Table 1.
List of the welfare indicators included in the Equid Assessment, Research and Scoping (EARS) tool.
| Indicator | Category | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Initial information | a. | Sampling |
| b. | Geographic data | ||
| c. | Weather conditions | ||
| d. | Assessor | ||
| e. | Owner information | ||
| 2 | Housing | a. | Housing regime |
| b. | Bedding | ||
| c. | Water availability | ||
| d. | Environment | ||
| e. | Exercise regime | ||
| f. | Additional information | ||
| 3 | Condition of assessment | a. | How the equid is observed at assessment |
| 4 | General identification | a. | Species being assessed |
| 5 | Specific identification | a. | Identifying information |
| 6 | Behaviour | a. | Animal’s general attitude |
| b. | Owner or user/other animals | ||
| c. | Interaction with/reaction to observer | ||
| d. | Stereotypies | ||
| e. | Foal behaviour | ||
| f. | Fear and distress | ||
| g. | Additional information | ||
| 7 | Specific identification | a. | Specific identification |
| b. | Type of equid | ||
| c. | Origin of equid | ||
| d. | Identification system | ||
| e. | Presence in the project | ||
| f. | Food chain | ||
| g. | Additional information | ||
| 8 | Working conditions | a. | Type of work |
| b. | Equipment available | ||
| c. | Vehicle | ||
| d. | Harness | ||
| e. | Pack/riding saddles | ||
| f. | Bridle or similar | ||
| g. | Working practices | ||
| h. | Additional information | ||
| 9 | Harmful practices | a. | Attitudes/beliefs/traditions that negatively influence welfare |
| b. | Additional information | ||
| 10 | End of life | a. | End of life |
| b. | Additional information | ||
| 11 | Body condition | a. | Body condition score |
| b. | Nutrition | ||
| c. | Dentistry | ||
| d. | Parasites | ||
| e. | Additional information | ||
| 12 | Skin system | a. | Skin system alterations |
| b. | Open wounds | ||
| c. | Other skin lesions | ||
| d. | Additional information | ||
| 13 | Musculoskeletal system | a. | Lameness |
| b. | Hooves | ||
| c. | Conformation and leg lesions | ||
| d. | Vertebral column region | ||
| e. | Additional information | ||
| 14 | Health status | a. | General health status |
| b. | Mucous membrane | ||
| c. | Body temperature | ||
| d. | Pulse rate | ||
| e. | Respiratory system | ||
| f. | Ocular system | ||
| g. | Faeces | ||
| h. | Coat | ||
| i. | Reproductive system | ||
| j. | Prolapse | ||
| k. | Abdominal pain | ||
| l. | Foaling | ||
| m. | Additional information | ||
| 15 | Additional location information | a. | General |
| b. | Market | ||
| c. | Slaughter | ||
| d. | Dairy / Pharmaceuticals | ||
| e. | Additional information | ||
| 16 | Transport | a. | Vehicle |
| b. | Journey | ||
| c. | Additional information | ||
| 17 | Habitat | a. | Environment |
| 18 | Feral Population | a. | Population |
| 19 | Final general questions | a. | Final general questions |