2200013 - Equine Welfare
Course Description
"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." ~ Gandhi (1869-1948)
Delve into the controversial and sensitive issues surrounding the use of horses, gaining insight into the various ways humans rely on horses—and the welfare concerns and potential abuses that can arise as a result.
Guided by experts in equine health and welfare science, you'll be introduced to key concepts and definitions of animal welfare. Engage in thoughtful discussions about how to identify negative emotional states in horses, how welfare can be objectively assessed, and how certain practices may compromise equine wellbeing.
Designed to spark critical thinking and conversation within the equine industry, the Equine Welfare course encourages you to reflect deeply on your values. By the end of the course, you’ll be able to clearly articulate your own philosophy and stance on protecting the spirit and wellness of the horse.
This course is ideal for anyone seeking to deepen their understanding and advocate for improved horse welfare—including topics such as housing, management practices, and routine procedures.
Professionals such as animal protection officers, rescue facility staff, by-law and police officers, members of equine associations, animal welfare organizations, and government regulatory agencies will find this course especially valuable.
What You'll Learn
Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:
- Describe the historical development and evolving schools of thought in animal welfare, with a focus on how these perspectives have shaped current equine welfare standards
- Examine and apply scientific frameworks for assessing equine welfare, including the Five Freedoms and Five Domains, and understand how animal-based, management-based, and environmental-based indicators can be integrated into effective welfare assessment tools
- Critically evaluate common equine practices and their welfare implications by interpreting diverse sources of research-based evidence and applying them to practical scenarios
- Identify behavioural and anatomical factors linked to performance and management practices that may compromise equine welfare and use this knowledge to inform better care decisions
- Explore the role of human behaviour in equine welfare, including the impact of psychological biases (e.g. anthropomorphism, heuristics, confirmation bias) and the principles of Human Behaviour Change, to reflect on how human decision-making affects horse care and management
Additional Requirements
- This course is intended for adult learners who are at least 18 years of age.
- There are no prerequisites for this course.
- You may take this as an individual course or choose to complete one of our equine certificates or the diploma.*
- You do not need access to a horse to participate and be successful in this course.
- You can expect to spend 6-10 hours per week to complete the course material, activities, discussions, and assignments.
- Do you have more questions? Contact our Continuing Studies office.
*If you are a certificate or diploma program student, we recommend that you complete Management of the Equine Environment first, or very early in your course of studies. Management of the Equine Environment is offered every semester.
Sponsoring Partners
Applies Towards the Following Certificates
- Diploma in Equine Studies (New) : Required Courses
- Equine Welfare Certificate (New) : Electives
Technical Requirements
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*Course details are subject to change.