Hi All,
Welcome to topic 5 for 624EHS - Contemporary Issues in Equine Science.
This topic is all about the welfare of performance horses. Make sure you watch the launch video which has been posted in the Classroom. Distance learning students have from now until 1 pm on Thursday 28th March to contribute to this blog, to debate the issues surrounding equestrian tack. Ensure you can also evidence you opinions and remember that you are also required to submit a reference list (word document emailed to module leader) by 1 pm on Thursday 28th March . You will be graded on the quality and quantity of both your blog contributions and your reference list. Remember, the point of this is to debate the issues, so you should be replying to each others posts. I will be keeping an eye on the blog, but if you have any issues, you should email me.
Rosa
There is a growing concern about the welfare of competition horses in the UK. A study was conducted where 31 interviews were taken place across a variety of equine stakeholders, in order to explore their perceptions of the welfare problems faced by horses in GB. Welfare problems relating to health, management and riding and training were identified, including horses being under or over weight, stabling 24 hours a day and the inappropriate use of training aids in which horse welfare was compromised. The most commonly discussed was where horses are kept in unsuitable environments, for example poor grazing. Lack of knowledge and financial constraints were perceived to be the root cause of poor welfare by many interviewees.
ReplyDeleteThe findings from this research give an indication of the range of welfare problems facing horses in GB and stakeholders’ perceptions of the welfare of horses. The large number of under-researched issues identified indicates that, in light of limited resources, further qualitative research may be beneficial to prioritise issues identified to target research and interventions (Horseman et al., 2016).
According to Kaya-Karasau et al., (2016), an Arabian racehorse was suffering poor performance. Upon a thorough clinical examination it was found that he was suffering from gastric ulcers due to the high concentrate diet he was being fed. Changes to this diet not only improved performance, but also wellbeing. Thus further research is required into the feeding of racehorses as the current high concentrate diets are not only poor for welfare, but also not necessarily essential for maintaining high levels of performance.
Delete(Emily Jolliffe)
Further to the evidence found by Kaya-Karasau et al., (2016), Rigmark et al., (2017) identified that reducing training distances and feeding racehorses forage only diets did not impact on performance, indicating that with further research an alternative and healthier diet for racehorses can be found.
Delete(Emily Jolliffe)
Following on from Emily's discussion of Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS), another reported cause of EGUS is transport-related stress (McClure, 2005). EGUS has been reported as potentially extremetly painful and can inhibit performance greatly. Transport has been seen to induce stress throughout all phases of transport. In the pre-loading preperation phase, horses are required to leave their familiar surroundings and social groups. Horses can exhibit associative learning whereby the horse can recognise different preloading preparations. This is more likely to be an important influential factor if the horse is associating these with a negative past experience (Creiger, 1982). This can be seen in a study (Schmidt et al, 2009) where horses showed increased salivary cortisol levels in the last hour before transport. During this time the vehicles were prepared and the horses were groomed and had protective travelling equipment put on. Loading is often considered to be the most stressful part of road transportation for the horse (Padalino et al, 2016 A). During this phase the horse will enter a small space, often not well lit, on a ramp that may be slippery. During travel, factors affecting stress levels include ability of the driver, noise, confinement, change of temperature, previous experiences, orientation of travel, space for head movement, horse's fitness and the quality of ventilation in the vehicle (Jones, 2003). If the horse is tied up too short and their natural head stance cannot be achieved, their airways may become restricted causing respiratory problems (Oikawa et al, 2005).When the horse then has to compete, these respiratory problems could have detrimental effects. Rebecca Amess
DeleteVisser and Van Wijk-Jansen (2012) looked into the diversity of equine owners in the Netherlands in regards to the way they search and find out information, their emotional involvement with horses, and their attitude, their knowledge, and daily practices with regard to equine welfare. More than half of the respondents (64.5%) believed that there were welfare problems throughout the whole horse industry. The most important reported source for information was the personal contact with other horse enthusiasts (82.8%), with veterinarians (74.5%), and with farriers (69.5%). Although most respondents were aware of the issues that can compromise welfare, their knowledge did not always result in appropriate practices (Visser and Van Wijk-Jansen, 2012).
DeleteFollowing on on Rebecca's comment on transport stress ramp climbing was investigated by Waran and Cuddeford (1995) who found foals under 3 years resisting more to load than older and more experienced horses. The step-up into the vehicle seemed to be the most problematic phase that elicited fearful reactions and the highest heart rate values. It is suggested that the horses have to be gradually accustomed to loading as foals. Making the ramp less sloping and more solid would render it more stable, rubber mats and straw over the ramp would further decrease the fear reactions induced by the hollow sound of climbing hoofs.
DeleteFollowing on from Daisy's point, the questionnaire carried out by Visser et al (2011) showed that 55% of the respondents believed the government should set minimum requirements whereas 77% believed that the horse sector should take its responsibility. Maybe instead of deeming either government or the horse sector responsible, both sectors could work together to achieve changes as they can target different areas of the industry in need of change. However, the government can ultimately impose changes that the equine industry does not always have the power to do.
DeleteFollowing on from the points r.e. transport stress: Yngvesson et al (2016) found that the horse's head rates (HR) was significantly higher when inside the trailer or lorry, compared to before and after loading. They stressed the importance of habituating horses correctly in order to reduce stress and eventually time taken to load up. This was supported by Padalino et al (2016) who found that successful and correct habituation reduced the risk of injuries sustained by the horses when loading and travelling. This study also found that teaching horses to 'self-load' was more likely to reduce injury risk. These emphasise the importance of correct transport training methods and taking the time from ideally a young age to habituate the horses to the trailer or lorry.
DeleteIn agreement with Ellie's point. Transport problem behaviours occur when the equine is stressed. As travel is a regular part of many equines lives it is important its undertaken correctly. Injuries and health disorders are major problems of transportation. As transport stress includes physical and mental stressors at all points (handling, loading, travel, unloading and adapting to a new environment) it is important to devise and improve multifactoral management strategies regarding transport to reduce stress. (Padalino, 2015; Padalino 2016)
DeleteGoing back to previous points it has also been suggested that the distance a horse travels by road can affect their behaviour. this was seen in a study by Tateo et al (2012). this could suggest that owners should pay more attention to how far they are transporting their horse for events to try and limit the changes in behaviour as a result of travel.
