James C MeyerDVM MSC DACVIM’s Post

🐎👓Horses: Learning to Recognize What We See in Front of Us Horse abuse takes many forms and can be born out of lack of awareness/knowledge or intention. Either way, there is NO excuse these days for riding horses in pain or discomfort. 🌟The research and evidence is there to guide us. 🌟True, it is not easy. 🌟True, the industry needs a HUGE overhaul to establish better standards and protocols - from the top down and the bottom up! 🌟True, owners are a key part of effecting this change as they are the ones who make the decisions and pay the bills. 🌟True, it takes a team who share philosophies and protocols that prioritize horse welfare. 🥷🏻Join the revolution to usher in better standards of horse welfare and compassionate equestrianism. A great start to being an informed owner or professional is recognizing pain and discomfort in horses. 🤩World leading Lameness Vet and Researcher, Dr. Sue Dyson's groundbreaking research serves as a tool that can unite us in this Vision and Mission. 👉🏻Learn more about why her course on this topic is essential for anyone involved with horses: https://lnkd.in/gdVxSBaJ #horses #horsewelfare #horseperformance #wholehorsewholerider #onlineeducation #evidence #research #equitopia

Results of largest and most in-depth study into UK public attitudes towards horse sport and equine welfare. Results confirm sector is 'on the right track’ to improving equine welfare. https://lnkd.in/eiRDmjY4

Horse Welfare - What Does it Mean? We would like to adopt the following broad description for horse welfare: Horse welfare or equine welfare helps describe the acceptable conditions of life and use for domesticated horses, in contrast to suffering produced by intentional or unintentional actions of others, whether through physical abuse, mutilation, neglect, transport, vivisection or other forms of ill treatment. We would further qualify suffering to include physical, mental and emotional states. When it comes to the ridden horse, evaluating their well being from these perspectives is part of being a good horse person or advocate. What do you know about horse behavior? What impacts the physical well being of horses? What impacts the mental well being of horses? What impacts the Emotional well being of horses? In order to have honest and productive conversations that result in generally acceptable principles by which we care for, manage and train our horses, we must remove any emotional element and look to the evidence and research as a basis for those conversations. This is the journey we are on, and it is not an easy one. Speaking up for horses is a very challenging aspect of the business to be in, as, somehow, the conversations frequently end up being about people, not horses. Let's hope that equestrian sport is ready to take a long, hard look at how the industry looks in the eyes of the public and mainstream media, and make the necessary effort to make horse welfare the sole priority moving forward, no matter how hard or uncomfortable it may be.

Horse Welfare - What Does it Mean? We would like to adopt the following broad description for horse welfare: Horse welfare or equine welfare helps describe the acceptable conditions of life and use for domesticated horses, in contrast to suffering produced by intentional or unintentional actions of others, whether through physical abuse, mutilation, neglect, transport, vivisection or other forms of ill treatment. We would further qualify suffering to include physical, mental and emotional states. When it comes to the ridden horse, evaluating their well being from these perspectives is part of being a good horse person or advocate. What do you know about horse behavior? What impacts the physical well being of horses? What impacts the mental well being of horses? What impacts the Emotional well being of horses? In order to have honest and productive conversations that result in generally acceptable principles by which we care for, manage and train our horses, we must remove any emotional element and look to the evidence and research as a basis for those conversations. This is the journey we are on, and it is not an easy one. Speaking up for horses is a very challenging aspect of the business to be in, as, somehow, the conversations frequently end up being about people, not horses. Let's hope that equestrian sport is ready to take a long, hard look at how the industry looks in the eyes of the public and mainstream media, and make the necessary effort to make horse welfare the sole priority moving forward, no matter how hard or uncomfortable it may be.

The Impact of Head and Neck Position on Horse Welfare As we continue to see so many horses with forced head and neck positions, either with or without gadgets, we will continue to promote the evidence and research based educational content to discourage this practice. If we are truly to evolve as horse people, we must surely ensure that the welfare of the horses on whom we place our ambitions, have their needs met and are not compromised physically, mentally or emotionally. Finding ways to converse beyond opinions and fashion, or emulating riders based on winning alone is a necessary next step for the horse world. When it comes to the role of head and neck position in relation to healthy posture, it is of vital importance that we examine the evidence and research that highlights the negative impact these forced head and neck positions have on a horse's well being. We reached out to France based Veterinarian and Horse Welfare Advocate, Dr. Eva Van Avermaet, who is well versed on this topic, and she will be diving into it in our December Webinar. Being an informed equestrian or professional is the key to moving the industry standards forward into better, welfare centric protocols, so if you want to check where your currently held beliefs on the topic rank, then be sure to join us for what we consider a not-to-be-missed presentation: https://lnkd.in/ej9zzJPu #behindthevertical #Lowdeepandround #rollkur #justsayno #horsewelfare #fromtheirperspective #evidence #research #equitopia

