Let me be the judge of that: helping equestrians to recognize and correctly interpret equine welfare signals
To safeguard equine welfare and protect equestrianism鈥檚 social license, everyone involved in the (daily) interaction with horses must be able to identify and interpret equine welfare signals. However, research indicates that people do not always recognize these behavioral signs, and even when they do, they often struggle to respond appropriately. Digital tools and technology offer potential solutions for monitoring equine welfare, yet research on their practical implementation remains limited. In this study, we first examined where equestrians direct their attention by analyzing their visual search behavior with eye trackers and their correctness in scoring horses with pain compared to a gold standard. The next step was to reassess visual search behavior and pain scores, this time evaluating the effect of an educational intervention. The third step will focus on investigating the impact of a multifactorial intervention. By improving the knowledge, skills, and motivation of equestrians, this research will enhance not only horse welfare but also rider safety and enjoyment. Ultimately, this project will provide a blueprint for effectively implementing science-based knowledge and tools in the equestrian sector, ensuring sustainable improvements in equine welfare and professional practices.
Project leader
Debby Gudden, PhD candidate
Academic supervisors
dr. I.A. (Inga) Wolframm, dr. J.P.A.M (Thijs) van Loon, Prof. dr. P.R. (Ren茅) van Weeren, Prof. dr. S.S. (Saskia) Arndt
Grant funding
Vrienden Diergeneeskunde and Stichting Dierenlot
Other partners
Van Hall Larenstein 木瓜福利影视 of Applied Sciences