DeleteOrientation of the horse within a transport vehicle has been identified as a potential source of stress. Several studies have examined horses facing toward or away from the direction of road travel. With some variation, the studies suggest that horses facing away from travel experience less stress and better ability to clear their airways and adjust posture (Martyn, et al., 2009). While most horses seem to prefer this, there is evidence that some individuals prefer head forward and might show greater signs of stress if forced to ride backward (Tateo et al., 2012). It is not known whether the horses act this way because they have become accustomed to it or for other reasons. Decisions regarding restraint and orientation during travel should be made on every horse individual.
Delete(Above comment about orientation-->Vasiliki Lygerou)
DeleteIt's not just the transport of these horses which can cause stress. As discussed by Carroll (2018) stress caused by the competition alone has a significant impact on bacterial numbers up to 3 days post competition. Therefore, over a long period of time this exposure to a competition environment could have serious negative effects on the horse's health and overall performance. This paired with the stress of transport which has already been linked to issues in the horses gut could really limit the horse's competitive abilities and health which may shorten their competitive career
DeleteFurthermore with concerns to transport welfare, there are many european legislation (ec-91/628, ec-1255/97, 95/29/ec, and regulation 1/2005) that are used to cover concerns such as type of vehicle used, rest periods, food and water supply, suitability of horse for transport (weaning, illness, and injury) (Leandon, 2012). However, it has been shown in a study by Marlin et al (2011) that these legislation are not being enforced as 1519 horses had shown to have poor welfare with long distance travel and servere lameness and injury.
DeleteThe industry are more aware of the welfare issues in the industry, however, as said there is limited knowledge of the range of welfare problems (Horseman et,al,2016). This needs more research done to clarify the issues more in dept and to understand fully the issues so that the issues can be addressed not just for riders but for coaches and other parties.
DeleteGoing on from that a few points made by others. Financial difficulties are seen from amateur riders to top riders as there is alot of money that go into not just competitions but the basic care and welfare of the horses. This has been an area which has been briefly looked over but in performance and riding disciplines needs to be researched more as there could be more too it and also the effects of not having enough finance can have an effect on the welfare of the horse as it is an expensive sport.
DeleteIt appears when looking at the literture, that a lack of owner knowledge is not only a concern in GB, but also in other countries. While figures were not presented, (Werhahan et al., 2011) reported that many horses in Germany are not permitted free exercise (turnout) due to a concern for the likelihood of injury. However, other studies have reported that a lack of turnout in fact increases the risk of injury to equines. Owen et al., 2011 stated that horses which are stabled for 24 hours a day in the spring and winter had a significantly increased chance of sustaining an injury, when compared with horses turned out at all times. Horses that were turned out in the day and stabled at night during the winter and autumn were similarly at an increased risk of injury. Most concerningly, horses that were stabled at all times in the spring were found to be 15 times more likely to sustain an injury when compared with horses turned out at all times. Oppositely, horses stabled at all times during winter months were found to be protective against injury (P=0.006) compared to those horses turned out in the day and stabled at night (Owen et al., 2011).
ReplyDeleteThese studies have outlined the conflicting opinions of horse owners, clearly showing the need for further owner education.
(Rebecca Amess)
DeleteSimilarly to the study you found, Williams and Randle (2016) discussed how stereotypic behaviour can impact performance. Although this study was not solely focussed on horses, it's findings are relevant to the performance horse especially when looked at in conjunction with other studies. According to Yarnell et al., (2015), stereotypic behaviour in horses can be caused by restricting natural behaviours such as grazing and socialising. Therefore, not only does this form of management increase injury likelihood as you discussed, but it also impacts psychological well-being. It is thus in the best interests of the performance sector of the equine industry to explore alternative or natural management practices to improve the welfare and therefore performance of their horses.
Delete(Emily Jolliffe)
Maybe these factors influencing the differences seen in the study could also be because of practices being considered more 'popular' and therefore owners follow them without having researched or looked into it themselves.
DeleteFollowing on turnout, McGreevy et al (1995) found that horses are less likely to develop abnormal behaviour if they spend more time out of the stable and are easier to break in (Rivera et al., 1999). Søndergaard and Schougaard (2000) showed that stallions move less when at pasture alone than when in groups, pointing out the impact of social contact on the willingness to move.
DeleteAs well as looking into more natural practices, perhaps looking at ways in which average owners and competition oweners may be able to make realistic changes to their management practices should be recommended. After all, it may be unrealistic for competition horses (particularly those who are already habituated to being stabled for long periods) to suddenly have complete turnout.
DeleteWerhahan et al., (2011) looked at three different management practices: No turnout out, 2-hour tunrout pre-training and 2-hours post-training. Using GPS to track the distance covered by the horses that were turned out, the results showed a significantly shorter distance was covered when horses were trained before they were turned out compared with turnout before training - which links to the equine's natural need for exercise. Turnout after training also showed less trotting and cantering behaviours and more time spent 'resting'. Therefore, for owners concerned about turning their competition horses out due to injury likelihhod, perhaps considering turning out after ridden exercise should be recommended.
Above comment by Rebecca Amess
DeleteIn the past, many studies have identified an equines need to travel/exercise within a group setting. These are behavioural needs due to the instincts developed over the millennia, not choices. However, equines are often turned out in changable mixed groups which does increase the risk of injury due to social instability (Knubben et al, 2008). As such, turn out in a stable social group for approximately 21 hours is associated with a reduced risk of stereotypical behaviours. (Davidson and Harris, 2007)
DeleteLeading on from that, equines stabled for over 13 hours were more likely to display conflict behaviours and those stabled for over 21 hours began displaying stereotypies (in comparission with equines stabled for 4 hours or less). However, if the equine can see outside and see other equines these risks are reduced.
