Table 2.
Mean scores (with SD) and rank order for horse welfare issues that scored at least mean 3.0 or above for perceived prevalence, severity and duration of the welfare issue (issues scored using a Likert scale from 1–6, where 1 = never/none, and 6 = always/high).
| Rank Order | Perceived Prevalence | Mean Score (SD) | Severity | Mean Score (SD) | Duration | Mean Score (SD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lack of recognition of pain behaviour (e.g., can be misinterpreted as naughty) | 4.88 (1.08) | Hunger | 5.25 (0.87) | Obesity (e.g., due to lack of work, unrestricted grazing) | 5.00 (1.00) |
| 2 | Use of inappropriate training and handling | 4.82 (1.08) | Lack of access to clean/fresh water | 5.08 (1.62) | Lack of recognition of pain behaviour (e.g., can be misinterpreted as naughty) | 4.96 (1.04) |
| 3 | Obesity (e.g., due to lack of work, unrestricted grazing) | 4.75 (0.75) | Obesity (e.g., due to lack of work, unrestricted grazing) | 4.92 (1.38) | Hunger | 4.60 (1.35) |
| 4 | Delayed euthanasia decisions | 4.58 (0.90) | Lack of recognition of pain behaviour (e.g., can be misinterpreted as naughty) | 4.79 (1.13) | Inability to perform normal social interactions (including social isolation, stabling 24/7) | 4.55 (1.29) |
| 5 | Poor pasture management | 4.50 (1.00) | Racing horses on the road (usually by gypsy/ travellers) | 4.55 (1.44) | Lack of biosecurity and disease surveillance | 4.30 (1.51) |
| 6 | Lack of understanding of horse welfare needs by owner/carer | 4.5 (1.24) | Delayed euthanasia decisions | 4.46 (1.04) | Delayed euthanasia decisions | 4.28 (1.43) |
| 7 | Over-rugging (horse lacks control if too hot/cold) | 4.42 (0.99) | Lack of biosecurity and disease surveillance | 4.46 (1.13) | Lack of routine health care (e.g., vaccinations, dental, parasite prevention) | 4.25 (1.14) |
| 8 | Lack of biosecurity and disease surveillance | 4.42 (1.24) | Long-distance transport | 4.42 (1.38) | Large worm burdens | 4.23 (0.93) |
| 9 | Poor handling methods | 4.33 (1.30) | Inability to perform normal social interactions (including social isolation, stabling 24/7) | 4.37 (1.08) | Poor owner knowledge of horse care | 4.21 (1.21) |
| 10 | Poorly fitting and restrictive tack | 4.25 (1.06) | Overworking | 4.36 (1.36) | Poor pasture management | 4.18 (1.36) |
| 11 | Poor quality information available (online or from others) | 4.25 (1.36) | Poorly fitting and restrictive tack | 4.33 (1.44) | Over-rugging (horse lacks control if too hot/cold) | 4.18 (1.47) |
| 12 | Unstable social groups (herd constantly changing) | 4.08 (1.38) | Abandonment or stray horses | 4.27 (1.19) | Unsuitable diets for equine feeding behaviour (e.g., feeding methods of stabled horses, turned out 24/7) | 4.18 (1.29) |
| 13 | Inability to perform normal social interactions (e.g., social isolation, stabling 24/7) | 4.00 (1.23) | Unsuitable diets for equine feeding behaviour (e.g., feeding methods of stabled horses, turned out 24/7) | 4.26 (1.23) | Inappropriate use of food supplements | 4.10 (1.10) |
| 14 | No regulation of establishments or service providers | 3.97 (1.47) | Overweight riders for horse | 4.25 (1.14) | Poor hoof care | 4.10 (1.10) |
| 15 | Unsuitable diets for equine feeding behaviour (e.g., feeding methods of stabled horses, turned out 24/7) | 3.93 (1.51) | Use of inappropriate training and handling | 4.22 (1.44) | Neglect of sub-optimal care | 4.09 (1.04) |
| 16 | Negative affective states (fear, frustration, boredom, depression, anxiety) | 3.92 (1.38) | Unavoidable aggressive social interactions (e.g., restricted resources in groups) | 4.13 (1.44) | No regulation of establishments or service providers | 4.09 (1.48) |
