Table 1.

The welfare parameters assessed for each of the five freedoms and the scores given [14].

Freedom	Parameter (Score)
Freedom from hunger and thirst	Body condition score (assessed on a 5-point scale and scored 0 for emaciated and also obese conditions which endanger the health/life of the horse; 1 for improper body condition, e.g., thin and fat; 2 for good body condition) Water provision (0—once or two times per day; 1—three or more times per day; 2—unlimited access)
Freedom from discomfort	Fecal soiling on the rump and ventral-lateral abdomen (0—dirty; 1—clean) Hip point lesions (0—presence of skin lesion; 1—scars, thickened skin with missing hair; 2—absence of hip point lesions)
Freedom from pain, injury or disease	Hair coat condition (0—abnormal hair coat on extended body areas; 1—abnormal hair coat on limited body areas; 2—normal hair coat) Hair quality in the mane/tail (0—abnormal; 1—normal) Body lesions (0—severe; 1—superficial; 2—absent) Lower leg lesions (0—severe; 1—superficial; 2—absent) Lip corner lesions (0—presence of at least one lesion; 1—absence of lesion) Lesions at harness contact points (0—presence of at least one disruption of the skin integrity; 1—missing hair at the harness contact points but without wounds; 2—absent) Swollen tendons/joints (0—swollen tendons and joints; 1—swollen tendons or joints; 2—absence of swellings in tendons or joints) Hoof horn quality (0—abnormal; 1—normal) Hoof shape (0—abnormal; 1—normal) Sole surface (0—abnormal; 1—normal) Hoof walls too long or too short (0—too long/short; 1—proper length) Inadequate horseshoes (0—yes; 1—no) Gait (0—lame; 1—abnormal; 2—normal) Dyspnea (0—presence; 1—absence) Cough (0—presence; 1—absence) Nasal discharge (0—presence; 1—absence) Diarrhea (0—presence; 1—absence) Ocular discharge (0—presence of muco-purulent or purulent ocular discharge; 1—presence of serous ocular discharge; 2—absence of ocular discharge) Vision (0—absence of vision in both eyes; 1—absence of vision in one of the eyes; 2—presence of vision in both eyes) Dental check (0—the teeth were never checked; 1—any dentistry intervention at least once during the life of the horse)
Freedom to express normal behavior	Company of its own kind (0—absence of social contact; 1—possibility of social contact with animals from other species; 2—existence of social contact with other horse) Access to unrestricted, free exercise (0—no access to free exercise; 1—limited access, being tethered outside; 2—possibility to free exercise in a space of minimum 20/10 m, minimum 1 hour per day; 3—possibility for free exercise in a space that allows minimum 5 steps at gallop in minimum 2 directions for a minimum of 1 hour per day)
Freedom from fear and distress	General alertness (0—apathetic/depressed; 1—alert) Response to the assessor approaching (0—aggressiveness; 1—fear/avoidance; 2—indifference; 3—friendliness) Response to the assessor walking besides (0—aggressiveness; 1—fear/avoidance; 2—indifference; 3—friendliness) Response to the touch of the assessor (0—aggressiveness; 1—fear/avoidance; 2—indifference; 3—friendliness)