Horse behaviour, training and companionship — herd socialisation needs, humane training, restraint limits (UK DEFRA code)
Source: UK Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA), “Code of practice for the welfare of horses, ponies, donkeys and their hybrids” (December 2017), gov.uk. Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0 — verbatim quotation permitted with attribution; C1 substring-verified against pdf-raw/horse-welfare/horses_welfare_code_2018.txt.
This topic covers equine behavioural needs and handling under the UK welfare code: horses are herd animals that need company of their own species; training must be humane and address the underlying cause of unwanted behaviour; restraint is a last resort for the minimum period necessary.
Claims
They should be able to socialise with members of their own species. Isolating a horse from other horses can have a negative psychological impact. Where this is not possible, other animals may be used to provide company; however the company of other horses is by far the better option. Horses may become distressed if separated from other horses, or from a horse with which they have formed a pair bond.Donkeys have particular socialisation needs and can become ill – potentially fatally so - if suddenly separated from a companion that they have bonded with.Horse training should be humane, effective and safe for both horse and handler. Horses do not perform unwanted behaviours intentionally to defy their handlers; usually there is an underlying reason such as pain, discomfort, fear or habit (the behaviour has been learnt because it has been rewarded, often accidentally, in some way).Any training should be appropriate to the age, experience and condition of the animal in question. If you are unsure how to best handle your horse, advice should be sought from an experienced horse professional.Any restraint method used to assist normal management or treatment of the horse should be applied by a competent person only, and for the minimum period necessary.When forming new groups care should be taken to minimise fighting and stress, particularly when horses are to be mixed together for the first time.