by Wendy Hofstee BVSC, MRCVS, FRGS
I believe that the condidtion of horses used in tourism internationally is a very big issue. The number of horses involved runs into millions. Consider: horse drawn transport, pack animals as well as riding horses, mules and donkeys.
The vast majority of tourists who utilize horses on holiday do not prebook this through a specialist operator but impulsively while on holiday. They are often not regular riders and have no idea of what constitutes a horse in an acceptable condition.
In poor countries there is very little spare money for horse care although a horse may be the only source of income for an already very poor person or family. Thus horses are often used in conditions unacceptable by western standards, not out of cruelty, but out of desperation or ignorance. Where this is combined with an uncritical or uncaring tourist the result is cruelty.
By using only horses in an acceptable condition and paying well (above the local rate) for horses in good condition, tourists will be voting with their money for an improvement in the condition of hroses. There is no way a starving man can afford veterinary treatment for his horse. On the other hand if the same horse, when well fed and cared for, can bring in a higher than average income, the attention given to the horse is dramatically improved.
I and Unicorn Trails, the company I founded, believe it is the repsonsibility of tourists to inform themselves of acceptable standards before travelling. As a veterinary surgeon with wide equine, travel and third world tourism experience, I have written an 8 page leaflet "tourism horse condition check" which can be ordered FOC from Unicorn Trails or read and copied here. I urge anyone who thinks they may ride abroad to read this and take along a copy.
Where possible it is best to book any horse riding through a responsible specialist operator like Unicorn Trails. As well as vetting the condition of horses on their trips, Unicorn Trails actively works the improvement of local communities and horse condition - those two go hand in hand. Community tourism and education of locals and, most importantly tourists, is key to improving the condition of local horses. To read more about community tourism and how it works click here.
INTRODUCTION
Many people are introduced to the magic of horseback riding on holiday. There are millions of horses who work in the tourist industry worldwide. Most horses are very well and even lovingly looked after. However sometimes you may be offered a horse to ride that is in an unacceptable health or whose equipment is ill fitting or dangerous. Of course you may not be an expert on horses or riding and would naturally assume that the guide or horse owner knows best. They may however not be aware of the expectations you have of animal welfare and safety. This is a very brief guide to the most basic elements of welfare and safety you should consider before getting on a horse anywhere. It is simple, does not take a minute and your extra interest will be much appreciated by good horse owners who may well be fascinated by your perspective!
FOUR GOOD REASONS TO LOOK BEFORE YOU RIDE
WHAT YOU SHOULD LOOK FOR
APPROACH TO DISCREPANCIES
The above guidelines are very basic and by no means an exhaustive guide to horse welfare, rather they represent minimum standards. Should a horse or the equipment fall short, do not be persuaded to ride or use the animal for transport, instead explain why you will not use them and offer to put the owner in touch with a local charity such as the Brooke Animal Hospital or SPCA who can explain your point in more technical detail and offer practical help to resolve problems.
BODY CONDITION SCORING
Body Condition Scoring (BCS) is an objective system of evaluating a horse's level of body condition (amount of stored fat) and assessing a numeric score to facilitate comparisons between horses. Many people fail to recognize significant variations in the weight of horses or variations due to age and breed types.
Body condition scoring involves the feeling and visual assessment of the degrees of fatness of various areas of the horse, such as: over the ribs, tailhead area, neck and withers, and behind the shoulders. (See Figure 1.) Fat reserves in these areas depend on the balance between energy intake and energy loss, for various activities.
If there is a negative energy balance (energy loss greater than energy intake), then weight, and subsequent body condition, will be lost. This energy balance depends on such factors as: availability of food and water, weather (e.g., ambient temperature and wind chill), reproductive activity (e.g., pregnancy, lactation) and physical activity demands for growth and health status. A positive energy balance (energy expenditure less than energy intake) will result in a horse adding fat and muscle and improving body condition.
