirational”, work together and use involving horses in sport and leisure to improve their lives.

These were the key messages from a panel discussion at the 2024 World Horse Welfare conference on 7 November.

The theme was “What is a good life for a horse?”, and those on the panel considered this from a range of perspectives.

Asked what the equine sector can learn from others, Battersea Dogs & Cats Home CEO Peter Laurie explained how Battersea has changed to take in updated knowledge about welfare, such as allowing its residents to make choices.

“I was really struck by what’s just been said on the importance of choice,” he said. “I’d go as far as to say you can’t provide a good life for an animal, if you don’t allow it to make some degree of choices on a day-to-day basis.”

He said, for example, that the cats can choose to interact with staff or hide, they can choose their food and bedding.

Former British Equine Veterinary Association president Lucy Grieve said: “I think a lot of the research is done outside the equine sector, but we’re catching up, hopefully. I think it’s important to draw information from other sectors, but not to extrapolate directly. Every species has its own needs and differences, but we must be part of the conversation in a wider scope, to direct us in the right direction.

“It’s a case of habits changing. I see a lot of owners who just do what they’ve always done, and they don’t want to change. But if you can help people see the positive effects of learning and changing and evolving, they see the rewards.”

British Horse Society chief operating officer Sarah Phillips asked how we can balance the desire to compete with giving horses choices.

“It’s tricky, there’s a balance,” Ms Grieve said. “We have to accept that sports competitiveness is something humans get a lot of enjoyment out of, but we’ve got to try to understand better what aspect the horses need to benefit them, and how we can change things.

“The day of competition is just one piece of the puzzle. What goes on in between competitions and from birth, even in utero – that whole story has to be tailored better towards what horses need to give them a better life.”

Enhancing performance

Major Dan McRink, regimental veterinary officer for the Household Cavalry, said people need to realise that good welfare does not make winning less likely; far from it.

“Farming has got very good at recognising that good welfare leads to good productivity and profitability,” he said. “Horses having a purpose, work, performance or companionship, that’s what drives their welfare. It gives them a place in our society, our culture, and celebrating the fact we give them a purpose which leads to good exercise and good mental stimulation. It should be a way of driving good welfare.”

Asked what has to change to ensure horses in sport have a good life, Grand National-winning trainer Lucinda Russell said horses who are relaxed perform best.

“If we can educate other trainers, in racing and showjumping and eventing, that when a horse is happy, it will perform better,” she said. “These things aren’t just for ‘pony patters’; not ‘isn’t it nice they’re all grazing together’, but if a horse grazes together, is outside, it will perform better. I always say, ‘Let’s look at the horse.’

“We’ve got scanners, a video thing that tells us which leg it’s lame on. But if we can’t look at a horse and tell that it’s lame, we’re failing them. We have to be able to identify in a horse what’s good health, and whether they’re happy or not.”

The panel was referred to mainstream media coverage of horse sport, including a headline asking, “Is it time to ban dressage?”

But World Horse Welfare deputy CEO Tony Tyler said we have to investigate whether we are judging sport in the right way.

“Whether there are ways that good welfare and a relaxed horse and a good rider gain more points towards the final qualification, than just getting over the winning post,” he said. “I genuinely believe horses can be happy. I think if a rider can show a relaxed, happy horse, that should be rewarded.”

Missing the point

Ms Grieve said “banning” dressage is “kind of missing the point”.

“Dressage can be done well,” she said. “Like any discipline, it can be done well. We need to address why it’s being done badly and try to encourage those people to change to better ways.”

Maj McRink added that we should be as objective as we can and use evidence-based tools to measure and improve welfare, but as that develops, “subjectivity has a place; common-sense and good old-fashioned horsemanship.

“And just understanding what your horse is trying to tell you is very important,” he said. “We should collaborate. We should try to learn from each other’s mistakes and successes and we should, as best we can, be willing to recognise when something hasn’t had the desired effect and be prepared to change. I think we can be quite cynical about new techniques, and we need to get better at being prepared to try new things.”

The panel agreed that we should always challenge ourselves as to whether we are giving horses a good life, and how to improve.

Summing up, Maj McRink said: “There’s no shame in having horses work for us, as long as we use that as a positive experience. It’s important to remember that horses are individuals and finding them the right job is a key part of good welfare.”

Ms Grieve added: “It’s important to work together, to not throw mud at each other and to try to find a solution that works for everybody.”

“I think we should remain aspirational,” Mr Laurie said in closing. “Let’s keep challenging ourselves. Keep challenging the status quo.”

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‘Seeing horses for what they are’ and giving them choices – to give them a better life

Eleanor Jones — Tue, 12 Nov 2024 16:58:13 +0000

Giving horses choices and listening to what they really need could be key to improving welfare.

These were the topics covered by two speakers at the World Horse Welfare 2024 conference on 7 November, the theme of which was the question, “What is a good life for a horse?”

Lisa Dickel, a researcher in ecology and animal welfare at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, spoke on “enhancing horse welfare through choice”, after which Hazel Heaton, of reward-based training and livery yard Nine Acres in Norfolk, presented on the “full circle”.