| 17 | Poor pasture management | 3.90 (1.00) | Neglect or sub-optimal care | 4.08 (1.31) | Negative affective states (fear, frustration, boredom, depression, anxiety) | 4.09 (0.99) |
| 18 | Neglect or sub-optimal care | 3.78 (1.01) | Tethering without provision of shade, water etc. | 4.08 (1.68) | Lack of understanding of horse welfare needs by owner/carer | 4.07 (1.79) |
| 19 | Horse passports not fit for purpose | 3.77 (1.35) | Large worm burdens | 4.00 (1.29) | Overweight riders for horse | 4.00 (1.18) |
| 20 | Overworking | 3.73 (1.29) | Poor hoof care | 4.00 (1.10) | Poorly fitting and restrictive tack | 4.00 (1.34) |
| 21 | Poor health knowledge by owner | 3.69 (0.80) | Hiring horses to unsuitable riders | 3.95 (1.21) | Use of inappropriate training and handling | 3.93 (1.35) |
| 22 | Poor weaning methods | 3.64 (1.50) | Poor weaning methods | 3.92 (1.56) | Poor weaning methods | 3.91 (1.92) |
| 23 | Delay in seeking veterinary care | 3.62 (1.33) | Poor health knowledge by owner | 3.92 (1.64) | Indiscriminate breeding (including of compromised animals) | 3.91 (1.48) |
| 24 | Overweight riders for horse | 3.58 (1.31) | No regulation of establishments or service providers | 3.91 (1.31) | Unstable social groups (herd constantly changing) | 3.82 (1.33) |
| 25 | Inappropriate use of food supplements | 3.58 (1.31) | Over-rugging (horse lacks control if too hot/cold) | 3.83 (1.34) | Tethering without access to shade, water etc. | 3.73 (1.62) |
| 26 | Indiscriminate breeding (including of compromised animals) | 3.46 (1.31) | Poor owner knowledge of horse care | 3.82 (1.24) | Abandonment or stray horses | 3.70 (1.42) |
| 27 | Poor hoof care | 3.45 (0.93) | Horse passports not fit for purpose | 3.82 (1.40) | Poor health knowledge by owner | 3.70 (1.79) |
| 28 | Being ridden | 3.42 (1.93) | Negative affective states (fear, frustration, boredom, depression, anxiety) | 3.77 (1.62) | Lack of access to clean/fresh water | 3.64 (1.69) |
| 29 | Fear, stress or injury from use in work, sport or entertainment | 3.35 (1.53) | Delay in seeking veterinary care | 3.75 (1.60) | Hiring horses to unsuitable riders | 3.54 (1.03) |
| 30 | Lack of routine health care (e.g., vaccinations, dental, parasite prevention) | 3.23 (0.93) | Unstable social groups (herd constantly changing) | 3.67 (1.50) | Unavoidable aggressive social interactions (e.g., restricted resources in groups) | 3.46 (1.51) |
| 31 | Hiring horses to unsuitable riders | 3.17 (1.47) | Poor pasture management | 3.65 (1.17) | Long-distance transport | 3.45 (1.37) |
| 32 | Poor transport of horses on domestic journeys | 3.14 (1.12) | Lack of understanding of horse welfare needs by owner/carer | 3.64 (1.37) | Fear, stress or injury from use in work, sport or entertainment | 3.44 (1.18) |
| 33 | Long-distance transport | 3.00 (1.41) | Fear, stress or injury from use in work sport or entertainment | 3.63 (1.00) | Flygrazing (grazing horses without landowners permission) | 3.40 (1.78) |
| 34 | Unavoidable aggressive social interactions (e.g., restricted resources in groups) | 3.00 (1.04) | Indiscriminate breeding (including of compromised animals) | 3.62 (1.06) | Overworking | 3.34 (1.19) |
| 35 | Lack of routine health care (e.g., vaccinations, dental, parasite prevention) | 3.42 (0.90) | Lack of easy access to health care | 3.09 (0.98) | ||
| 36 | Poor transport of horses on domestic journeys | 3.31 (1.37) | ||||
| 37 | Lack of easy access to health care | 3.25 (1.31) |