British vet school seeks evidence-based welfare standard for ex-racehorses in equine-assisted services
by Fran Jurga
The University of Bristol Veterinary School in England will develop an international and evidence-based welfare standard for retired racehorses selected to play future roles in the growing equine-assisted services (EAS) field.
The vet school’s new PhD program will work with a British charity organization, Racing to Relate. The collaborative project, which is funded by the John Pearce Foundation, is believed the first of its kind to study horses in EAS across many countries and will look at current practices in the UK, USA, France, and Ireland to understand the impact of this type of activity on the welfare of both Thoroughbreds and other horses.
According to the vet school, EAS careers for ex-racehorses would include potential interaction with diverse groups of people, from military veterans and disabled children to individuals of all ages who are struggling with mental health issues. The main aim of the research will be to create global welfare-based standards for how horses should be selected and trained. These standards will help the racing industry improve selection and support for off-track racehorses going on to serve in this field.
The university’s announcement noted that little research has been carried out on the welfare of horses within EAS programs, including how serving in these programs may impact their wellbeing. The project will analyze the educational process for all horses within the EAS sector, in order to gain a clearer picture of why and how horses are selected for particular roles.
“The aim is to fully understand the current selection and training methods within the sector and identify specific characteristics of the Thoroughbred which are suited to a career (in EAS),” the University said. “The study will also explore details of the life and routine of equines within EAS, examining existing perceptions and considerations of horse welfare.”
Dr Mathilde Valenchon, Research Fellow at the Bristol Vet School and co-supervisor of the PhD project, added: “I have been studying equine behavior, cognition and welfare for the past 12 years. I have always been impressed by the Thoroughbred’s sensitivity and adaptability. I am thrilled to contribute to a better knowledge of their suitability (for EAS) and the development of standards, as this will significantly and positively impact the horses’ welfare, as well as people’s. I am especially proud that our research includes the horse’s perspective.”
Dr Siobhan Mullan, Senior Research Fellow at Bristol Vet School, and co-supervisor of the PhD project, added her support. “Thoroughbred horses involved in EAT programmes are performing a really special and valuable role in society, and yet little formal research has been done to understand how to optimise their welfare throughout their transition from racehorse to therapy horse and in the course of their new career. I’m heartened by the interest around the world in using the results of our research to develop standards, which will have a long-lasting impact on horse welfare,” she said.
At the center of the program will be the vet school’s chosen doctoral candidate, Claire Neveux. For ten years, Neveux has explored equine behavior through the agency EthoNova in France, and has been involved in her family’s Thoroughbred breeding operation in Normandy. She completed a Master’s degree in applied ethology at the University of Paris in 2010, and seeks to build on her experience with Thoroughbreds along with her interest in equine-assisted services.
Neveux outlined her involvement in the project: “I have worked with Thoroughbreds for about 20 years, mainly with broodmares and young horses, and I have always been amazed by their high reactivity and sensitivity. I’m also fascinated by the human-horse relationship. I had a few opportunities to participate in equine-assisted programs as an intern during my graduate studies.
“That’s why, when I met Jennifer Twomey from Racing to Relate, I took the opportunity to be part of this pioneering and collaborative project, and I’m thrilled to contribute to this research,” she continued. “I’m convinced that a better understanding of the Thoroughbred personality traits and suitability of horses for EAS is essential for equine and human welfare.”
Learn more at the University of Bristol vet school website.
Note: Information from the University of Bristol was edited to use the US term of “equine-assisted services” to align with terminology usage in this country. The British study chooses to use the term “equine-assisted therapy”. Collaborating agency Racing to Relate, in turn, uses the clever trademarked term of “Thoroughbred Assisted”. On either side of the Atlantic, such terms are umbrellas for the many activities and concepts involving interaction with horses for enrichment or education and/or structured mounted programs administered by credentialed professionals.
Fran Jurga is an award-winning freelance writer with a keen interest in horse health and equine-assisted services. She has published extensively on equine hoofcare and lameness, writes The Hoof Blog, indexes peer-reviewed lameness research into monthly “HoofSearch” reports, and compiles international EAS research into capsule link lists for colleagues around the world. Learn more about how Fran and how she can help you.
