World Horse Welfare

Did you know that we have over 60 pages of expert advice available on our website? From guidance on nutrition and behaviour to essential tips for general equine management, our resources are designed to empower horse owners with reliable, practical knowledge. Start browsing our advice section 👉 https://bit.ly/3ZPi5WC

Caring for older horses during the colder months can be difficult, and maintaining their weight can become somewhat of a challenge when your fields become more mud than grass. Here are some tips on helping your older horse this winter: 🌾 Provide suitable forage Older horses with dental issues may struggle to chew hay or haylage and might benefit from shorter chopped forage or a forage replacer. 🐴 Choose the right feed There are many veteran-specific feeds available, so take the time to research and select one that suits your horse’s individual needs and lifestyle. 🌧️ Provide shelter Ensure your horse has access to adequate shelter from wind, rain, and snow. Rugging may also be necessary for older horses to keep them warm and comfortable. ⚖️ Monitor their weight and condition Regularly body condition score or weigh your horse to track any changes. This will help you adjust their management and feeding plan to maintain a healthy weight.

Providing our horses with suitable feed and forage is an essential part of keeping them healthy. 🐴 Still, with so much information out there and some clever marketing ploys, it’s often hard to determine what we should be feeding and why. We are delighted to be joined once again by equine nutritionists Clare McLeod and Liz Bulbrook (Bailey’s Horse Feeds) to dispel some more common nutrition myths – or Nutribaloney as Clare calls it! Find the link to register for the webinar in the comments below 👇

💡 It's Myth Busting Monday! 🐴 The horse world is full of ‘myths’ about some of the things that horses do – without recognising that many of these behaviours are due to pain. Here is just one of 33 behaviours that may be caused by pain in a horse that doesn’t show obvious lameness. For more information, you can read our full ‘myth busting’ guide, link in the comments 👇

Our charity welcomes the appointment of the first ever Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare in the EU. This is an extremely encouraging step forward in the recognition of the relevance of animal welfare across Europe. 👏   The coming years are crucial to improve the welfare of equids across Europe - ensuring the conditions in which they are kept meet the minimum standards to ensure they live a good life.    It is vital that horses, donkeys and mules are not left behind this time, and their welfare must be safeguarded with effective legislation.   We urge the new Commissioner to deliver the revision of #AnimalWelfare legislation and follow up on the recommendations set in the #StrategicDialogue report.   It is time to #DeliverTheProposal!

As the seasons change and field gateways turn muddy, it's natural to want to wash your horse's legs to keep them clean. But did you know that frequent washing can weaken the skin and increase the risk of skin conditions like mud fever? Whenever possible, opt to brush off dried mud instead. If washing is unavoidable, make sure you thoroughly dry your horse’s legs afterwards. To help minimise mud in your horse's field, consider long-term solutions like installing hardstanding in high-traffic areas such as gateways, or using mud mats to prevent poaching. You can find more helpful tips and advice on our website, link in the comments 👇

Have you ever seen a horse wind suck, weave, or box walk? These behaviours are just a few examples of what are known as stereotypies, behaviours that appear when a horse experiences environmental or physical stresses. If you’d like to learn more about stereotypies and how you can manage them, join us for our next webinar on Wednesday, 27 November at 7pm. Register by clicking the link in the comments 👇

This week, World Federation for Animals, of which we are founding members, is at COP29 to stress the need to include animals and animal welfare in global climate solutions.   Working horses, donkeys, and mules are vital allies in building resilience to climate change. They also play a crucial role in restoring income after disasters and transporting people and goods where road access is disrupted.    Donkeys and mules, especially in arid regions, help communities adapt their livelihoods to climate challenges.   Including working equids in sustainable agriculture and climate adaptation policies is essential. Protecting their health and welfare benefits not only the animals but also the families and communities relying on them.   Learn more about the COP 29 event here 👉 https://lnkd.in/e9vyMBn8   You can also read more about how working equids are vital to climate change here 👉 https://bit.ly/3UV8daT

Come rain or shine, our grooms work tirelessly throughout the year to care for our horses every day 🐴 They are at the heart of what we do—without them, giving horses a second chance simply wouldn’t be possible. They require both physical strength and emotional resilience to guide the horses, ponies and donkeys that come into our care through their recovery and rehabilitation. 💙 We asked supporters to write a postcard to our hardworking grooms, with words of encouragement as we enter what can be the toughest time of the year. We received nearly 1,000 postcards, full of admiration and appreciation, reminding our grooms just how important their role is. We couldn't agree more with the common theme of the messages: our grooms are simply incredible. ✨ So join us today, as we celebrate our very own #GroomAppreciationDay 👏

As independent welfare advisors to the FEI, our Chief Executive Roly Owers addressed delegates of this year’s General Assembly about their new action plan for equine welfare, based on the 30 recommendations of the Equine Ethics and Wellbeing Commission of the FEI, of which we were a member. He urged them to prioritise research to understand the welfare impacts of equestrian practices, and also to base decisions on quality research – recognising that no one study will provide all the answers. “We can be just as rigorous in using science to improve welfare as we have been in improving performance. How many times have we said and heard that only happy, relaxed horses perform well? We believe this to be true, so we have nothing to fear by putting it to the test and moving the goalposts to reward relaxed harmonious performances.”   Watch the full presentation here 👇 https://lnkd.in/dwK-qsdX (Afternoon Session - timecode 25:36)