The 3 F’s of Equine Welfare
Kate Hore RNutr (Animal). NAF
At the recent National Equine Forum (5th Mar 20), Roly Owers, Chief Executive of World Horse Welfare, discussed the social license of equestrianism and how that is relevant to all of us, from racehorse trainers to leisure riders1. The Five Domains model for animal welfare, of Nutrition, Environment, Health, Behaviour and Mental State, help us to understand that mental health is at least as important as physical fitness to animal welfare, and that nutrition plays an integral role to that2. But as horse owners what should we do?
The Five Domains model certainly can be applied to horses, with recent guidelines developed in racing3. However to put it in simpler terms Roly stressed the importance of the 3 F’s of Welfare for horses – Freedom, Friends and Forage. Horses evolved as herd dwelling, grazing animals in secure social groups, and the more we can replicate that in their daily regime the happier and healthier our horses will be.
We know that practicalities of modern life can challenge the ideal, but whatever your horse’s regime applying the 3 F’s will support their physical and mental wellbeing.
- Freedom, to move and act naturally. Ideally provide daily turnout or access to a school or yard, but even when stabled ‘Freedoms’ are possible. Ensure your horse’s stable is large enough for them to move, lie down and get up comfortably, and encourage movement by placing forage feeders, water and NAF Himalayan Salt Licks at different points around the box.
- Friends. As social, herd dwelling animals, horses need their friends. Ideally establish a small, safe group of friends with shared turnout to allow social interaction. Stable horses next to their friends, where they can see each other, and ideally touch.
- Forage, should be the basis of any horse’s diet, and increasing forage and fibre reduces the risk of many equine health issues. However remember the forage based diet must be balanced year round to provide the micronutrients often missing in modern soil and grassland.
NAF Five Star Optimum is a concentrated, palatable, easy to feed concentrated balancer to provide essential micronutrients and balance the forage diet for all horses and ponies.
#NEF20
- Owers R (2020). Our future with horses : A sure thing? National Equine Forum. March 2020. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MR-6e7CLen0
- Mellor D.J (2017) Operational Details of the Five Domains and it’s Key Applications to the Assessment and Management of Animal Welfare. Animals (Basel). 7(8) 60.
- Mellor D.J, Burns M (2020) Using the Five Domains Model to develop welfare assessment guidelines for Thoroughbred horses in New Zealand. New Zealand Veterinary Journal. Feb 20 1-7