Therefore, different types of management can result in different groups of behavioural issues. The link between management and behaviours are a complex, multifactoral web, which can apply to performance equines and leisure equines. (Hockenhull, 2014)
It seems that young horses are more prone to conditions that elicit stereotypical behavior, it is very important to address the situation and change managing practices as soon as such behaviors arise. As horses mature, vices are extracted by a
Deletewider set of stimuli than in early development like, weaning, and become somewhat immune to attempts to control the behavior. Consequently, older horses performing these behaviors in environments that provide great welfare. It may not be possible
to reverse the process of stereotypical behavior in mature animals, but the amount of time they spend performing the stereotype can be reduced by increasing opportunities for social contact and turn-out time (increase time spend in the field). Therefore, it is important to manage these horses and
be sure they are healthy, mentally and physically stimulated. Horses are social mammals, so keeping horses together with
other horses and providing pasture time and enough forage seem to be central in managing any stereotypical behavior (Erber et al., 2013). (Vasiliki Lygerou)
Further on the topic of stereotypical behaviours. Looking at the racing industry the occurrence of stereotypical behaviour is increased due to the nature of their training programmes. Resulting in more stabled time for the horses compared to turnout time. Which allows the development of stereotypical behaviour due to the lack of exercise and stimuli which can result in a welfare issue for the individual horse as well as the horses around due to the stereotypical behaviour being able to be copied and mimicked by other horses. So, a more up to date training programme for race horses needs to be developed and adapted as this will allow reduction in stereotypical behaviours shown and developed within racehorses on racing yards (Clegg et al., 2008). (Abigail Rigg)
DeleteDefiantly agree that further education is needed and this could be done by different organisations like the BHS and FEI. The welfare issues have decreased over the years, however, there is still issues out in the industry. But the industry are more aware.
DeleteIn regards to recreational horse welfare, the study by Hemsworth et al., 2014 also mentions that lack of knowledge is one of the main roots for poor equine welfare, which links into the relationship between horse and rider. Some people are more willing to seek information on adequate welfare for their horse because they are more committed to them or have a better relationship. There has been more research into this area of equine welfare, showing the impact a better relationship between horse and rider can have on equine welfare (Serpell, 2004; Visser and Jansen, 2012). However, as Daisy mentioned financial constraints are also a cause for poor welfare. However, if owners can't provide adequate grazing, maintenance, or exercise maybe they shouldn't be allowed to own horses. As Hemsworth et al., 2014 mentions horse welfare is primarily the responsibility of the owners.
ReplyDeleteAbove comment by Zoe Gammon
DeleteHorseman et al., (2017) mentioned that owners often see the welfare issues however do not perceive them as welfare issues. For example, the horse is being fed and is getting some turnout and seems happy so they do not realise that they are feeding an unnatural diet and restricting natural behaviour and social time for their horse. Thus, as mentioned by you and Daisy, owner education is key to improving the welfare of the performance horse, especially at more amateur levels of competition.
DeleteI agree with Zoe with Zoes point. However, even though the horses welfare is repsonsible for the owners as said the owners dont see them as a welfare issue and carry on as normal. This is were more education and information groups should be put out there by organisations like Horse Welfare. Also, social Media doesn't help really in these situations as can cause more problem and arguing between people than the welfare of the horse. But also if there is welfare issue then more should be done and not just skipped over and people dont want to get too involved. Also, more education from young riders and amateur riders on the welfare of the performance horse, so the horse is cared for properly and from that the horse then can perform to its best and be treated correctly after competition too.
DeleteIt is a problem not only effecting racehorses but also common in high level eventers
ReplyDeleteLeahy et al 2010, investigated the nutritional associated problems facing elite level three-day eventing horses. Due to the management/ feeding regime of these horses the horses were more susceptible to gastric ulcers, decreased appetite and weightless. It is essential more research is completed to ensure optimal health for these horses to complete the work required from them.
(Shannon grinnell)
DeleteFollowing on from what Shannon stated about unnatural/inadequate feeding also being seen within the event horses this is also demonstrated within Brunner et al (2012). They found that event horses recieved an average of 4.3 KG of concentrate feed a day (the heightest value being as much as 8kg a day). With the varying levels of avaliblebilty of roughage from 55% of the horses received roughage ad libitum, compared with 37% during training. The majority of the horses received less roughage on days before the cross-country competition however, it could not be found that this had any benefit on their cross country performance and as we are aware inadequte levels of forrage can cause issues such as gastric ulcers as commonly seen within race horses for this very reason. However, encouragingly (84%) had daily access to pasture during the training.
DeleteLeading on from this, naturally horses obviously have a 100% roughage diet and so the increase in use of concentrates is a key concern. Not only for the links to EGUS but also for behavioural problems (Bulmer et al, 2015). Critically it is depriving horses on a natural diet and may therefore be a welfare concern, particularly if access to grazing is also restricted or not provided. Verhaar et al (2014) found that across dressage, show jumping and evening horses in their study, the most common supplementary feed was a premix commercial product (e.g. Competition mix) along with alfalfa or alfalfa with oil. I have previously read that actually, with often the addition of supplements, the use of premix concentrate feeds can lead to the increased risk of mineral and nutrient imbalances. And in fact often you are better off providing the hard form of feed forms used in concentrate pre-mixes (e.g oats). This was actually a concern highlighted in this study as their subjects were found to be providing a relatively balanced hard feed ration, accompanied by pasture access, but the use of additional supplements was surprisingly high. Often the horses were given multiple supplements also. Kaya-Karasu (2018) also found this provision of multiple and excessive supplements within Turkish racing stables (49% given supplements). However a concern was that within these yards it was relatively common for no turnout or pasture access to be given!
DeleteFollowing on from Ellie mentioning the use of supplements within feeds. Burk and Williams (2008) found that when examining high level event horses on average 4 dietry supplements were used the most common being electrolytes and joint supplements. This study raises questions about over-supplementation and/or nutrient interactions in these horses. A similar study conductes within leisure horse owners found 84% percent provided their horse with at least one dietry supplemt yet less than 50% knew the daily water and hay requirements for a horses! (Hoffman et al., 2009) This suggests a potential lack of knowledge within both professional and leisure horse owners into the potential effects of equine dietry supplements. However, this is likely to be highly affected by the advertisement of supplements. Furthermore, because they are marketed as dietry supplements there is minimal governence on the contents of dietry supplements.
DeleteThat's a really interesting point building from mine Courtney! I agree with you saying it may be due to lack of knowledge and also over marketing of supplements. Perhaps an area for future development may be to bring about some sort of governance over selling or supplying dietary supplements? This way it may help to get the message across about how potentially dangerous overuse of supplements is to horse owners.
DeleteAnother issue regarding the feeding and nutrition can be as simple as when the horse is fed, and what, before any competition or event. Brunner et al (2014) found that the feeding practice has the ability to alter levels such as blood glucose which is needed in the generation of energy. it could be suggested that owners of competitive horses need to pay more attention to what they actually feed and what it is composed of. it can also be important to maintain a regular feeding regime.
