Equine Welfare Issues: an Overview

IN-DEPTH: EQUINE WELFARE

Equine Welfare Issues: An Overview

Midge Leitch, VMD

1. Introduction In 2005, the AAEP coined the phrase “the unwanted Equine welfare issues clearly influence the way in horse” and combined with the American Horse which we as practitioners deliver health care and Council to host the Unwanted Horse Summit. With how we interact with not only the horse-owning representation from throughout the equine industry, public but the public in general. The American the Unwanted Horse Coalition (UHC) was formed. Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) contin- Chaired initially by Dr. Tom Lenz and now by Dr. ues to evolve in this regard. It is doubtful that any Doug Corey, the UHC Mission is “to reduce the num- given AAEP member is not aware of some aspect of ber of unwanted horses and to improve their welfare societal change influencing how the public perceives through education and the efforts of organizations horses but often and narrowly in the light of their committed to the health, safety, and responsible care respective world (his/her practice community). The and disposition of the horse.” following report represents an attempt to inform the A visit to the UHC website (www.unwantedhorse- membership of the many and varied concerns and coalition.org) will explain the history, resources, and actions that have been taken or are projected by our initiatives of this important organization. association. There is no question in the author’s opinion that such concerns will influence one’s life and 3. The Tennessee Walking Horse Task Force, practice; understanding the concerns is the first step 2007–2008 in avoiding the pitfalls and helping the horse industry as a whole to live within acceptable societal parame- For Ͼ30 yr, the Tennessee Walking Horse Industry ters and assume a leadership role. The public does in has been in violation of the Horse Protection Act fact control the market place. (1979) by the persistence within its show venues of In July 2008, recognizing equine welfare as among the cruel act of “soring.” The AAEP Tennessee the most important issues facing the AAEP, our Walking Horse Task Force was appointed by our Board of Directors chose it as one of the three ele- Board of Directors in December 2007. It was charged ments of our current strategic plan. with addressing the practice of soring and recom- mending to the Tennessee Walking Horse Industry 2. The Unwanted Horse means to end the practice and facilitate compliance The plight of the unwanted horse remains the most with the Horse Protection Act. The task force pro- challenging equine welfare problem to resolve. duced its White Paper in July of 2008 and a subse-

NOTES

AAEP PROCEEDINGS ր Vol. 56 ր 2010 357 IN-DEPTH: EQUINE WELFARE quent paper addressing Pressure Shoeing in March of communication regarding basic horse care for of 2009. those facilities capable of housing horses, including To better detect the practices of soring, including website access to the AAEP Guidelines for Rescue pressure shoeing, the White Paper recommended and Rehabilitation Facilities. SAWA was also in- the use of radiographic and thermographic imaging formed of the availability of vaccines through the and the removal and inspection of shoes and pads AAEP Foundation. The outcome of this meeting when indicated. Recognizing the need for consis- included agreement to develop means of communi- tency and fairness in enforcement, the task force cation regarding basic horse care for those facilities stressed the need for elimination of conﬂicts of in- capable of housing horses, including website access terest among inspectors. to the AAEP Guidelines for Rescue and Rehabilita- It is gratifying to see that both the U.S. Depart- tion Facilities. SAWA was also informed of the ment of Agriculture (USDA) and elements of the availability of vaccines through the AAEP Founda- Tennessee Walking Horse industry have been recep- tion and the UHC. Again, AAEP expertise and con- tive to the recommendations of this task force. cern with equine welfare were recognized when the In 2009, for the ﬁrst time, a trainer was given a American Endurance Ride Conference Research lifetime suspension for multiple violations of the Summit invited an AAEP representative to attend. Horse Protection Act, including soring, the use of a Addressing the issues of morbidity, mortality, and painful device to distract the horse during examina- equine welfare, the group resolved to assess and tion, and the presentation of a “ringer” horse for record and report injuries, illnesses, and fatalities, inspection. Additionally, thermographic imaging as well as incorporate safety information and regu- has now been adapted as a screening tool in the lations already in place in other disciplines. Ad- detection of soring. dressing the issues of morbidity, mortality, and The AAEP is committed to seeing the end of sor- equine welfare, the group resolved to assess and ing, and its members remain actively involved in the record and report injuries, illnesses, and fatalities, Tennessee Walking Horse Industry to achieve that as well as incorporate safety information and regu- goal. lations already in place in other disciplines.

