Horse Housing on Prince Edward Island, Canada: Attitudes and Experiences Related to Keeping Horses Outdoors and in Groups

SIMPLE SUMMARY: The decisions of horse owners can profoundly affect horse welfare, but little research has incorporated horse owner voices within the academic literature. This project aimed to understand horse owner attitudes and experiences related to horse welfare in different housing contexts. In regard to horse housing, owners considered their horses’ mental state, nutrition, behavior, environment, and health. Further, they believed that horse welfare is better in outdoor and group housing but showed less agreement that the standard of care for horses in those housing types is better than indoor and individual housing. Horse owners who kept their horses indoors part-time and individually were more likely to agree that the standard of care for horses is better in these housing types. Overall, owner attitudes corresponded with the way they housed their horses, and they considered different horse welfare aspects in their housing decisions. ABSTRACT: Limited research has assessed the “human dimension” of horse care. The aims of this study were to (1) understand horse owner attitudes toward horse welfare when kept outdoors versus indoors and in groups versus individually, (2) compare horse owner attitudes toward horse welfare with the ways in which they house their horses, and (3) explore horse owner reasons for and challenges with their horses’ housing. Seventy-six horse owners in Prince Edward Island, Canada completed a questionnaire. Non-parametric tests and quantitative content analysis were used for data analysis. Consistent with the way horses were kept, most (82–96%) owners agreed that horses’ physical health, mental well-being, and natural living were better when kept outdoors and in groups. Fewer (64–68%) participants agreed that the horses’ standard of care was better when kept outdoors or in groups. Results show associations between owners whose attitudes suggest indoor and/or individual housing is better for horse welfare and keeping their horses indoors part-time and/or individually. Two overarching themes were developed from owners’ responses regarding their reasons and challenges related to the ways in which horses were housed: horse-centered and owner-centered care. The results indicate that horse owners’ choices about their horses’ housing correspond to beliefs about improved horse welfare.