14/12/2024
The ability to recognize pain in our equine partners is such an important skill for anyone who shares their lives with horses.
"The recognition of behavioural signs of pain in horses remains one of the most important areas of research in terms of improving their quality of life. However, distinguishing between behaviour indicative of pain and that associated with confounding factors including fear and anxiety, isolation, anticipation of pain and other treatment-related stressors, can be complicated by individual variation."
A systematic review by Hall and Kay (2024) analysed 109 articles on horse-human interactions and their impact on equine welfare.
Key areas examined included pain recognition, emotional reactivity, handling procedures, ridden behaviour, non-procedural interactions, transportation, and non-ridden training.
Major findings include:
* Most horse-human interactions involve human control, potentially masking signs of the horse's experiences.
* In free-movement situations, positive experiences led to approach behaviour, while negative ones caused avoidance.
* Training can influence both approach and avoidance behaviours.
* Individual differences and fear can complicate behavioural interpretations.
Key conclusions from the review point to the need for changes in how humans interact with horses.
To improve horses' quality of life, it's crucial to fulfill their basic needs and ensure that interactions with humans are predominantly pleasurable.
The review also underscores the importance of recognising pain in horses, considering their cumulative life experiences, and adapting handling and training methods to enhance equine welfare.
These insights can provide valuable guidance for improving horse-human interactions and promoting better quality of life for horses across various contexts.
Read the full analysis here:
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/animal-welfare/article/living-the-good-life-a-systematic-review-of-behavioural-signs-of-affective-state-in-the-domestic-horse-equus-caballus-and-factors-relating-to-quality-of-life-part-2-horsehuman-interactions/0B20228016DE886D3F99587EC3ECEB97 #
