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Thoroughbreds As Therapy Horses: A Study Into The Welfare Of Horses Who Help People

A new study will examine the selection, training and welfare of thoroughbred horses as they transition from racetrack to therapy horse. The pioneering project, led by academics at the University of Bristol's Veterinary School in collaboration with Racing to Relate, will develop a recognized global welfare standard for former racehorses who are moving into Equine Assisted Therapy (EAT).

Thoroughbreds are recognized for their sensitivity and this project will provide a research-based approach to retraining them for therapy work. EAT careers could include work with a diverse group of people, from veterans and disabled children to those struggling with mental health issues. The research, which is funded by the John Pearce Foundation, is the first of its kind to study EAT across many countries and will look at practices in the UK, USA, France and Ireland, to understand the impact of EAT on the horses.

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Claire Neveux, Bristol Vet School PhD student for the project, said: “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 Therapy 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. I'm convinced that a better understanding of the thoroughbred personality traits and suitability of horses for EAT is essential for equine and human welfare.”

The main aim of the research is to create a create a global standard for selection and training, to help the racing industry to improve welfare support for off-track racehorses going into a career in EAT. The research will help industry and stakeholders to improve Thoroughbred welfare through a successful transition to their new career in EAT.

Little research has been carried out on the welfare of horses within EAT programs, and especially on the impact it may have on their wellbeing. In particular, this research will analyze the educational process for all horses within the EAT sector, 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 EAT. The study will also explore details of the life and routine of equines within EAT, 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 am delighted we successfully developed this research project to understand and facilitate the involvement of ex-racehorses in EAT activities. 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 EAT 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, said: “Thoroughbred horses involved in EAT programs are performing a really special and valuable role in society, and yet little formal research has been done to understand how to optimize 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.”

Tempting Tastebuds: How Taste Preference Is Measured Among Horses

How do feed manufacturers know horses will readily eat the products they produce? If the manufacturer works with Kentucky Equine Research, more than 30 years of palatability research is taken into consideration.

In this video, research coordinator Michael Sandwick explains the two-choice preference test and how it relates to product development. In these tests, horses are given two feed options in matching buckets, which are rotated daily. Initially, the horse is allowed to smell but not taste the feeds. The handler then turns the horse away from the buckets before releasing it to consume its preferred choice for three minutes. A scribe notes how many times the horse returns to the bucket, lifts its head, or gets distracted by outside factors. After three minutes, the leftover portions are weighed to measure how much of each feed was consumed.

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Sandwick got her start with the company as a summer intern. She is currently finishing her master's degree at Kansas State University while working at the Kentucky Equine Research Performance Center in Ocala.

Learn more about product development at Kentucky Equine Research.

Why Do Horses Eat Weird Things?

Quality equine nutrition is paramount to keeping horses looking and feeling their best, but some horses eat things they shouldn't, which could lead to colic or cause long-term health issues. Pica is an eating disorder that involves ingesting items that aren't typically considered food.

Some horses eat:

Manure
Called coprophagy, manure eating is natural. Foals eat manure to populate their digestive tract with beneficial bacteria and some adult horses do the same, but eating feces could be a sign that something more is amiss. Adult horses often eat manure because they're lacking in fiber.
Poisonous Plants
Horses often only eat poisonous plants when they have no other forage option. Knowing what plants are poisonous, and removing them, is important to keeping horses safe. Offer plenty of quality forage so the horse doesn't think poisonous plants are the only edible option.
Dirt
Eating dirt is fairly common, but may indicate horses are seeking minerals like salt, copper or zinc. Check his diet to be sure he's receiving the proper amounts of minerals he needs to be healthy.
Tree Bark
Eating tree bark is natural, but some horses chew bark because they are bored. It's important to ensure that the tree bark the horse is eating isn't poisonous. Additionally, if the horse is ingesting so much bark he's harming the tree, fencing horses away from tree trunks may be necessary. Offering a horse-safe logs to chew on is an option.

Let Them Eat: Horses Undergoing Non-Abdominal Surgery May Be Better Off Eating

Much like human doctors, veterinarians often recommended that horses slated for surgery fast before undergoing anesthesia. In humans, this reduces the risk of the development of aspiration pneumonia; in horses it was thought to decrease the risk of post-operative colic. However, a study has shown that there may be no need for horses scheduled for non-abdominal surgery to refrain from eating.

A retrospective study over a two-year period used 1,965 horses older than two years old that were referred to the Oakridge Equine Hospital in Edmond, Okla., for non-emergency, non-abdominal procedures. The horses had not fasted prior to their surgeries.

Dr. Patricia Baily and her study team found that only 2.5 percent of the horses that had not been fasted became colicky. They also found no correlation between the age of the horse, the surgery performed or the duration of the anesthesia and colic risk.

The scientists conclude that allowing a horse to eat prior to undergoing general anesthesia for a non-abdominal surgery doesn't increase his colic risk. In fact, allowing the horse to eat may help him maintain gut motility, reducing the risk of post-operative colic.