The Equine Industry - PDF

The Equine Industry Dr Holly Lenaghan BVetMed FHEA MRCVS Acknowledgement: Dr Alison Prutton Learning Objectives » Understand today’s equine industry in the context of equine domestication, selective breeding and societal importance. » Appreciate the diversity of the Europ...

The Equine Industry Dr Holly Lenaghan BVetMed FHEA MRCVS Acknowledgement: Dr Alison Prutton Learning Objectives » Understand today’s equine industry in the context of equine domestication, selective breeding and societal importance. » Appreciate the diversity of the European and UK equine sector in terms of form, function and production targets. » Understand the importance of individual animal identification and traceability. » Appreciate legislative requirements impacting on the equine sector. #universityofsurrey 2 Part 1: Equine evolution, domestication and selective breeding Origins of Equidae Equus caballus Equus przewalskii (Modern Horse) (Przewalski’s horse) https://www.britannica.com/animal/horse/Evolution-of- #universityofsurrey the-horse 4 Equus caballus Natural Adaptations Seasonal (Coat, reproduction) Plains (open grassland) dweller Rough graze Trickle feeder (~18 out of 24h) Social Family Bands: Stallion + 2-6 mares & foals & yearlings Bachelor stallions (unstable group sizes) Complex social behaviours Prey species Foals precocial #universityofsurrey 5 Domestic Management » Solitary/unstable groupings > stress? » ‘High quality’ management Feedstuffs (grazing, forage and concentrates) Obesity… Stabling (decreased socialisation & passive exercise, thermoregulatory costs) Metabolic Rugging (thermoregulatory costs/over-heating?) disease… » Multiple owners/horse lifetime (~7): Change in use/management » Improved veterinary management Increased geriatric population #universityofsurrey 6 Selective Breeding The Thoroughbred » 1535 –King Henry VIII No stallion < 15hh or mare < 13hh. Imported Spanish and Italian horses. » 3 Arab stallions 1689 – ByerleyTurk 1700 – Darley Arabian 1730 – Godolphin Arabian » 1789 –Eclipse (modern TB) Sired 335 winners #universityofsurrey 7 Other Equidae Donkeys » Equus asinus » Still primary source of draft power in the 3 rd world » Relatively unchanged by domestic selection Egypt, 2000BC Mules: » Jack x mare » Infertile #universityofsurrey 8 Horse & Pony Breeds #universityofsurrey 9 Part 2: The Equine Industry in the UK and Europe Breadth of the equine industry #universityofsurrey 11 UK horse industry #universityofsurrey 12 The UK horse industry » ~70% leisure » Serviced by >18,000 equine businesses » Employs more people than agriculture » Racing = best attended sport in the UK after football » Racing economic impact: £4.1 billion in 2021, tax contribution of £276m in 2012 » Equestrian sports have a higher proportion of female participants, people >45 years of age, and people with disabilities than other sports #universityofsurrey 13 BETA National Equestrian Survey 2019 » Economic value ~£4.7 billion (increased from 4.3m in 2015) » 27 million people in Britain with an interest in the industry » ~847,000 horses Down from 944,000 in 2015 » ~374,000 horse-owning households Down from 446,000 in 2015 » ~3 million people ride (1.8m at least once/month) » Av age of a horse = 13 » Av frequency of riding = 3.5 times per week, av riding time = 52 mins #universityofsurrey 14 Horses in the EU EU Equine sector worth ~£73 billion/year ~7 million equines Largest number of horses per person = Belgium (~1:21) UK ~1:100 #universityofsurrey 15 Horses in the EU » WHW & Eurogroup for Animals report for the European Commission 2015: » Relatively equal split between working roles and leisure sector » Many equines still suffer welfare problems, eg. Transport for slaughter Donkey Milk Farms https://www.equinebusinessassociation.com/equine-industry-statistics/ » EU legislation has had a positive impact Protection in slaughter https://storage.googleapis.com/stateless-whwwp-screenbeetle- Welfare legislation c/2019/09/b0d4fbeb-removing-the-blinkers- Sporting legislation report.pdf?_ga=2.22494201.339223872.1632909651- 1292527365.1632909651 #universityofsurrey 16 Equestrian Sports #universityofsurrey 17 Some others… #universityofsurrey 18 Part 3: Equine Identification Horse Identification ”…UK system of equine identification could arguably be said to be one of the most complex, and abused, systems in Europe...” World Horse Welfare » Passports required since 2004 » Complex and ineffective system with ~75 passport issuing organisations » Experience showed: Passports alone are not good enough! » Microchips introduced in 2009 but only for newly issued passports » In Oct 2020 – ALL horses must have a microchip and a passport #universityofsurrey 21 Equine ID Regulations » Equine Identification (England) Regulations 2018 » New system in 2019 - Central Equine Database Passport