DeleteDespite owner perceptions and experiences having a large impact on the welfare of performance horses, the influences of external factors must be considered. For example, British dressage, British eventing and British showjumping, among other governing bodies, all have different rules during competition to improve equine welfare. These are often regarding what types of bit, bridle and other tack can be used in affiliated competition (BD, 2019; BE, 2019; BSJA, 2019). Although in a generic sense this should benefit the welfare of horses performing, in some cases it can be detrimental. For example if a horse is used to being ridden bitless, or prefers certain types of bit to others, then they are put at a disadvantage in competitions where bitless bridles and several types of bit are banned. Assessing each case individually would benefit welfare but would be difficult to enforce. It must also be considered that the competition must be fair. However, if judges are suitably experienced and stewards given more power and educating to pull up, adjust tack or disqualify welfare cases then perhaps loosening rules surrounding tack would benefit welfare. A good judge would be able to tell if a horse is well trained and working correctly or if they are relying on gadgets such as a bit to move in a false outline. However, this is again hard to enforce and may open up chances for more harsh tack and training aids to be used. Thus, once again, owner education is key to improve the horse's training environment to prevent the need for excessive training aids.
ReplyDeleteHorses that participate in sports or show events represent a particularly different set of welfare challenges. Horses are very willing to obey their riders, and can easily be manipulated into over-exertion. To prevent this from occurring, many of these sporting events require a series of checks to be performed throughout the event. A three-day competition event requires inspection of the horses by veterinarians upon arrival of the animal, before the dressage section, and prior to and following the cross-country events. At any time, the veterinarian can demand the removal of the horse from the competition (Jeffcott, 1995).
DeleteAlthough what you've mentioned is beneficial to horses during competition, what is difficult to monitor and enforce is their training environment. In modern days, especially with the increased use of social media, new 'trendy' forms of training have spread across the equine industry and become more popular. These include lunging aids such as a pessoa. Although believed to help a horse collect and use their body correctly, Mackechnie-Guire et al., (2018) found that use of lunging aids such as pessoas actually increases the pressures placed on the back. They found, across all horses they studied, that even with protective mats placed under the roller, the addition of the pessoa increased the pressures on the spinous processes under the roller above the minimum for what is considered to cause back discomfort. Thus, perhaps the future and responsibility of competition horse welfare is not solely based at the competition venue and on the professionals there, but also on the owner or trainer to educate themselves on the effects of different training aids before deciding if they are appropriate for use or not.
DeleteAdditionally, round-pen, lunging, and liberty training has increased in popularity. Fenner et al., 2019 did a study looking at how these may compromise horse welfare. It mentions an incorrect use of these can result in horses displaying defensive behaviour associated with flight response. The study argues that if trainers use these without the correct information, precaution should be taken to ensure the horse is not exposed to any unnecessary risks that can impact their health. It recommends minimising risks by applying scientific knowledge to these training methods. Therefore, this study further adds to the evidence that knowledge is key in preventing inadequate equine welfare.
DeleteWhile the rules created by various Governing Bodies certainly can have affects on welfare as Emily has stated, the nature of sports is also a concern. When looking at dressage specifically, Dressage puts high demands on the horse’s musculoskeletal system. As horse’s begin training and competing further up the levels, the centre of gravity of the horse and rider is placed further caudally, overloading the hind limbs. This is due to the greater amount of collection required to complete high level dressage movements, such as canter pirouettes, piaffe and passage (Dyson, 2002). The proportion of bodyweight carried by the hind limbs is therefore increased (Holstrom and Drevemo, 1997) predisposing to dressage horse to hind leg suspensory ligament injuries, SID and tarsal injuries.
ReplyDeleteAbove comment by Rebecca Amess
DeleteA study by Horseman et al (2016) stakeholders were asked a direct question relating to the areas or sectors of the GB horse industry where they felt that welfare was particularly vulnerable to compromise. Interviewees were asked to explore their reasoning behind their opinions. The racing sector was suggested by 17/ 31 of interviewees as an area responsible for poor welfare. Dressage 9 / 31, Eventing 1 / 31, Show Jumping 4 / 31. Over-breeding and intensive training were highlighted as particular problems within the sector. Furthermore, there was concern over what happened to horses when they could no longer race. Fifteen of the 31 stakeholders raised their belief that horses kept within the travelling community were vulnerable to poor welfare. Tethering and associated lack of water and food were frequently discussed as concerns. Mounted games, endurance, driving and eventing were discussed by one person each as sectors within GB where welfare was vulnerable to compromise.
DeleteIn regard to the racing sector being responsible for poor welfare, Williams et al., 2019 looked into the role of a heart rate monitor to assess workload during maintenance interval training in National Hunt racehorses. It argued that workload and fitness levels can be achieved through this monitoring tool . As discussed previously, incorrect training is a contributor to poor welfare. Some results showed that trainers rated all horses to be working at aerobic levels, however the heart rate monitor showed them exceeding the anaerobic threshold. This puts into evidence the need for better monitoring techniques during training to avoid fatigue, over working and other factors which can ultimately lead to injury.
DeleteFurthermore, rules set out by governing bodies again for example Dressage potentially encourages the use of questionable welfare practises. As McGreevy et al., (2012) suggested the loss of competition points for horses opening the mouth alongside the madatory use of bits may encourage the use of excessively tight nosebands.
DeleteI have touched slightly on this sort of issue in a post I put further down the blog. However, Gorecka-Bruzda et al (2015) found that with high level dressage horses, conflict behaviours such as tail swishing was associated greatest with the pirouette to the left within their sample. So effectively when the dressage horse was turning left I suppose. This potentially highlights that the more advanced movements are incredibly demanding biomechanically for the athlete, hence the conflict behaviours. This may be why the concern about overly-tight nose bands is particularly directed toward dressage riders/horses, as although tail swishing is not directly related to nosebands, it is well known that nosebands are often used to ensure the horse cannot display oral conflict behaviours and give off the impression that it is well trained. Perhaps this is actually why Gorecka-Bruzda found a narrower range of conflict behaviours for their dressage horse subjects, compared to the show jumpers? Because there was no real mention of checking objectively the tightness of equipment used etc
DeleteFurthermore, age classes is a concern. With figures showing that for every extra year of age, the likelihood of lameness in the dressage horse is increased by 1.06 times (Murray et al., 2010 b) there is clearly a link between the intense training programmes dressage horses endure from a young age and the likelihood of injury. British Dressage (BD) run Championships each year that include ‘Young Horse Competition Series’. Here, four, five and six-year-old horses compete in age categories (British Dressage, 2018 a). The five-year-old tests are at BD Elementary Level and the six-year-old classes are at Medium Level. This shows that Horses are expected to collect from an extremely young age, putting a lot of strain on their hind limbs at a younger age and likely shortening their career length. Rebecca Amess
ReplyDeleteSimilarly to Rebecca's point concerning overloading of hindlimbs in young horses, Mackechnie-Guire et al., (2018) discussed how certain training aids such as pessoas place alarmingly high levels of pressure on the back. Considering lunging and other ground work are popular when breaking and exercising young horses, their impacts must be considered before using them especially on younger horses who have not yet had the time for their growth plates to close.
