Does Housing System Affect Horse Welfare?

Introduction

• Purpose of Study: Examine the impact of outdoor group housing (parcours) on horse welfare using the AWIN welfare assessment protocol.
• Background Information:
  • Horses bred for various activities and are housed differently, impacting their welfare.
  • Single boxes are common in Western countries but limit natural behaviors.
  • Outdoor group housing seen as more natural, but potential risks include injuries and illnesses.

Methodology

• Study Location: Six farms in Région Sud Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, France.
• Sample: 171 horses over one year old, evaluated from June to November 2019.
• Welfare Assessment: Modified AWIN protocol with 22 animal-based and 4 resource-based indicators.

Results and Discussion

Good Feeding

• Nutrition: Most horses had a BCS of 3, indicating appropriate nutrition.
• Water Availability: Issues noted with water cleanliness and accessibility.

Good Housing

• Movement: Horses could move freely, aligning with natural behaviors.
• Shelter: 10.7% lacked shelter, posing a risk during extreme weather.

Good Health

• General Health: Few severe health issues observed.
• Respiratory Issues: Slightly higher prevalence than single-housed horses.
• Lameness: Lower prevalence compared to stabled horses.
• Skin Conditions: High prevalence of alopecia; likely due to insects.

Appropriate Behavior

• Social Interaction: Horses in groups showed fewer stereotypies.
• Human Interaction: Most horses were approachable, with few showing avoidance or aggression.

Conclusion

• Findings: Group-housed horses on parcours showed good welfare in terms of movement and social interaction, but improvements are needed in water access and shelter.
• Implications: Data contributes to understanding of horse welfare in different housing systems.

Limitations

• Limited geographical sample size may not represent all horses on parcours.
• Further studies should compare different housing systems using the same protocol.

Acknowledgements

• Financial support from FEADER and the PACA region.
• Thanks to participating farmers.

References

• Various studies and publications on horse welfare, behavior, and management practices.