Horse SA horse welfare conference June 2015 presentation by Professor Paul McGreevy. Visit Horse SA http://www.horsesa.asn.au #HorseSA #horsewelfare

1. Lets talk about Horse Welfare
Links & notes from the
Horse SA Horse Welfare Conference June 2015
iStock

2. Horse SA conducted Australia's first online
& off-line style horse welfare conference
between 4-8 June 2015.
Information shared includes:
Dr. Andrew McLean ‘Sport & Recreation
Horse Welfare’ Seminar
Webinar: Tips for the Care of Confined
Horses
Webinar: About the Australian Horse
Welfare Protocol
Large Animal Rescue Awareness for Horse
Owners workshop
Professor Paul McGreevy ‘Leadership in
Horse Welfare’ & ‘Thought Leaders Group.’
Notes taken at these sessions form the
basis of the following PowerPoint.
iStock

3. The incremental nature of animal
welfare
Animal welfare originated in public
distaste in the late 19th century for the
sight of tired horses and other animals
being whipped in public by drivers and
carters
In 1824 the first animal protection society
was established, and today’s RSPCA and
others have their roots in this
The movement slowed down
unfortunately until the publication in 1877
of Black Beauty, whose instant acceptance
by the reading public has virtually ensured
that the horse is now the worldwide
ambassador for the protection of animals
The public debate about the whipping of
horses still continues today
iStock

4. The increased role of social media in
surveillance of horse-related activities
Bad images go viral
Anyone with a smartphone, Go-Pro or drone
is able to record & share
Social media will alert all to welfare issues
Issues can be uncovered by covert
surveillance techniques
Surveillance technologies are readily
available to the public and specific interest
groups
Social media is here to stay
 Events and activities should ensure an
‘open & transparent’ attitude to all parts
of the public event, warm up and training
iStock

5. Sponsors’ concerns about animal welfare
Increasingly, sponsors are raising concerns
about the welfare of the animals involved
in the sports and activities they sponsor
Event organisers must be able to reassure
sponsors that everything possible is being
done to ensure the welfare of the horses
involved in our sports
Sponsors will continue to withdraw in the
face of public discomfort unless sports are
aware of short comings and demonstrate
how they act to address these
iStock

6. Discussion: Reassuring sponsors that
their money is invested well
Inviting sponsors into horse spaces,
admitting faults, and how each potential
welfare issue will be addressed
Be open and transparent with sponsors
Identifying champions whose equine
management practices can be
scientifically assessed and measured,
demonstrating best practice. Then to
engage these champions with sponsors.
Consider evidence based welfare
measures, formed into a written
document (e.g. equine welfare plan)
iStock

7. What is ethical equitation?
Ethical equitation uses research into the
training of horses to enhance horse
welfare and improve the horse-rider
relationship
Ethical equitation is based on a cost-
benefit analysis: What are the welfare
costs for the animal, balanced against the
potential benefits for both humans and
animals?
The International Society for Equitation
Science (ISES) promotes independent,
evidence-based research on training
techniques, in order to identify those
which are ineffective or may cause harm
iStock

8. Ethical equitation: ISES Principles of
learning theory in equitation
Currently 8 principles (soon to be 10)
The application of these principles is not
restricted to any single method of horse-
training.
There are many possible systems of
optimal horse-training that adhere to all
of these principles
Definition of Equitation ‘The art and
practice of horsemanship and horse
riding’ http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/equitation
“We have a moral obligation to ensure
that we do everything possible to avoid
jeopardizing horse welfare” Professor
Paul McGreevy
iStock

9. Ethical equitation: ISES Code of
Conduct
The International Society for Equitation
Science has developed a Code of Conduct
which is available for event organisers,
officials, riders, trainers and spectators,
with the goal of ensuring a welfare-driven
sustainable future for all horses.
This Code of Conduct highlights the most
salient aspects relating to ethical and
welfare concerns and how these should be
addressed during competitive events
 Can the Code be signed by all event
participants?
 Can the event collect evidence that the
Code is being promoted and met?
iStock

10. Discussing best practice
People often use common sense
and their own knowledge of best
practice, but the issue remains of
how to marry this knowledge with
evidence-based knowledge
Traditional knowledge is not
necessarily good knowledge
Science can validate traditional
knowledge (or not)
The marriage between knowledge
and science is vital
Measure and capture best practice
is important
iStock

11. There is an opportunity to adopt a
priority approach to the issues and
challenges of horse welfare facing the
horse industry
We can identify human interventions
into horses’ lives which may have a
negative impact, and measuring the
effect of this impact
How to measure the effect of these
interventions?
One way is examination through the
five domains of potential welfare
compromise (Nutrition, environment,
health, behaviour, mental state)
 Are there other ways of measuring?
 Should there be more than one
way?
iStock

12. Horse events can meet future
challenges
• Animal welfare is incremental
• Social media is here to stay
• Sponsors concerns about animal
welfare is likely to rise
• Address sponsors concerns, including
being open and transparent
• Seek out evidence based science to
underpin horse welfare (refer to ISES
Code of Conduct & Principles of
learning theory in equitation)
• Measure and capture best practice
iStock

13. General interest links
International Society for Equitation Science (ISES)
http://www.equitationscience.com
ISES Code of Conduct
http://www.equitationscience.com/code-of-conduct
ISES Learning Theory in Equitation
http://www.equitationscience.com/learning-theory-in-
equitation
Australian Horse Welfare Protocol
http://www.horsecouncil.org.au/ahic/index.cfm/horse-
welfare/
Australian Horse Welfare & Well-being Toolkit
http://www.horsecouncil.org.au/ahic/index.cfm/horse-
welfare/australian-horse-welfare-well-being-toolkit/
Tips for the Care of Confined Horses
http://www.horsesa.asn.au/wp-
content/uploads/2013/08/3100_HSA_CONFINEMENT-
TIPS_Final.pdf
iStock

14. Thank you to conference supporters:
The University of Adelaide Equine Health &
Performance Centre
https://www.adelaide.edu.au/vetsci/centres/e
hpc/
Central Queensland University Appleton
Institute (Adelaide)
https://www.cqu.edu.au/research/organisation
s/appleton-institute
Find out about Horse SA
http://www.slideshare.net/juliefiedler7/about-
horse-sa-2015
‘Like’ our Face book page
https://www.facebook.com/SAHorse
Horse SA
www.horsesa.asn.au
E: horsesa@horsesa.asn.au
iStock