Dr Dickel said that through wildlife biology, she learnt that animals make “fundamental choices” every day, including about their movement, habitats and resources, which have “fundamental consequences for their evolution and their welfare”.

“The dynamic concept of animal welfare describes welfare as the ability of an animal to respond flexibly to internal and environmental cues,” she said. “So, for example, to respond to whether they are hungry or whether there are any social cues they need to react to. This will help maintain their health and survival, but it will also affect their mental state and let them know how they are doing.”

So, she said, welfare is an “evolved feedback mechanism”. But animals in captivity are denied choices and opportunities to the same extent.

“We can wonder whether there are any welfare consequences of these limited opportunities,” she said, adding that she spent a summer observing wild cattle, who had rich social lives and made choices to keep themselves safe and well.

“This really broke, for me, this dichotomy between opportunities and choices for wild and domesticated animals, and we do know that welfare improves across a lot of species with increased opportunities to make choices,” she said.

Dr Dickel is now leading a group aiming to give farm animals more choices, as part of a project to improve welfare. They have to think about whether something is meaningful for the species, then the individual, then whether an animal might have preferences that humans may not make.

She gave an example, on video, of a pony choosing to break ice to drink over warmed water nearby.

“Generally, choice and control over both positive and negative stimuli will lead the horse to experience a sense of agency, which will help them to feel safe in their life and have a positive welfare experience,” she said.

“So how can we achieve a better life for horses through meaningful opportunities?

“We always need to keep learning about species-specific ecology. We need to ask animals what they want and need, so we need to keep improving our ability to understand their body language and be able to respond appropriately. I invite all of us to remain curious about what the animals experience with which we share our lives.”

Change of attitude

Ms Heaton spoke of her previous experiences coaching and showjumping professionally, adding that her attitude changed when a talented horse was injured. And she “felt slightly selfish” about the fact her priority had been competing.

She was also frustrated by the “problem” horses she was being sent, most who had challenging behaviour owing to poor handling or experiences.

She set up a riding school aiming to teach people more about horse behaviour, then took a break after the death of her mother and spent time at Jersey Wildlife Park, which inspired her to take her business in a new direction.

“I realised that the way we manage horses makes it much harder work for us than it needs to be,” she said. “I became aware that the attention paid to species-specific needs in other animals is much greater than in horses; we tend to pay lip service to the idea of horses displaying natural behaviours, but don’t give it the priority it requires to give a horse a good life.”

Ms Heaton redesigned her yard to allow group housing in loose yards, with ad-lib hay.

“The change in those horses was immediate,” she said. “Friends, forage and freedom really did underpin everything I went on to change. Small things like horses banging the doors at feed time disappeared overnight. The horses weren’t just surviving in my new system, but were having a better life.”

Ms Heaton said much of what she had learnt was replaced by a “real joy of watching horses be horses”.

“I had time to spend around them and it elicited in me the love that you feel for their ponies when you’re a child,” she said. “I realised that in the mainstream horse world, we lose that, become hardened. It felt like for the first time since I’d become a professional, I started to see horses for what they really were and felt inspired to start to create a centre that catered more for them than it did for us.”

Ms Heaton says listening to and acting on what horses need allows her to give them a better life, with socialising and enrichment, which can be just a new area to be in.

“I think much can be done to improve the life of many horses, if we simply observe and listen to them rather than believing the way we’ve always done things is the way we should continue,” she said.

“Much of what we perceive as a good life for horses is misguided and is far more convenient to us than it is about offering a good life to them. [My journey] hasn’t always been easy, but it’s a journey I am so grateful to have travelled on, because it has taken me back to a place of loving horses for what they truly are.”

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What is a good life for a horse? We have to listen to – and act on – what they tell us

Eleanor Jones — Fri, 08 Nov 2024 17:42:22 +0000

The magic of the horse-human relationship comes with the responsibility to give horses a good life – rather than what we might think is a good life.

The theme of the 2024 World Horse Welfare conference yesterday (7 November) was the question “What is a good life for a horse?” Speakers from across the world, and across the industry, covered the many facets of what this can and could mean.

“Why today’s theme?” said World Horse Welfare chief executive Roly Owers in his opening address to the conference.

“This year, the FEI launched its new welfare strategy with a vision of a good life for sport horses, implementing the recommendations of its independent Equine Ethics and Wellbeing Commission. British racing’s welfare strategy, which is going to be reviewed next year, is called ‘A life well lived’. This demonstrates a welcome change that has taken place in sport, particularly how a good life is not just something horses experience on race day or at competition, but as a lifelong experience that must be considered from birth to death.”

Mr Owers said providing a good life for horses is “a worthy aspiration”, but asked whether all agree on what this looks like.

“Does my view of a good life look the same as yours?” he asked. “Would horses take the same view as us? This is a thornier question than it first looks but we’re developing ever greater insight.”

Mr Owers said ensuring horses’ welfare is good is a “journey” humans have been on, a journey influenced by evolving understanding, informed by research.

“Historically, our welfare journey has been too dominated through the health lens and their physical welfare,” he said. “We will all be familiar with welfare policies focused mainly on biosecurity, optimising performance and veterinary oversight. For sure, these have value, but an animal can have good health, but poor welfare.

