Equine welfare - Marthe Kiley-Worthington

Animal rights and welfare and the duty of humans towards animals is the subject of much topical debate. In this book, Marthe Kiley-Worthington gets it right to the heart of this debate, particularly as it relates to the use and care of horses. She outlines the history and development of ideas concerning equine welfare, and investigates and questions the conventional establishment practices of husbandry, breeding, working, training and rising, in so far as these may cause suffering. The book examines the degree to which equines may suffer during the various competitive disciplines of dressage, show jumping, cross-country riding, long-distance riding, racing and polo, as well as looking at their role in hunting, riding schools, rodeo and circuses. The most exciting new area explored in this book is the consideration of welfare of equines throughout the world, in relation to their minds and intellectual needs, and the outlining of the factors which must be taken into account by anyone involved with horses. It suggests ways in which we may develop symbiotic relationships with horses, and thus work towards mutually beneficial living and working arrangements for horses and humans.;The book is written clearly and without jargon so that horse lovers and owners, first year students as well as BHS Fellows, veterinarians as well as philosophers, will all be interested and informed by it. It includes not only ideas, but also results from the author's own research stud. It will challenge many, and outrage some, and it is hoped that it will at as a spur to help bring about the improvement of life for equines everywhere, and also encourage others to do the same type of examination for other species.