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Housing, Management and Welfare

  • Chapter
The Welfare of Horses

Part of the book series: Animal Welfare ((AWNS,volume 1))

Abstract

Horses tend to be housed in loose boxes, stalls, barns and shelters for ease of management, however these systems present several possible threats to equine health and welfare. These systems are reviewed together with the concerns they raise. A common system for the evaluation of the welfare of contained animals focuses on the provision of five freedoms. These are freedom from hunger, thirst and malnutrition, from discomfort, from pain, injury and disease, from fear and distress and to express most normal patterns of behaviour. This approach is used to assess the ways in which horse welfare may be compromised by certain housing practices and management regimes. Recommendations as to how these problems can be resolved and to promote good practice are provided.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lincoln, Riseholme Park, Riseholme, Lincoln, LN2 2LG, UK

    D. S. Mills

  2. Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Melbourne, Australia

    A. Clarke

Authors
  1. D. S. Mills
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  2. A. Clarke
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Unitec, Auckland, New Zealand

    Natalie Waran

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Mills, D.S., Clarke, A. (2007). Housing, Management and Welfare. In: Waran, N. (eds) The Welfare of Horses. Animal Welfare, vol 1. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-306-48215-1_4

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