“For decades, we looked to the five freedoms of animal welfare, a valuable and ground-breaking framework that predominantly made us think about animals’ freedom from negative experiences. But now we recognise that good welfare is just not just based on the absence of negative experiences, but the presence of positive ones too. Today, one of the most widely accepted models for assessing animal welfare is the more holistic five domains – here, health is one of the four functional domains that all influence the fifth, a horse’s mental state, and our goal should be to provide our horses with a positive mental state, because only if a horse feels content in themselves from their own individual perspective can their welfare be good.”

Maximising the positives

Mr Owers pointed out that no person or animal is content all the time; all have some negative experiences, which can have a positive effect even if that is just learning from them. The key to giving horses a good life, he said, is to actively minimise the negatives and maximise opportunity for positives.

“Fundamental to good welfare is the ability for us to allow a horse to be a horse, and we can enable this by providing horses with regular access to the three Fs – friends, freedom and forage,” he said. “But is this really synonymous with how normalised certain attitudes and practices are in the horse world? For example, in our efforts to protect our horses as valuable assets by shielding them from injury, keeping them stabled and feeding them a concentrate diet to maximise performance. But at what cost, as we know now, depriving our horses of the three Fs is depriving them of a good life.

“Our horses evolved living in herds on open grasslands within stable social groups and complex methods of communication, some of which we are only now beginning to understand.”

Mr Owers said although people must be careful not to anthropomorphise, horses need a lot of the same things people do, including mental stimulation and some control over their lives, and share many biological responses to different experiences.

“New discoveries seem to appear every week revealing a horse’s ability to problem-solve, recognise faces and respond to our emotions,” he said. “This is why we feel we can build such close relationships with them. This is the magic of the horse-human relationship, but it comes with a responsibility to listen to what they are telling us and acting on it.

“For instance, we know that as prey animals, horses are experts at masking pain or weakness, and they behave very differently when they are completely alone compared to when they’re being observed. We know that 24 common behaviours demonstrated in clusters of eight or more at a time signal that a ridden horse might be in pain. We have this knowledge today, but do our traditional attitudes lead some of us to dismiss these behaviours as naughtiness or disobedience? We must make it our business to know better and act better if we are to give our horses a good life.”

Mr Owers said we must consider ethics; instead of asking “How do I do this with my horse?”, we should ask “Should I do this?”

“And if the answer is no, we shouldn’t,” he said.

“If we decide we can, how do we know the best way of doing it? This is where the science comes in, providing us with evidence to inform our decisions.”

Mr Owers said that if scientific findings are not clear, more research is needed but in the meantime, we should err on the side of caution.

“What is essential is that these debates are carried out constructively and respectfully,” he said. “We will not always agree on everything, but we will often agree on a lot and sniping at each other achieves nothing. After all, our joint aim is to give horses a good life, so having an open-minded dialogue to achieve this aim seems vital.

“Let’s remember too, that just because someone disagrees with us doesn’t make them the enemy; labelling groups or people as antis is not necessarily helpful. We would do better to listen to what they are saying, and having reflected and considered their views, we still might not agree, but we will be wiser for it. We know also that societies globally are increasingly questioning the use of animals in sport and entertainment; when activities have been banned or shunned by the public, such as circuses with wild animals in the UK, why should we keep horses or ride them for sport or leisure? The answer is because we can, and often do, give them a good life. Whether we keep them for leisure, sport, work or companionship, our horses can have good lives if we work to provide this.”

How to give horses a good life

The question is how to do this, and Mr Owers had three key points.

“Firstly, we need to be curious about how horses experience the world and how we impact their lives by what we do,” he said. “We need to be open-minded enough to consider life from the horse’s perspective. This sometimes means questioning our own way of doing things and heeding objective evidence. It would also mean looking at each horse as an individual, as we must be flexible enough to cater to their specific welfare and mental needs.

“Secondly, we need to take a truly holistic view of equine welfare. This starts with breeding foals only when we have a clear plan for their future, providing all horses with the three Fs to the greatest extent possible, maximising opportunities for positive experiences, training them in ways that are in line with the way they learn and that do not cause them fear, injury or distress, competing or riding them in ways that are ethical, and retiring and rehoming them responsibly and ensuring that they have a good end of life.

“And finally, we need to let go of any stubbornness, regret or shame in our previous methods and recognise welfare is a continuum. Perfection doesn’t exist,but we can seek to constantly strive to do our best in making improvements. We should always be wary of making excellence the enemy of the good. Incremental change really can make a significant difference to the lives of our animals today, so we need to act now, whilst also striving to make longer-term, systemic changes.”

We are all, or should be, continually learning.

“Let’s celebrate the good lives we already provide our horses, but also embrace change and foster an environment of humility and diligence towards doing better,” Mr Owers said. “Let’s also be realistic and recognise that change can be hard. We will make mistakes, that is forgivable, what is not forgivable is not trying or not learning from our mistakes. This is the journey that we have chosen by involving horses in our lives. They give us good lives, so it’s only fair we give the same to them.”

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