Potential effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on horse behaviour in the UK between March and October 2020

Abstract

Once the COVID-19 pandemic started and the UK went into lockdown on 17th March 2020, many horse owners had to change their horse keeping practices. Exactly how varied depending on their exact circumstances. Horses kept at home, or on full and part livery, would have experienced little change other than a reduction in ridden exercise as some owners chose to stop riding to reduce the risk of personal injury. Owners of horses kept at DIY yards faced greater difficulties as, in many cases, their visits reduced in frequency, horse care rotas were not being adopted, and horse management shared with other owners; this, coupled with uncertainty about future income raising anxiety levels in some individuals, may have had knock on effects for horse behaviour. The pandemic also contributed to some unexpected effects. Increased public footfall in the countryside meant more horses being uncontrollably fed by members of the public, and horse sales continued, even increased, with rehoming from some welfare organisations following the same trend.