Issuing Offices report to the Central Equine Database Owners log on to the new ChipChecker and input their horse’s microchip number https://www.equineregister.co.uk/home If details are incorrect – must inform PIO Anyone who purchases a horse or has one lost, stolen, die or signed out of the food chain must let PIO know within 30 days and they must update the Central Equine Database Horses imported into the UK must be registered with a UK PIO within 30 days Failure to comply > fixed monetary penalty. #universityofsurrey 22 Horse Passports » Passport must accompany the animal for Sale Slaughter for human consumption Veterinary Treatment (marked use of prohibited drugs excludes animals from entering the food chain). » ~75 Passport Issuing Organisations. Breed Societies, Weatherbys, British Horse Society, The Horse Passport Agency, PetID, etc DEFRA maintains list of authorised PIOs: https://www.gov.uk/horse-passport #universityofsurrey 23 Individual Horse Identification » Certified by veterinary Surgeon Age Breed Height Body Colour Natural markings White hair Hair whorls Muscle deviations (‘profits thumb’) Acquired markings Scars, white hair etc Microchip number Brands Weatherbys Identification-of-Horses-Booklet https://inside.fei.org/system/files/ID_of_horses_2014.pdf #universityofsurrey 24  Identification - Age » Teeth » Appearance » Time of year (~Spring born) » TBs: January ‘official’ birthday » Identity document #universityofsurrey 25 Identification - Height » Pony = ≤14.2hh » Important Class eligibility Breed limits Joint Measurement Board Official height certificate from Official Measurer https://liphookequinehospital.co.uk/wp- content/uploads/joint-measurement- board.pdf #universityofsurrey 26 Identification - Colour Weatherbys Identification-of-Horses-Booklet #universityofsurrey 27  Identification - Markings » White body marking must be accurately drawn and hatched in red pen and described in lay terms. Typically ≥5 distinguishing characteristics required for each horse #universityofsurrey 28 Identification – Whorls & feathering » Hair whorls and feathering patterns are uniquely placed and must be noted with a cross for whorls and a line for feathering » Commonly: Forehead Crest Ventral neck Chest Flanks Can be other places #universityofsurrey 29 Other Identifying Marks » Permanent brands and acquired scars are also important identifiers » Microchip numbers should also be noted on the passport » (‘M’) to mark location of chip Within the nuchal ligament in the left crest #universityofsurrey 30 Horse Passports: Section IX Part II » Can this animal enter the human food chain? Signed (vet and owner): NOT for human consumption Unsigned: Can theoretically be slaughtered for human consumption » Dictates medication choices Signed: No requirement to enter drugs in passport Unsigned: Date, drug and withdrawal MUST be entered (permitted drugs only) Prohibited drugs – horse cannot enter food chain Phenylbutazone must not be used in food producing animals » https://www.gov.uk/guidance/horse-medicines-and- recording-keeping-requirements #universityofsurrey 31 Part 4: Legislation affecting the Equine Industry Legislation and the Equine Industry » UK: Horse culturally perceived as sport, leisure animals or pets » EU: Default as food-producing animal Council Directive 2009/156/EC: On animal health conditions governing the movement and importation from third countries of equidae Council Directive 98/58/EC: Concerning the protection of animals kept for farming purposes » UK: Animal Welfare Act (2006) Enforcement dependent on animal type Companion animal: Private prosecutions (RSPCA) Farm animal: Local authority Codes of Practice » UK: Animal disposal by burial: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/fallen-stock#horses Companion animal: Yes Farm animal: No #universityofsurrey 33 Legislation and the Equine Industry Farriers (Registration) Act (1975 & 1977) The Worshipful » Any work connected with preparation and treatment of the foot for shoeing and shoe fitting Company of (can only be performed by a registered farrier) Farriers » Exceptions to Farriers Act: Supervised farrier’s apprentices Emergency actions Veterinary surgeons Veterinary surgery students supervised by a registered farrier or vet » Farriers Registration Council: Maintain register, investigation, disciplinary » Worshipful Company of Farriers: Award qualifications (eg DipWCF) #universityofsurrey 34 Legislation and the Equine Industry Riding Establishments Act (1964 & 1970) » Riding instruction and horse hire establishments required to be licensed by local authorities » Veterinary Inspection & report on health, tack, husbandry, care and management, farriery » Authorised Veterinary Surgeon (member of RCVS/BVA inspectorate) » Environmental Health Inspection – waste disposal and human sanitation