Abstract
Simple SummaryEquestrian land could be a potentially important environmental resource, given that pastureland can help to sequester carbon from the atmosphere, prevent soil erosion and provide diverse ecosystems for native plant and wildlife species. However, equestrian land has been overlooked in environmental research and policy. This study reports on the ways which horse, pony, donkey and mule keepers in the UK described environmental practices as part of their equid care. Through an analysis of survey responses (N = 758) from equid keepers using alternative grazing systems, we report on three very different management approaches which resulted in keepers aiming to promote healthy pastures and healthy animals. This study provides the basis for future research exploring attitudes to sustainability in equid keepers, as well as evaluating the impact of their efforts.Equestrian grazing management is a poorly researched area, despite potentially significant environmental impacts. This study explored keepers’ use of alternative grazing systems in the care of UK horses, donkeys and mules through an internet survey. The survey was available during the summer of 2020 and comprised closed and open questions, which were analysed with descriptive statistics and iterative thematic analysis, respectively. A total of 758 responses was incorporated into the analysis; the most popular system used were tracks (56.5%), Equicentral (19%), “other” (e.g., non-grass turnout) (12.5%), rewilding (7.5%) and turnout on either moorland (0.7%) or woodland (2.5%). The thematic analysis highlighted that equid keepers across the systems were highly engaged in exploring sustainable practices. Their approaches varied according to each system, yet all aimed to fulfil practices in three major categories, i.e., supporting diverse plant life (usually through restricting equid access to certain areas), supporting wildlife (through the creation of biodiverse environments) and sustainably managing droppings and helminths. Additionally, proponents of the Equicentral systems declared to be aiming to support soil health. These data provide a promising insight into equid keepers’ behaviour and attitudes to sustainability.
Highlights
The precise amount of land given over to equid use in the United Kingdom (UK) is entirely unknown
This paper reports on an unexpected finding from owner responses to open questions resulting in free-text, that is, that the use of such systems led equid keepers to become invested in supporting the environment, alongside their animal care
The emphasis by respondents on bringing in elements of sustainability and environmental concern into their equid keeping was an unexpected result of the survey and is the subject of this paper
Summary
The precise amount of land given over to equid use in the United Kingdom (UK) is entirely unknown. The way in which this land is managed represents a national environmental concern, given the recent environmental strategy by the UK’s Committee for Climate Change, which identifies the embedding of low-carbon farming practices as one of its key recommendations [5]. While land for equestrian-related activity has been largely overlooked in environmental and farming policy and research, the practises used to manage this equestrian land could be impactful in the UK’s move towards overall “greener”. Often overlooked in equine research, are frequently kept alongside horses on the same pasture, despite differing nutritional and behavioural needs in relation to grazing management [8]. Equestrian paddocks are rested seasonally and are often harrowed, rolled and fertilised in this period of rest; there has been a lack of research exploring the way in which land used for equids is managed
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