Figure 2 shows the profile lines for the various body condition scores. The profile of BCS 0 and 1 follow the anatomical skeleton and describe stages of emaciation and extremely thin respectively. A score of 3 has a smooth appearance to the skeletal structure and represents a horse in optimum body condition for maintenance and is neither gaining nor losing weight. Horses scoring 3+ to 4 have a rounded appearance to their skeletal structure. They are in above average flesh but this should not impair their reproductive ability, especially if they are being maintained in outdoor housing during the winter.
A long hair coat can be misleading. Some conformational differences make it difficult to apply certain criteria to a specific animal. For example, animals with prominent withers, or flat across the back and mares heavy in foal (weight of the foal pulls skin taut over the ribs) may cause body condition scores to be lower than they actually are. However, when properly applied, the scoring system is independent of size or conformation of the horse.
Figure 2. Lumbar Vertebra-Anterior View Indicating Profile Lines for Each Body Condition Score |
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Figure 3. Body Condition Scoring (adapted from Carroll C.L. and Huntington P.J., Body Condition Scoring and Weight Estimation of Horses) |
When evaluating animals, there will be an animal-to-animal variation; thus the use of the terms "easy-keeper" and "hard-keeper". Easy-keepers include any of the individuals of the draft breeds, ponies and quarter horses. They also include the dominant animals in a herd situation. Hard-keepers include many of the individuals of the following breeds: Arabian, thoroughbred and gaited horses. Hard-keepers will also include the shy individuals who are lower on the pecking order in a herd situation. Table 1 summarizes the various body condition scores, while Figure 3 depicts the changes in body appearance.
Condition |
Neck |
Withers |
Back & Loin |
Ribs |
Hind Quarters |
0 Very thin |
bone structure easily felt- no muscle shelf where neck meets shoulder |
bone structure easily felt |
3 points of vertebrae easily felt (see Figure 2) |
each rib can be easily felt |
tailhead and hip bones projecting |
1 Thin |
can feel bone structure- slight shelf where neck meets shoulder |
can feel bone structure |
spinous process can be easily felt |
slight fat covering, but can still be felt |
can feel hip bones |
2 Fair |
fat covering over bone structure |
fat deposits over withers |
dependent on conformation |
fat over spinous processes can't see ribs, but ribs can still be felt |
hip bones covered with fat |
3 Good |
neck flows smoothly into shoulder |
neck rounds out withers |
back is level |
layer of fat over ribs |
can't feel hip bones |
4 Fat |
fat deposited along neck |
fat padded around withers |
positive crease along back |
fat spongy over and between ribs |
can't feel hip bones |
5 Very fat |
bulging fat |
bulging fat |
deep positive crease |
pockets of fat |
pockets of fat |
As a guide to learning the scoring system and interpreting the results, examples of "typical" condition scores are listed below. There will be a range of condition within each score so it is sometimes convenient to assign +'s and -'s or half point scores as in 2.5 or 3.5.
Score 0 |
Emaciated |
- with sunken rump and deep cavity under tail, skin tight over ribs; e.g., severely debilitated older horses with abnormal teeth occlusion, starvation. |
Score 1.0 |
Poor |
- very thin with prominent pelvis and croup, ribs visible |
Score 2.0 |
Moderate |
- thin with flat rump, croup well defined, some fat; e.g., mare that has been severely dragged down by milking while on poor pasture. |
Score 2.5 |
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- e.g., racing condition or endurance horse. |
Score 3.0 |
Good |
- ribs and pelvis covered with fat and rounded; e.g., a halter horse in prime show condition. |
Score 3.5 |
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- e.g., mature mare in mid-gestation. |
Score 4.0 |
Fat |
- fat covering ribs and pelvis requiring firm pressure to feel; e.g., an easy-keeping, mature horse on pasture with little or no work. |
Score 5.0 |
Very Fat |
- severe over condition with ribs and pelvis that cannot be felt, deep gutter in back; e.g., a fat pony prone to founder (laminitis). |