DeleteHowever, considering the high injury rate seen within race horses and young age of compeition studies actually suggest that young horses are at no greater risk of injury despite bone density increasing with age (Cochen et al, 1999). Pinchbeck et al (2004) and Perkins et al (2005) suggested that older horses were actually at greater significant risk of injury potentailly due to wear and tear or repeteative movements over time.
DeleteAlthough it is commonly looked at the physical issues concerning young horses and young horse classes. Riders often do not consider the mental state of these horses. A study by Hall et al (2018) attempted to assess the emotional state of horses however it proved the difficulty of assessing the horse's emotion. It is often heard that people had to start horse's young as they were bored or compete them young as they were bored at home or enjoy competing. But the signs that these individual owners see as enjoyment could be stress and pushing young horses too much and may end a horses career early as mentally it cannont cope as it was pushed to far too early. Which these young horse classes can encourage. Marisa Allright
DeleteThere has been a development in regards to on-farm welfare assessments as a way to evaluate animal welfare and ensure legislative standards are met as well as providing owners with information, a positive aspect that tackles the issues we have previously identified. DuBois et al., 2018 designed the assessment tool and completed a pilot study in Canada, which lasted around 144 minutes on each farm varying according to the number of horses on-farm. Additional interviews with participants helped identify areas in which a welfare assessment program could be helpful within the industry as well as those where it would be challenging. This study is a prime example of the opportunities available to help improve the welfare of horses. This assessment could be applicable in other areas of the world such as developing countries where the situations are worse. It also provides a way to increase awareness of equine owners on the management practices they are doing wrong.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteAs well as attitudes of owners needing to change, attitudes of certain sectors of the equine industry need to change. For the purposes of a good example I will discuss the racing industry, however auctions and the horse meat industry would also benefit from changing welfare attitudes. Davern et al., (2016) discussed wastage in the racing industry. They found that an alarming amount of yearlings who suffered fractures of the accessory carpal were retired from racing and sold on, possibly leading to them being sold on and on in poor welfare situations. They concluded that fracture of the accessory carpal bone in yearling horses should not be a condemning diagnosis. In fact, due to the ages of the horses they were able to heal with little to no difference in performance seen between them and unaffected peers. Thus attitudes in the racing industry would benefit from changing to consider that injured unproven horses should be put through healing and rehabilitation processes rather than wasted once they become injured.
ReplyDeleteIts interesting that you mention the need for changes within the horse meat industry Emily as I found that world horse welfare has been compaigning for mandetory CCTV within the UK’s equine slaughterhouses following recommendation from the recommended by the Farm Animal Welfare Council. DEFRA responded by introducing legislation within 2018 to make this possible however, Scotland and Wales have yet to introduce similar legislation. They suggested that the introduction of this legislation would allow for greater confidence in the humaneness of such slaughterhouses as it ensures business owners/operators and competent authorities to adhere to welfare laws and ensure an accountable process which is key to public trust. World horse welfare believe this will mean to the use of Slaugherhouses becoming a more viable end of life option. (World horse welfare, 2018)
DeleteAnother important equine welfare topic that should be considered, is public influence. To identify whether this is a current contemporary issue, the Website Horse and Hound was used. A very recent article(Horse and Hound, 2019) discussed the on-going welfare debate regarding transporting horses for slaughter. World Horse Welfare 'urges the public to back its latest battle in the fight to end long-distance transport of slaughter' by setting up a petition. The petition had already gained nearly 43,000 signatures, and World Horse Welfare hopes the number would reach its target of 50,000 before it closes. This is one example where the public is involved in making changes to equine welfare. However, it can not be proved yet whether or not this petition will have an affect on current legislation. Rebecca Amess
ReplyDeleteValid point Rebecca, i would also add that despite Horseman et al, (2016) suggesting in Great Britain 'there has been little surveillance of the welfare status of the horse population' increases in reports of welfare cases (RSPCA, 2018) may suggest the public are also positively affecting horse welfare in this manner as well as petitions. Jake Smart
DeleteGood point and following on from this, the use of social media should also be another consideration regarding public influence. For example, a very recent article (Horse and Hound, 2019) featured a rider who has lost two stone after her horse went lame and vets told her she was too heavy to ride her horse, due to the welfare concerns. By posting this article online (told by the women herself) this is another way the public is discussing welfare and hopefully bringing about positive changes. Rebecca Amess
DeleteAlthough I do agree with your points, I am wondering whether the increase in public equine concerns is always accurate or required. World Horse Welfare (2018) state that they are called out to nearly 2000 welfare concerns from the public each year, however only 190 on average require removal from owners etc. This in conjunction with other welfare charities such as the Blue Cross and RSPCA stating often they get called out to fields due to concerns about under or over weight horses and they turn out more often than not, to be ideal BCS or not of any real concern. This could mean that due to increased public concern (often from non-horsey people) the resources of welfare charities are being over used for cases that do not require them. I know I often seen plenty of articles on horse and hound or Facebook etc which are complaining about the lack of response from welfare charities in cases which do require them. My thinking is that it may be because of the charities being over stretched. Additionally, there may be the issue of 'boy cries wolf' where a member of public says there is a high concern case which is prioritised over another and yet that turns out to not be of real concern etc.
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DeleteI agree with your points Ellie, the facts show as you said that very often the public make complaints when completely unnecessary. However, I would suggest that for those 190 cases that are a true welfare concern, that maybe this makes it worth it? Perhaps better education for the general public would improve this issue. Some charities, such as World Horse Welfare (2019) do have helplines that individuals can ring to receive advice about a welfare concern. The also have a 'When should I call' page which outlines a whole range of welfare concerns that the public should ring them to report. Perhaps better promotion of such helplines would help this issue.
DeleteI feel that it is likely that public opinion will always be an issue in some way but that there also ways to minimise this effect.
