Code of Practice for the Welfare of HORSES, PONIES, DONKEYS and THEIR HYBRIDS
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Code of practice for the welfare of HORSES, PONIES, DONKEYS AND THEIR HYBRIDS Code of Practice for the Welfare of Horses, Ponies, Donkeys and Their Hybrids Presented to Parliament pursuant to section 15 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 December 2017 © Crown copyright 2017 This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ version/3 Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned. This publication is available at www.gov.uk/government/publications Any enquiries regarding this publication should be sent to us at Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 17 Smith Square London SW1P 3JR ISBN 978-1-5286-0172-6 CCS1217633088 12/17 Printed on paper containing 75% recycled fibre content minimum Printed in the UK by the APS Group on behalf of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office Contents Introduction ........................................................................ 6 The duty of care................................................................. 7 How to provide a suitable environment for your horse................................................ 9 How to provide a suitable diet for your horse............................................................ 16 Body Condition Scoring - Horses .................................... 20 Body Condition Scoring - Donkeys .................................. 21 How to provide for the behavioural needs of your horse ..................................... 22 How to provide the right companionship for your horse ......................................... 24 How to keep your horse healthy and protect them from pain, suffering, injury and disease .................. 26 Annex 1 - Tethering ......................................................... 32 Annex 2 - Horse passports .............................................. 34 Annex 3 - Sources of further information ......................... 35 Introduction Owning and caring for a horse can be a Further advice should be sought from a source of great enjoyment but it is also a big veterinary surgeon who can provide advice responsibility with a long-term caring and on horse welfare, particularly health, or an financial commitment. The Animal Welfare Act appropriately qualified and experienced horse 2006 (“the Act”) requires you to ensure that any care specialist. Other sources of information are horse, pony, donkey or mule for which you are listed in Annex 3. responsible, whether on a permanent or Throughout this Code of Practice the term “vet” a temporary basis: will be used to refer to a veterinary surgeon • has a suitable environment to live in; and the term “Suitably Qualified Person” or “SQP” will be used to refer to a person who • has a healthy diet (including fresh clean is permitted to prescribe and supply some water) veterinary medicines in the UK, most of which have preventive uses (e.g. external and internal • is able to behave normally; anti-parasitic medicines, farm animal vaccines and nutritional supplements). • has appropriate company; and In this Code “Equine” or “Equidae” is intended to cover all: • is protected from pain, suffering, injury and • Domestic horses and ponies (including feral disease. and semi feral ponies); donkeys; and hybrids It is your responsibility to fully understand your (including mules). horse’s welfare needs and what the law requires • Where the word “horse” is used in this Code, you to do to meet those needs. Breach of a the reference applies to all Equidae. provision of the Code is not an offence in itself, • If information relates to donkeys specifically, but if proceedings are brought against you for a reference to donkeys will be made. welfare offence the Court will look at whether or not you have complied with the Code in deciding • For the purpose of this Code, a “keeper” whether you have committed an offence. You means a person who has day-to-day charge should not cause any unnecessary suffering to of the horse. your or any other animal; this could constitute a • You will also find reference in the code to serious offence under the Act. “experienced horse professionals”. These are people who, through qualification or experience, can provide expert advice on welfare and some aspects of equine health. 6 Code of practice for horses, ponies, donkeys and their hybrids The duty of care Under the Act animal owners and keepers are horses prior to horse ownership. Gaining work under a legal duty of care for the animals for experience at a riding stables, undertaking which they are responsible on a permanent voluntary work with horses or completing or temporary basis. A person could therefore relevant qualifications will all help to be responsible for an animal if they own it improve your skills. or are in charge of it. An owner has ongoing • The cost of keeping a horse. responsibility for their animal even if another person is in charge of it. A parent or guardian The purchase cost of a horse is likely to be of a child under 16 years old is responsible for minimal compared to the ongoing costs of any animal that is owned or cared for by the care over the horse’s lifetime. You should also child. This ensures that an adult can normally be expect ongoing costs to rise as the horse ages identified as a person responsible for an animal. or it approaches the end of its life. The ongoing If an owner leaves an animal in the care of costs will vary depending on the needs of the another person, it is the owner’s duty to ensure individual horse, where it is kept and what it is the keeper is competent and has the necessary used for. As a potential owner, you should draw authority to act in an emergency. up a budget based on your own circumstances to determine whether the ongoing costs are Responsibility for an animal includes having affordable, and how many, if indeed any, horses an understanding of the specific welfare needs, you can afford to care for. You should consider including health, of the animal and having the costs such as livery (costs can vary significantly appropriate knowledge and skills to care depending on the type e.g. do it yourself, full, for the animal. part or working livery), feeding, bedding, stable Those responsible for animals will also have to and pasture, worming, veterinary fees (for both comply with the legislation and should be aware routine and emergency care), farriery, buying of this Code of Practice. They should tack etc. You should consider insuring your also know when to seek advice and help and horse in case of unexpected health problems. who to approach. You should also consider the fact that you can Before taking on a horse potential owners or be held legally responsible for any damage keepers need to consider a number of important your animal may cause, even if you have taken issues to ensure that they will be able to precautions to avoid this, and should ensure meet their duty of care towards the horse (as you have an appropriate level of public liability described in sections 1-5). Issues that should be insurance in place. considered prior to acquiring a horse include: • Taking a horse on a short-term or • Your skills and experience. long-term loan. You should consider how much experience you The responsibilities and ongoing costs of have and whether you have the practical skills loaning a horse will be the same as owning a and knowledge to care for a horse properly. You horse, although you will not be the horse’s legal should also consider your riding/driving skills owner. Therefore, an agreement should be put and what steps you can take to improve and in place between yourself and the legal owner of maintain them. This will help to reduce the risk the horse, detailing exactly what care and costs of the horse developing behavioural problems you are responsible for and what to do if you when ridden or driven. Consideration should wish to terminate the agreement. Loan periods be given to gaining skills and experience with can end at any time and so you should be Code of practice for horses, ponies, donkeys and their hybrids 7 prepared for this situation should it arise. arrangements should be reviewed when there This is particularly important for the owner is any change in the owner’s, keeper’s or of a horse on loan who may need to make horse’s circumstances. arrangements to take back and care for the horse at short notice. • Plans for euthanasia. You should have a plan in place in the event • The type of horse that is most that your horse needs to be euthanased, either appropriate for your ability and as a quality of life decision or in the event of level of experience. serious injury or illness. Although this may be It is important to find the right animal when difficult to think about, it is important to consider taking on a horse as this can prevent many the financial and practical aspects of euthanasia problems in the future. You should consider should the worst happen. factors such as the horse’s age, breed, The needs of horses are explained in more gender, intended use and level of training. You detail in this Code; however, an individual should also consider whether the horse is an horse may have other needs that must be met appropriate size for your height and weight. It is to ensure its wellbeing. If you are unsure what useful to try a number of different horses prior these might be it is important that you seek to purchase for the purposes of comparison advice from an appropriate source of information and the advice of an experienced horseperson i.e. vet, an experienced horse professional or should always be sought. Before purchasing an appropriate equine welfare organisation.