The Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic hails a looming disaster for horses, livestock and pets (especially small numbers that are personally owned), as unemployed or underemployed people will begin to run out of money and resources, and may not have banked enough hay, feed, supplies and care arrangements for their animals. ThisRead More →
The Agriculture Ministers’ Forum (AGMIN) met in Launceston last Friday to progress priority issues affecting the agriculture sector, with horse welfare and the development of a national horse register taking centre stage. The meeting was chaired by the Australian Government Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management, the Hon. DavidRead More →
Tongue Ties In what looks like an effort to standardise the materials used for tying horses’ tongues, Racing Australia have amended the rules, specifically banning nylon stockings and listing rubber bands and leather straps of a minimum 15mm, and lycra or neoprene ties of a minimum 50mm as the onlyRead More →
Pony Club Australia (PCA) recently celebrated its 80th birthday, but with the release of a new and updated syllabus that incorporates the latest, evidence-based knowledge in equine welfare and equitation, the institution is in no danger of becoming old fashioned or irrelevant. Future Proofing Pony Club. With over 23,000 ridersRead More →
Whether you ride horses or just admire them from afar, at some point you might have wondered how they sleep. Maybe you saw a pony lying in a field and wondered if they sleep lying down or standing up. If you have pets, you probably already know that the sleepRead More →
End-of-life options This article focuses on what the end-of-life options are for horses, and the advantages and disadvantages of these options. It further discusses some of the welfare problems associated with slaughter and how some of these could be addressed. Article Highlights There is an array of welfare issues associatedRead More →
Some people might think they know all too well how Gypsies and Travellers treat their horses… right? (Insert their eye roll, nodding, and even perhaps a judgmental smirk?) Actually, maybe they don’t. Despite popular belief, many Gypsies/Travellers have a good understanding of equine welfare needs and how to care for theirRead More →
Whip use in equestrian sports is currently a highly debated topic, not just within racing but across the entire industry, and a recent study into the use and perception of the whip in equestrian sports suggests there is an appetite for changes in regulation and education. Dr Jane Williams andRead More →
box stalls and welfare A gilded cage is still a cage. For horses, “gilded cages” come in the form of luxurious box stalls, clean and maintained, with modern sliding doors, windows to the outside, padded mats, wide aisles between the rows of stalls, and riding facilities just outside the mainRead More →
Playtime Builds a Foal’s Bones A playful foal hops, leaps, rears, attacks, threatens to bite and kick, and flees imaginary predators. But his behavior isn’t just a cute and charming show for his breeders (or seemingly a nuisance for his dam who gets caught in his line of fire everyRead More →