Horses: Solving and Preventing Problems If your horse riding experience is not enjoyable for both you and your horse, then there is a problem. Identifying the problem can be challenging. Solving the problem can be challenging. By the time we recognize that there is a problem, there may be several underlying factors contributing to the signs that we pick up. Kissing spines is problematic if it is clinically relevant to the problem. It is also essential to know if it is the primary issue or if there are secondary considerations. As part of our Vision and Mission to raise awareness, educate and advocate for horse welfare based on the evidence and research we can find, and create a set of philosophies and protocols for horse and rider welfare and performance, we invite you to join our webinar next Thursday. Learn more about why this is information you need for you and your horse: https://lnkd.in/e5r5WPEd #kissingspines #relevant #primary #secondary #compensation #saddlefit #training #genetic #wholehorse #wholerider #onlineeducation #equitopia

An explosive report alleges a ‘morass of exploitation and suffering’ in the NSW greyhound gambling industry. The handover report was written by the industry’s own chief veterinary officer, Alex Brittan, following his resignation. After a call for ‘papers’ in parliament from NSW MP Emma Hurst MLC, the report was briefly made available to the public yesterday. But it is now shrouded in secrecy again after a move from the NSW Greyhound Welfare Integrity Commission claimed the report is subject to ‘parliamentary privilege’. HSI Australia calls for transparency and an Upper House parliamentary inquiry to let the light in on this morally bankrupt industry. The industry receives millions of dollars from NSW taxpayers and they deserve to know the truth of the suffering that is rife and systemic in this cruel “‘sport’”. Taxpayer funded cruelty must end. The industry has been on borrowed time since the Coalition Government did a U-turn on shutting down the industry in 2015. In 2024 the industry has failed their second chance. It is past time to shut it down.

Horse Welfare and Performance - Making Informed Decisions Horse Welfare and performance should not be an either/or choice. When WE choose to be riders or equine professionals thus involving a living, sentient being, not designed to ANY of the things we want, there should surely be a responsibility of ethical treatment. What do you see when you stop and try to look at things from your/other horse perspectives? What do you know about the nature of your horse? What is important to horses in terms of their physical, mental and emotional well being? Is competitive horse culture embedded with an ever increasing blindness to the actual horses themselves? Can you recognize signs of discomfort, anxiety or stress in horses? Learning how horses work, and how we can work with them, without compromising their physical, mental and emotional wellbeing should be a minimum standard for equestrianism. If you want to be part of the change that needs to happen, then please support our vision and mission through our membership program, online courses and our share-and-earn affiliate program. Learn more at www.equitopiacenter.com (new website coming soon:)) #horsewelfare #onlinelearning #wholehorse #wholerider #evidence #research #commonsense #horsesense #equitopia

Horse welfare and wellbeing is making is way through…

Horse Welfare - Ushering in a New Era of Awareness and Education Bringing unity and clarity of vision to a horse world that is so divided and varied is challenging. Seeing things from the horse's perspective has to be the way forward, and the evidence and research can help us find our way to better protocols prioritizing horse welfare. The Five Domains of Horse welfare provide us with some clarity in defining what welfare looks like from the horse's perspective. Our September webinar focused on this topic - better defining horse welfare from the horse's perspective. When it comes to the welfare of the ridden horse, there is much to consider. How do they communicate when the saddle pinches, their feet hurt, the rider is sitting crookedly, the bridle doesn't fit, the teeth are causing issues, the rider is giving conflicting cues etc.? Dr. Sue Dyson's decades of research into horse welfare in the ridden horse has culminated in the Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram, a tool to guide the future of equestrianism. Today is the last day of the 70% discount on this groundbreaking course, 24 Behaviors Indicating Pain in the Ridden Horse, and we urge every horse person out there to have it as an essential part of their resources. Learn more about how to get ahead of lameness issues BEFORE they become chronic: https://lnkd.in/gdVxSBaJ #horses #horsewelfare #riddenhorse #onlineeducation #wholehorse #wholerider #evidence #research #equitopia