Can understanding owners’ behaviours improve the health and welfare of horses?

An editorial introducing a special virtual issue of the Equine Veterinary Journal turns the lens on horse owners. The editorial introduces a collection of 20 studies examining horse owner behaviour—such as recognising colic, treating infectious diseases, vaccinating against various pathogens, and following veterinary advice—and how such behaviour impacts the health and welfare of horses.

Disseminating this knowledge could lead to changes that will have a positive impact on veterinary care.

"Human behaviour has received little attention in the veterinary literature until recently; we have assumed that if we advance veterinary science and share that knowledge with owners the rest will fall into place," said co-author David Rendle, BVSc, MVM, CertEM(IntMed), DipECEIM, FRCVS, newly appointed president of the British Equine Veterinary Association. "That clearly isn’t the case, and this editorial discusses how we need to engage with the science of human behaviour if we are to translate veterinary science into improvements in equine welfare."

URL upon publication: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/evj.13869

Additional Information

NOTE: The information contained in this release is protected by copyright. Please include journal attribution in all coverage. For more information or to obtain a PDF of any study, please contact: Sara Henning-Stout, newsroom@wiley.com

About the Journal

The Equine Veterinary Journal publishes evidence to improve clinical practice or expand scientific knowledge underpinning equine veterinary medicine. This unrivalled international scientific journal is published 6 times per year, containing peer-reviewed articles with original and potentially important findings. Contributions are received from sources worldwide.

About Wiley

Wiley is a global leader in research and education, unlocking human potential by enabling discovery, powering education, and shaping workforces. For over 200 years, Wiley has fueled the world’s knowledge ecosystem. Today, our high-impact content, platforms, and services help researchers, learners, institutions, and corporations achieve their goals in an ever-changing world. Visit us at Wiley.com, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.