Abstract
BackgroundPrevious studies have found the prevalence of lameness in working horses to be 90–100%. Risk factors for lameness in this important equine population, together with risk-reduction strategies adopted by their owners, are poorly understood. The objective was to uncover risk factors for lameness and limb abnormalities in working horses, by associating clinical lameness examination findings on three occasions over two years with owner reported changes in equine management and work practices over this period.Methodology/Principal FindingsTwenty-one communities of horse owners in Jaipur, India, took part in a participatory intervention (PI) project aiming to reduce risk factors for poor welfare, particularly lameness and limb problems. Associations between quantitative measures of equine lameness/limb abnormalities and reported changes in management and work practices were compared with 21 control (C) communities of owners where no intervention had taken place. Key findings from ‘complete cases’, where the same horse stayed with the same owner for the whole study period (PI group = 73 owners of 83 horses, C group = 58 owners of 66 horses), were that more positive statements of change in equine management and work practices were made by PI group owners than C group owners. A mixed picture of potential risk factors emerged: some reported management improvements, for example reducing the weight of the load for cart animals, were associated with improved limbs and lameness, and others, such as making improvements in shoeing and increasing the age at which their animals started work, with negative outcomes.Conclusions/SignificanceThis study illustrates the complexity and interacting nature of risk factors for lameness in working horses, and highlights the importance of longitudinal investigations that recognise and address this. PI group owners found the project useful and requested similar inputs in future. Our findings demonstrate the value of exploratory and participatory research methodology in the field of working horse welfare.
Highlights
Working horses in low-income developing countries number approximately 17.3 million [1], forming a vital part of urban and rural transport systems and often providing the major or only source of livelihood for their owners
Environmental and demographic risk factors for poor welfare using data taken from standardised assessments of 5481 donkeys, 4504 horses and 858 mules showed a significantly higher prevalence of tendon and joint abnormalities in urban compared with rural areas, in animals pulling carts compared with other types of work, and in wet seasons compared with dry seasons [4]
Key findings were: that more positive statements of change in equine management and work practices were made by horse owners in the participatory intervention (PI) group than the control (C) group; that a mixed picture of potential risk factors emerged, with some reported management improvements associated with improved limb and lameness outcomes, and others associated with negative outcomes; and that owners taking part in the intervention found it useful and requested similar inputs in the future
Summary
Working horses in low-income developing countries number approximately 17.3 million [1], forming a vital part of urban and rural transport systems and often providing the major or only source of livelihood for their owners. Environmental and demographic risk factors for poor welfare using data taken from standardised assessments of 5481 donkeys, 4504 horses and 858 mules showed a significantly higher prevalence of tendon and joint abnormalities in urban compared with rural areas, in animals pulling carts compared with other types of work, and in wet seasons compared with dry seasons [4]. None of these studies asked horse owners for their opinions on indirect risk factors or ‘root causes’ for lameness, such as the local influences or wider socio-economic conditions that affect their choice of equine training, working or other management practices. The objective was to uncover risk factors for lameness and limb abnormalities in working horses, by associating clinical lameness examination findings on three occasions over two years with owner reported changes in equine management and work practices over this period
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