Anthony Worm 16/10/26 Anthony Worm 16/10/26

Equine Science Article Highlight: Differences between facilities in horse welfare profiles

This highlight looks at new research on welfare across three riding schools with near-identical housing, which found a high welfare burden among stabled horses, even where turnout was most generous. We consider why the box-paddock-box cycle may be the real design problem, and what might follow if the stable were no longer assumed to be default housing.

Alicia Brown 21/5/24 Alicia Brown 21/5/24

Horse-Centric Property Design

This Equestrian Life feature looks at Equitecture’s horse-centric approach to stable design. We consider why the stable reflects human needs more than equine ones, and what designing for the horse’s evolutionary needs looks like in practice.

Alicia Brown 31/5/23 Alicia Brown 31/5/23

Helmast Park: A thoughtfully designed equestrian facility in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs

Located in Park Orchards on the north-eastern edge of the Melbourne metropolitan area, the owners of Helmast Park were looking to transform their recreational horse property into a dedicated agistment business.

Alicia Brown 21/5/19 Alicia Brown 21/5/19

Equine Science Article Highlight: Shelter-Seeking Behaviour in Domestic Donkeys and Horses in a Temperate Climate

We came across this research on equid shelter behaviour and were very intrigued by the apparent difference between horses and donkeys when it comes to their shelter usage.

Alicia Brown 9/5/19 Alicia Brown 9/5/19

Equine science article highlight: ‘The Effect of Short Term Prevention on the Subsequent Rate of Crib-Biting in Thoroughbred Horses’

This equine science highlight article is very thought-provoking from the horse welfare and facility design perspectives. Equine stereotypies, including crib-biting, are those repetitive behaviour patterns that seemingly have no function.

Alicia Brown 25/4/19 Alicia Brown 25/4/19

Equine science article highlight: ‘Prevention and Control of Lower Airway Inflammation in Horses’

This week’s highlight article looks at the potential causes and prevention strategies relating to Lower Airway Inflammation (LAI) in horses. The importance of sharing this research is due to LAI’s prevalence in the horse community, reportedly “second only to musculoskeletal disease as a cause of wastage amongst performance horses.”

Alicia Brown 14/4/19 Alicia Brown 14/4/19

Equine science article highlight: Behavioural and Transcriptomic Fingerprints of an Enriched Environment in Horses (Equus caballus)

This environmental enrichment (EE) article is heavy on the science but it has some profound implications for horse facility design that are worthwhile highlighting. It defines EE “as a combination of complex inanimate and social stimuli.

Alicia Brown 7/4/19 Alicia Brown 7/4/19

Equine science article highlight: Risk Factors for Gastric Ulceration in Thoroughbred Racehorses

This week’s post looks at the prevalence and risk factors contributing to gastric ulceration in TB race horses and how this potentially relates to horse facility design. This condition is an important health concern for all performance horses worldwide. Gastric ulceration in horses can reduce athletic performance, and cause weight loss and long term ill health which can have a negative impact on the lives of the horses, as well as the owners and trainers.

Alicia Brown 30/3/19 Alicia Brown 30/3/19

Equine science article highlight: Cutting to the Chase: How round-pen, lunging and high-speed liberty work may compromise horse welfare

The article examines round-pens, that small but significant piece of infrastructure supporting many of our horse handling, training and exercising routines. Common practices including the benefits and welfare risks are discussed and it offers good food for thought in terms of facility design.