Friends, Forage, Freedom: A cluster analysis investigating horse management styles and welfare in the UK and Ireland

This study aims to improve the welfare and management of recreational horses by identifying how different management styles affect horse health and behaviour. We examined the management styles of recreational horse owners in the UK and Ireland, focusing on social interaction (friends), access to suitable forage (forage), and unrestricted movement (freedom). We collected 1,501 survey responses, distributed via social media, and summarised the characteristics and management choices of the respondents. Using the Divisive ANAlysis cluster package in R, three distinct management styles were identified. The largest differences between clusters were in turnout, individual stabling, and access to forage. The Horse Centred Management Cluster (HCMC) (n=956) were more likely to provide their horses with 24-hour turnout and access to a forage source, and interaction with 2 or more horses. The Combined Management Cluster (CMC) (n=434) was a combination of different management decisions; such as horses being kept in an individual stable for longer periods and provided with shorter turnout periods (9 or more hours), than the HCMC. The Owner Centred Management Cluster (OCMC) (n=111) provided a more restrictive management style with much less turnout time (typically 0-6 hours), often with no contact with other horses, and less access to a forage source (0-10 hours). We explored associations between management factors (friends, forage, and freedom) and horse welfare-related outputs via owner responses to health and behaviour questions, where behaviour was considered to reflect mental state. The HCMC horses were significantly less likely to exhibit gastrointestinal (GI) issues, lameness issues, handling problems, or antisocial behaviours compared to both other groups. This study highlights how management impacts the health and behaviour of recreational horses and can contribute to the development of guidance on improved management and welfare for recreational horses.