It is not just the general public that cause issues when reporting welfare issues. There have been cases on livery yards where there have been eventers and general riding horses. The eventers are fit and event fit which often means they have a low body fat percentage. But the owners of the general horse see the event horse as underweight and not looked after correctly and complain the the yard manager or the other owner. In some cases it has lead to welfare charities being called. This shows there is also a lack of education in the equine world about the requirments of different disciplines. So more education is required. But possibily people keeping themselves to themselves and not interferring. Marisa Allright
DeleteA study by Marlin et al., (2011) investigated welfare of horses being transported long distances within the EU to slaughter. A total of 1519 horses in 64 separate shipments were observed in Romania prior to transport of which 212 horses were deemed unfit for transport and only 3 shipments (5%) complied with Council Regulation (EC) no. 1/2005 with respect to both horse and vehicle compliance. The final destination was Italy, an average of 6 horses per shipment (28% of each shipment) had at least one acute injury on arrival in Italy. A significantly higher prevalence of acute injuries and lameness was found in animals on arrival in Italy compared with animals leaving Romania. Consequently, this study has demonstrated evidence of poor welfare in horses being transported long distances to slaughter, including severe lameness and injuries, and a high level of noncompliance with Council Regulation (EC) no. 1/2005 on the Protection of Animals during Transport. (Vasiliki Lygerou)
DeleteLeading on from public influence, I believe that in reference to training and riding techniques (particularly those seen in the dressage arena), the public can severely influence how the performance horses are ridden. For example, the typical phrase used of 'on the bit' means there is often confusion seen across lay people, public individuals as well as up to judges and trainers. Several studies that I found have highlighted this as a key issue as riders use increasing bit and rein pressure to force the head and neck often into a very over-bent and shortened position to achieve what onlookers will perceive as 'correct'. Perhaps this brings us onto differences between the disciplines? Ellie Secker
ReplyDeleteAgreeing with Ellie on this, especially with the judges bit on perception on correct positioning of the horses head in disciplines such as dressage and especially showing. Frequently horses are being forced into false outlines, with some techniques being carried on behind the scenes also (for example, tight draw reins in stables), perhaps judges need to have more of a welfare standpoint so they can say that yes the horses head is 'round' but it isn't correct self carriage.
DeleteAgreeing with you both on this, I do feel that there should be more done to control such problems. For example, when FEI banned the use of Rollkur in 2010, they stated that ‘any head and neck position achieved through aggressive force is not acceptable’ and that ‘hyperflexion/Rollkur is defined as flexion of the horse’s neck achieved through aggressive force, which is therefore unacceptable’ (FEI, 2010). While dressage marks take into consideration head and neck position, and therefore this rule comes into action, I question whether this rule is followed so rigorously in other disciplines, such as show jumping where marks are not awarded/removed for head and neck position?
DeleteI feel this is an issue that is often started with young riders as mentioned to me by several coaches before due to the pressure from parents for their children to do well (especially seen in dressage) children/novices are often taught to play with the horse's bit to get the horse's head down into what is seen as 'on the bit' even though the horse is not working correctly over his back to achieve this head position. This then often follows them through their riding career with many riders being heavy handed and sawing at the bit in an attempt to get the horse to tuck his head in. Therefore if this was a less common practice there may be less issues with false head positions, poor muscle build as well as other issues such as rollkur as mentioned by rebecca
Deletei agree with both charlotte and Emma as in past experience of my showing career I often saw parents lungeing the ponys in very tight side reins so when the child got on the pony was on the bit however a false outline as the pony has been made to stay in that position. Also it doesnt give the child an understanding of the correct way to get the pony on the but and working correctly. I think as said that more understanding on what goes on behind the scenes for any judges from showing to showjumping. Also more education for the right way to train a pony for the parents and to get the children a bit more involved and start to understand from a young age.
DeleteAlso, there is traditional ways vs modern ways.
To this day there is still alot of issues regarding false outline and head carriage.
Interestingly, Goredka-Bruzda et al (2015) found that in their study looking at behavioural issues in performance horses, they actually found no correlation between the equine subject's FEI ranking and their head/neck position when behind the vertical. This leads me to wonder whether as riders, lower level and higher, there is currently confusion with regards to wanting to achieve good scores etc. Whilst maintaining the 'pretty picture' for the public.
ReplyDeleteWhen looking at the horse and rider relationship,Williams and Tabor, (2017) says that the Horse-rider relationships will be shaped by the personality of both the rider and the horse and will influence their cumulative success as a partnership. There are three different horse and rider relationship statuses; leisure, amateur and professional with each having a different experience level from novice to elite. When pairing a horse with a rider these elements need to be considered due to the wide range of horse breeds out there, which some breeds are more tailored towards a different level of riding than others. Mores so, their research suggests that leisure riders or inexperienced riders are less balanced than experienced riders. This suggests that a suitable match would be a breed of horse that doesn’t tend to show excitability and anxious tendencies rather than a breed of horse chosen which is quite anxious and excitable as it could lead to the rider becoming more off balanced which potentially could then lead to health issues for the horse due to the inconsistency of the riders balances upon their back while riding. Therefore, can become a welfare concern for the horse.
ReplyDeleteAbove comment by Abigail Rigg
DeleteOn that point, the psychological aspects of pairing equines and riders together should also be considered. Dominance heirarchies are a key aspect of equine psychology. The dominant equine gets first access to resources. The group dynamics an equines instincts follow influence management in a variety of ways such as turnout and stabling. They also influence human-equine interactions. Natural horsemanship is a relatively contemporary training method which focuses on putting the human in a dominant position to incite submission without stress. as such, a strong willed, dominant equine should not be paired with an inexperienced rider or handler as the equine may become dominant over the human resulting in behavioural issues from the equine and possibly injuries for both parties. (Hartmann, 2017)
Delete(Schiermeyer, 2006)
DeleteAlthough correct pairing has been proven to be important. It is often forgotten about a trainer that is a good pairing for both the horse and rider as a combination and individually. If the rider and trainer do not work well together there will be tension and no improvement seen. However, the trainer also needs to understand the horse and its traits to enable correct training. For example you do not want to canter an excitable horse for a prolonged period as this can cause the horse to get more excitable when it is ridden (although this may work for excitable horses as each horse is an individual). But the trainer needs to understand the traits and how to use the traits for optimal training and improvement. Marisa Allright
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ReplyDeleteTraining issues also need to be considered, as in a study by Fenner et al (2019) found that 'when well applied, the round-pen can become a classroom, but when poorly applied and without an understanding of learning theory, training in the round-pen or on a lunge-line can pose significant risks to both horse welfare and handler safety.' This can be seen so frequently with ameteurs when training young horses, and they can 'flood' the horse with stimuli, which means they get no escape, rather than introducing gradually.
