Acknowledgements Book of abstracts - Publicaties - Vlaanderen.be

Marc Pierard presents Workshop paper 3
In workshop 1: Welfare of riding horses
Friday, 12 September 2008 from 14h00-15h45 in the Aula chaired by Frank Ödberg
178
Workshop paper 3
IMPLEMENTATION OF WELFARE SCIENCE INTO PRACTICE
M. Pierard 1 , F.O. Ödberg 2
1 Geelstraat 30, Sint-Truiden, Belgium
2 Department of Animal Nutrition, Genetics and Ethology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Ghent University,
Merelbeke, Belgium
Scientific evidence clearly demonstrates that current management systems for horses are at least
suboptimal and cause for welfare concerns. Fundamental change depends on 3 parties involved:
government who regulates and supports, sector organisations who educate and regulate and, of
course, the people in the field who have to implement improved techniques. Due to the diversity
within the horse world and the fact that more applied research is necessary to refine new systems,
legislation will only be able to set minimum standards and provide leverage to convince people to
change. Equine organisations will have to incorporate existing and ongoing scientific knowledge in
their regulations and in the education programmes for trainers, officials and riders. They shouldn’t
wait for new legislation, but they should start immediately. Besides positive effects on welfare of
horses and prevention of injuries to horse and rider/handler, it will be beneficial for the
performances of the horses and for the economic viability of the horse sector.
A study screening the horse industry leading to practical checklists is fundamental in order to
monitor that sector in an efficient and credible way in the future (Vernaillen, s.d.). Ideally speaking,
the industry itself should take her future in her own hands and warrant for quality before the
legislator imposes his rules. A recent Australian study demonstrated that a vast majority of coaches
and trainers possess insufficient knowledge of basic principles of learning theory (Warren-Smith &
McGreevy, 2008). Formal training and public information should be more evidence-based and
traditional methods have to be objectively verified and optimized. Science can and should be
integrated in daily practice. More extensive, constructive cooperation between scientists and
practitioners would be mutually beneficial and would certainly make daily practice more horse
friendly.
Contact information: Marc Pierard or email pierardmarc@hotmail.com or frank.odberg@ugent.be
Complete address: Geelstraat 30, Sint-Truiden, Belgium
Species: Horse