arrangements, Fire and safety procedures. » https://www.rcvs.org.uk/setting-standards/riding-establishments/ #universityofsurrey 35 More legislation The follow apply in England (Devolved administrations: own rules) Horse Welfare: » DNHA - Docking and Nicking of Horses Act 1949 » WATO - Welfare of Animals (Transport) (England) Order 2006 » The Control of Horses Act 2015 Animal Identification: » The Horse Passports Regulations 2009 (revoked) » The Equine Identification (England) Regulations 2018 Disease Control: » The Equine Viral Arteritis Order 1995 » The African Horse Sickness Regulations 2012 » The Equine Infectious Anaemia Order 2006 » The Horses (Zootechnical Standards) Regulations 2006 #universityofsurrey 36 Part 5: - Current issues in the horse industry - Summary Topical issues #universityofsurrey 38 Horse Transport » Most transported large animals » Short distance: Leisure, competition, etc. » Long distance High value horses: Competition, training, breeding Low value horses - Slaughter » Transport of equidae for commercial purposes is regulated in the EU (EC RegNo 1/2005) & in the UK (WATO 2006) Horses cannot be transported for more than 24hours on the road and must be given water and fed if necessary, every 8hours during the journey. #universityofsurrey 39 Equine transport » TRACES: Trade Control and Expert System (EU register) » Tripartite agreement: France, UK, Republic of Ireland » Brexit impact? https://www.britishhorseracing.com/regulation/brexit/ https://www.gov.uk/guidance/export-horses-and-ponies- Image taken from Equus magazine special-rules » Bipartite agreement: NI and Republic of Ireland » Bipartite agreement: Republic of Ireland and France Welfare » https://assets.publishing.service.g ov.uk/government/uploads/system /uploads/attachment_data/file/700 200/horses-welfare-codes-of- practice-april2018.pdf » https://newc.co.uk/advice_articles/ code-of-practice-for-the-welfare- of-horses/ » https://www.worldhorsewelfare.org / #universityofsurrey 42 Welfare issues » Slaughter practices & transport to slaughter » Abandonment/neglect » Training/competition practices Rollkur in dressage Whip use Limb hypersensitisation (SJ) » Disease Infectious disease » Obesity #universityofsurrey 43 Equine Obesity » Very common issue in UK equids » Insulin Resistance/Equine metabolic syndrome Laminitis » Mechanical stress » Poor performance » Poor reproductive efficiency » Obstructive colic » Thermal stress » http://www.worldhorsewelfare.org/right-weight #universityofsurrey 44 Summary » Horses have played a big part in shaping our society and culture and today’s equine industry is economically significant and diverse in it’s form. » Become familiar with different breeds and their characteristics, as well as lay terms for horse colours and markings. » Horse identification in the UK is imperfect but improving. This is important for welfare. » We have a duty to keep abreast of how legislation affects the equine sector » There are several key welfare issues affecting horses across the world » In the UK, equine obesity is often under-recognised as a major welfare issue #universityofsurrey 47 Resources Useful Websites: https://www.gov.uk/horse-passport https://www.gov.uk/guidance/horse-medicines-and-recording-keeping-requirements https://www.gov.uk/guidance/fallen-stock#horses https://www.gov.uk/guidance/export-horses-and-ponies-special-rules https://www.rcvs.org.uk/setting-standards/riding-establishments/ https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/700200/horses-welfare- codes-of-practice-april2018.pdf https://inside.fei.org/system/files/ID_of_horses_2014.pdf https://www.equineregister.co.uk/ #universityofsurrey 48 References » Everett, S. (2017). UK to get a centralised national database for horses this summer. Veterinary Record. » Gaunitz, C., Fages, A., Hanghøj, K., Albrechtsen, A., Khan, N., Schubert, M., Seguin-Orlando, A., Owens, I.J., Felkel, S., Bignon-Lau, O. and de Barros Damgaard, P. (2018). Ancient genomes revisit the ancestry of domestic and Przewalski’s horses. Science, 360(6384), pp.111-114. » Robin, C., Ireland, J., Wylie, C., Collins, S., Verheyen, K., & Newton, J. (2015). Prevalence of and risk factors for equine obesity in Great Britain based on owner‐reported body condition scores. Equine veterinary journal, 47(2), 196-201. » Wylie, C. E., Collins, S. N., Verheyen, K. L., & Newton, J. R. (2013). Risk factors for equine laminitis: a case-control study conducted in veterinary-registered horses and ponies in Great Britain between 2009 and 2011. The Veterinary Journal, 198(1), 57-69. » Wyse, C., McNie, K., Tannahil, V., Murray, J., & Love, S. (2008). Prevalence of obesity in riding horses in Scotland. Veterinary Record, 162(18), 590. » Rendle, David, et al. "Equine obesity: current perspectives." UK-Vet Equine 2.Sup5 (2018): 1-19. #universityofsurrey 49 50