ReplyDeleteAgreeing with you here Charlotte on your point. A key issue seems to be an alarming lack of knowledge for the correct use of aids, techniques etc amongst all levels of rider. As well as issues with regards to knowledge on training principles as you say! Issues such as flooding horses with the stimuli they are afraid of, such as clippers, and actually causing aversive reactions or even leading to learned helplessness?! This may be perceived my uneducated individuals as the horse being fine with that stimuli, when in fact it is the opposite.
ReplyDeleteOn top of this new fashions that influence how people ride and train their horses can cause training with a lack of knowledge. For example many people are saying all horses should be ridden with basic tack or no tack at all even top competition horses. However, people riding their horses with no tack and bouncing on the horses back aas they are not balanced has been proven to cause tightness in the back and back pain. Also many top level competition horses know their job and often want to do the job, espeically on the cross country course. However, if they are only in a snaffle (which many people feel every horse should go as) it could cause the horse to go too fast out of control and not read the fences properly which could cause rotationals which would go back to public perception and cause people trying to boycott eventing due to safety for the horse. It all comes down to a distinct lack of education for the lower level horse and riders and unwillingness to change tactics (if the current ones are not working) in the higher levels. However this is not representive of every rider competing at different levels
DeleteI agree with Marisa as it is often seen in competition that horses will continue to jump fences after their jockey has taken a fall so they are clearly wanting to do so otherwise they would go around the jumps. Also, the issue with simplifying tack as said by Marisa is that so many people will try to have a horse ridden in a snaffle bit which is not suitable for the horse which can lead to things such as cuts on lips and a horse which becomes numb to the bit and harder to control. Such as the common saying 'the bit is only as harsh as the hands that hold it', it can be better for the horse's welfare to have what is seen as a harsher bit but ridden more softly in it than a less harsh bit such as a snaffle and ridden with very heavy strong hands
DeleteMoney is often forgotten about but plays a large role in welfare issues in the competition horse. As owning horses is expensivie without competing, money can sometimes be a infulencing factor on how the horse is cared for. Many riders or owners will choose to compete their horse, but by doing this is it will cause the rider to not be able to afford to have a saddle fitter out or the dentist etc. There have been many studies that shown the affects of ill fitting saddles, or the horses working with back issues which a physio could correct. With one of the five freedoms being freedom from pain if a horse is competing in pain due to an ill fitting saddle as the rider could not afford to get it checked (as an example) the horse is classed as a welfare case. Although not an extreme case. But if the horse is competing for the rider it is not fair for the horse to be in pain and will affect performance. Poor performance could results in the horse being sold or not cared for the same as other horses on the yard that have better results. Similar to the racing industry.
ReplyDeleteIn regards to equine welfare, measuring pain levels of an equine is difficult, with a solid technique or method yet to be established. The use of pain management drugs such as NSAID's or Corticosteroids have proven successful, however an implication of using such pain management strategies could include the cost of medicine itself and the vet fees which are associated. If owners are not willing to pay for such medications the welfare of the horse is automatically compromised (Mama and Hector, 2019). This also coincides with lack of owner knowledge regarding the requirements of pain medication for common injuries. Similarly if pain medication is not administered when necessary the horse could experience ongoing discomfort and a worsened condition through lack of awareness.
ReplyDeleteWhile I agree that money will be an influential factor at times in equine welfare, there is still a lack of suitable recommendations in certain areas. For example, Greve and Dyson (2014) reported that only 12% of riders have their saddle checked by a qualified saddle fitter more than once a year. However, they also reported that there are currently no recommendations on how regularly a saddle should be assessed by a saddle fitter. Therefore surely owners are not always fullly to blame? More concerningly, currently in the UK, anyone can sell, advise, fit and adjust a saddle legally, without holding any qualifications. The UK is the only country to offer a recognised saddle fitting qualification. Approved by City and Guilds, the Society of Master Saddlers (SMSs) is the organisation that approves it (The Society of Master Saddlers, 2019). In other countries particularly it is concequently extremely likely that owners are receiving incorrect or uninformed information, but also in the UK. This is likely to link to the reported high prevelance of ill-fitting saddles (Greve and Dyson, 2014).
ReplyDeleteWhen looking at breeding within performance horses, Stowe, (2011) says that a sire can father numerous foals in 1 year depending on his fertility and the farm’s breeding policies. This has been further developed through the use of artificial insemination, which allows the performance horse to continue to compete whilst providing semen for insemination (Ray and Grimes, 2015). However, the jockey club register which register thoroughbreds only allows live coverage thoroughbreds to be registered due to this limiting the number of mares that are bred to a given stallion in order to control foal production (Squires, 2009). According to Aurich, (2012) live coverage opposes numerous health complications towards the mare and stallion which can include; kicking and biting each other and transfer of infectious and venereal diseases. So, does the racing industry need to change their methods of breeding to ensure the welfare of their horses? (Abigail Rigg)
ReplyDeleteAgreeing with Abi's statement, prohibiting natural breeding behaviour when using both natural and artificial insemination could be detrimental to the welfare of the mare and stallion, however the procedures that are in already in place reduce the risk (Campbell, 2018). (McDonnell, 2000) found that stallions that had their semen extracted for artificial insemination exhibited a lower libido than the stallions that were bred in hand or naturally. This could be because the behaviours shown when breeding are repressed due to minimal interactions between the mare and stallion.
DeleteI think another issue with breeding competition horse's is that often owners will choose sires due to popularity. A sire may become popular due to factors other than conformation and performance such as if the rider was a well known rider. This can lead to the breeding of foals with less superior genes than they may gain from other less known sires. Also due to popularity taking an effect in an owner's choice of sire, this can limit the gene pool of the future equine population, which could provide beneficial by limiting 'weak' genes from being passed on but could also not be beneficial by causing inbreeding such as in dogs which can cause a multitude of health issues due to the extreme breeding for certain characteristics.