4. Welfare Committee 5. AAEP Welfare Agenda: Works in Progress The AAEP Welfare Committee and its individual The AAEP Welfare Committee agenda is member members have actively addressed many issues over driven. Last year, you—our members—told us the past 2 yr. what your priority concerns were in our AAEP Mem- At the request of the American Veterinary Medi- ber Equine Welfare Survey. cal Association (AVMA), our Welfare Committee has Within the equine industry, you named (1) un- reviewed and provided input for AVMA position wanted horses, (2) slaughter-related problems (pro- statements on The Use of Horses in Urban Environ- cessing plant closures and transportation), (3) ments, Therapeutics in Non-Racing Performance racing issues (breakdowns, retirement, medication Horses, Transportation (and Processing) of Horses, abuse), (4) soring of Tennessee Walking Horse and and Soring Horses. Additionally, our members have American Saddlebreds, and (5) Bureau of Land served on the AVMA Task Force on Euthanasia. Management (BLM)/wild horse management. After the U.S. Equestrian Federation (USEF) re- Within the equine veterinary profession, you quested input from our Welfare Committee regard- named (1) tail blocking and neurectomies, (2) pin ing the use of pads in show horses, USEF rules were firing, (3) racing medications, (4) intra-articular in- reworded to permit the use of protective pads on jections, (5) tail docking, and (6) procedures per- show horses and to eliminate pads designed to cre- formed by lay people. ate excessive angulation or weight. To best respond to welfare concerns, the Executive In 2008 the USEF and the United States Eventing Committee and Board of Directors in 2009 expanded Association sponsored an Eventing Safety Summit, the makeup of the Welfare Committee to include attended by an AAEP representative at which new members with passion for and recognized expertise and improved regulations concerning competitor in diverse areas. The Committee met and identi- qualifications, competence, and training, and fied important areas of need. trainer qualifications were discussed. Safety mea- sures pertaining to course design—including the use of collapsible fences—were critically reviewed and 1. proactive planning to address as many fore- upgraded. seeable issues as possible, thus placing the At their request, a representative of the AAEP AAEP at the forefront of sources for informa- attended the Society of Animal Welfare Administra- tion on equine welfare issues tors (SAWA) meeting addressing the problem of in- 2. understanding regional issues; public and vet- adequate resources to meet the rapidly growing erinary perception of welfare issues may differ number of horses presented to rescue facilities pre- from one area to another viously restricted to small animals. The outcome of 3. “On Call” Programs to address high-profile this meeting included agreement to develop means issues as they arise

358 2010 ր Vol. 56 ր AAEP PROCEEDINGS IN-DEPTH: EQUINE WELFARE 4. disaster preparedness to assist state and fed- members in understanding the ethical issues per- eral agencies in regional readiness. AAEP taining to equine welfare within the practice Foundation has authorized ﬁnancial support environment. to both the University of Florida and Texas No discussion of AAEP equine welfare initiatives A&M. Both of these programs extend be- would be complete without commending our Racing yond their respective state borders to assist Committee for their outstanding efforts over the entire regions, and the Texas A&M program is past 2.5 yr. Their countless hours of dedication anticipated to continue to grow into having resulted in the publication of “Putting the Horse national and international impact. First: Veterinary Recommendations for the Safety and Welfare of the Thoroughbred Racehorse,” a An AAEP Welfare Summit was held this past May. truly benchmark document that has caught the at- Major projects arising from this meeting included tention of the racing industry. the following: AAEP equine welfare initiatives have extended their reach throughout the equine world. Our 1. drafting a position paper on principles of members are involved in equine welfare education to equine welfare a majority of the equine performance disciplines. 2. examination of non-racing performance horse We provide support for those striving to improve the medication/procedures/treatments lives of the millions of working equids throughout 3. expansion of media assistance programs, cri- the world. The resolution of some equine welfare sis communications, and emergency response issues is simple and clear, such as the obvious need 4. engaging the horse industry in recognizing to eliminate the soring of Tennessee Walking and prohibiting abusive training and treat- Horses. Other issues are far more complex, involv- ment procedures ing politics, foreign cultures, and socioeconomic in- 5. at the request of BLM, AAEP teams will re- ﬂuences. Shifts in public perception of equine view the care of animals within the BLM’s Wild Horse and Burro Program welfare and the instantaneous and global exposure 6. Tennessee Walking Horse: pursue Federal of all equine activities make the rapid resolution of legislation to strengthen the Horse Protection equine welfare problems a rare occurrence. None- Act (referred to our Public Policy Committee) theless, the AAEP places the health and welfare of 7. provide education to members about abuse the horse at the heart of its mission and will con- and neglect, rehabilitating malnourished tinue its leadership role in addressing the many horses, and assisting rescue and retirement permutations of equine welfare challenges. From facilities racing’s elite to the donkey serving its human family 8. develop proactive programs for response to in the developing world, AAEP takes pride in our current as well as future (“new”) welfare is- equine welfare initiatives and is committed to grow- sues ing them even stronger in the years ahead. It is our mission that all members recognize the importance Additionally, current initiatives include (1) a re-ex- of equine welfare in their daily personal and profes- amination of the AAEP Position Statement on the sional lives and advocate for its advancement Use of Horses in Urban Settings, (2) development of throughout their careers. Knowing the issues and a position statement on tail blocking and denerva- understanding the facts, the perceptions and the tion, (3) continued development of an international actions provides all of us the ability to comment on cooperative initiative between AAEP and British and discuss the many concerns of our clients. If Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) to assist the we—the collective horse world—do not lead, a world’s working equids, and (4) provide assistance to poorly informed public will determine the outcome.

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