DeleteThis can already be seen in the breeding for arab horses which gain media attention in 2017 due to the overbreeding for the exaggerated dished face. As many arab breeders want a defined dish for when they compete showing due to it being a defining characteristic of the arab breed. However this over breeding could cause issues with health such as limiting breathing capabilities. (Daily Mail, 2017)
Based upon Emma's comment i do agree, breeding has become around choosing a stallion based upon the popularity and publicity that the stallion has received due to the wow factor and winnings the stallion may have achieved. Resulting in the unborn foal hoping to follow in the stallions performance success, hence that stallion has been chosen to breed from. (Abigail Rigg)
DeleteA study using North American Thoroughbred racehorse studying the pathogenesis of fatigue failure of bone was conducted by Nunamaker.D et al 1990. This species has a high incidence of spontaneous fatigue failure of bone (bucked shins) during its early training. In vivo strain gauge studies of the third metacarpal bone o four young race horses running at racing speeds showed high principal compressive strains while two older horses had lower principal compressive strains . Previously reported inertial property measurements of the third metacarpal bone were related to the difference in bone strains seen in young and older horses. The high strains on the surface of the third metacarpal bone associated with young horses in training may lead to high strain, low cycle fatigue. The changing shape of the third metacarpal bone during maturation may be consistent with the lower strains recorded during high speed exercise in the older animals. Thoroughbreds are trained and raced as young as 18 to 20 months of age, a year or more before the skeleton has reached its full maturity (Smith, et al 1999). The welfare of young athletes should be trained with the intentions to prevent injury, not just treat it, by making the age of thoroughbreds older to compete in racing, an increase in equine welfare and decrease in injury occurrence should occur. (leanne)
ReplyDeleteNot sure if this has been covered, but I can't see it anywhere, but it is often forgotten that tack and training aids can majorly affect the competition horse's welfare. Uldahl and Clayton (2019)looked at dressage, showjump, eventing and endurance horses in regards to bits, nosebands, spurs and whips and found that many of the injuries obtained from these items (such as cuts around the lips and hair loss and blood on the ribcage) were more common at lower level competitions and could be reduced with more rules and limitations on these items such as spur length and noseband tightness.
ReplyDeleteSorry meant to be Uldahl and Clayton (2018)
DeleteWithin the racing discipline close breeding can be used to acquire more desirable traits that are thought to increase the off springs chance of success and improve performance. commonly in racehorse's breeding, shared ancestors along the pedigree are seen and Is a mild form of inbreeding, by doing this, the offspring as a result are less disease resistant and therefore leaving the foals at an increased risk of illness and disease (Velie,B, 2019) (leanne)
ReplyDeleteThe retraining of racehorses is essential as, the wastage numbers seen within the racing industry are significant with young racehorses not being successful within the first few years of their careers being of no use to the racing industry, they then are resold for often low budgets to see them move on and make space for new potential successful racehorses. If the retraining of racehorses did not exist there would be even more wastage of horses however, it is still a overpopulated industry. With more horses being bred in the industry that have little chance of success due to unprofessional breeding. Breeding of racehorses needs to be more selective and supervised with only horses with significant chances of success being able to breed and produce offspring.
ReplyDelete(above comment - leanne)
ReplyDeleteWhen looking at future recommendations Thompson and Haigh, (2018) looks at equitation science which is aimed at improving horse welfare while re-evaluating practices that are longstanding and/ or taken for granted. To be able to implement Equitation Science (ES) to the equine industry it requires successful communication of the science behind the changes to equine welfare and training programmes to equestrians. As well as being able to change the current and previous training methods within the equine industry that oppose a welfare issue for the horse. Being able to implement this would allow a change in the equine industry when it comes to methods of training horses and their general way of living. (Abigail Rigg)
ReplyDeleteI agree Abi, the fundamentals of equine welfare are thought to have not changed since the horse was domesticated 6000 years ago, in relation to their psychological and behavioural needs (Viksten, 2016). To ensure welfare of the horse is taken into consideration, methods used need to be valid, reliable and feasible for horse owners. The Welfare Quality project was developed by the European Commission in regard to the welfare of farm animals, especially regarding management and slaughter, however the welfare of horses is often overlooked as their purpose is recreational rather than for commercial benefit, with the presumption that owners automatically ensure that their horses are cared for appropriately(Blokhuis et al.,2010b; Blokhuis et al.,2013).
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ReplyDeleteMany studies have shown that a number of welfare issues in performance horses are down to training techniques and punishments associated with not having the correct workload or working at the correct level(Horsemen et.al., 2016). The study showed that the behavior of the horse was misunderstood. Also, that stress and pain behavior not fully recognized or not correctly understood.
ReplyDeleteGoing on from this with the misunderstood behavior of the performance horse, the horse being sold and in new hands can be seen as a welfare issue due to the stresses the horse is put under with travelling and a new environment
Following on from the fact training hasn't been adequately adapted since the domestication of the horse and their behaviours not being recognised, an overhaul of the equine industry is needed as the typical equestrian way is so traditional and set in stone, new research is often overlooked. (Horse and Hound, 2019).
Deleteanother point (havent seen it already been spoken about) is the management of horses. As typically the more expensive the horse is, the less turnout and time to be a 'horse' they get due to injury risks etc. In Germany, most competition horses are housed in single stalls and free exercise is not permitted in many cases. The reason for not allowing free exercise is mostly the risk of injury. Additionally, opinions exist that the horses’ demand for exercise is fulfilled by training and that the horses’ willingness to perform is negatively influenced by free exercise. In the present study, three turnout practices were investigated with regard to their effect on the behavior of four horses: daily training without free exercise (no turnout), 2-hour turnout (for free exercise) before training, and 2-hour turnout after training. The aim of this study was to determine any differences in the horses’ behavior between the three treatments. The horses’ behavior in the stable was observed through video recordings. The behavior during turnout was observed directly and during training was evaluated by the riders with the aid of a questionnaire. Additionally, the distance covered during turnout was measured by Global Positioning System devices. The behavior within the stall was more restless in the treatment without turnout—which became apparent in significantly more frequent changes between behaviors as compared with the treatments with turnout.(Werhahn, et al., 2011)
ReplyDeleteAlso, overbreeding is a massive welfare issue. This can be from ameteurs having a mare with no use for, so they deciede to breed even if this isnt the best or appopriate option. Also, elite and professional horse people can overbreed due to the dams performance records and breeding lines. It has been found that endomitriosis can be from overbreeding. Mares susceptible to persistent breeding induced endometritis have an altered innate immune response after breeding compared to resistant mares (Woodward, 2013).
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