An AHIC Welfare Checklist for Horse Organisations DRAFT FOR COMMENT

Transcription

1 An AHIC Welfare Checklist for Horse Organisations FOR COMMENT Australian Horse Industry Council (AHIC) Sport, Recreation & Working Horse Welfare Advisory Group April 2017

2 Horse Welfare Guidelines for AHIC Horse Organisations FOR COMMENT Invitation Horses are our valued co-partners in a wide range of sport, recreation and working environments. Our participation in activities with horses is one where we should continuously aim to protect and improve the welfare outcomes for each horse. Likewise, as horse industry leaders, we also need to be able to demonstrate to our participants, stakeholders and the wider public that horse welfare is a topic taken seriously. Organisation managers, officials, judges, members and volunteers can positively contribute to horse welfare. Venue design and management, training people, investment in research, policies and procedures are just a few areas where progress can be made. The Sample Checklist is intended to help horse organisations to review their existing policies, procedures and rule books and work towards best practice. It is the responsibility of the horse organisation to ensure that their rules protect and promote the welfare of their horses. Feedback is welcome on this draft document. Comments to horsesa@horsesa.asn.au Julie Fiedler, Chair, AHIC Sport, Recreation and Working Horse Welfare Advisory Group. Mobile: AHIC Sport, Recreation and Working Horse Welfare Advisory Group (SRWHWAG) Dr. Catherine Ainsworth, Chief Executive Officer Pony Club Australia; Director of The Australian Horse Industry Council, Harness Racing Victoria, Racing Analytical Services Limited, Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria. Mark Burnell, Equine Dental Association of Australia, Victorian Horse Council, The Australian Horse Industry Council Dr. Patricia Ellis, Chair, Standardbred Welfare Advisory Group, Harness Racing Australia Dr Meredith Flash, Chair, Equine Veterinarians Australia Raelene Harrison, Equine Welfare Manager, Racing Victoria Limited Peter Toft, Queensland Horse Industry Alliance All SRWHWAG committee participants are also members of the Australian Horse Industry Council Industry Advisory Committee. 2 April 2017 An AHIC Welfare Checklist for Horse Organisations

3 Contents Working towards an organisational horse welfare plan Organisation Rules general Rules relevant to animal welfare Horse welfare policies and procedures Accreditation/Licensing/Registration Training Verification/audit/monitoring compliance Australian and international affiliations Research Continuous improvement processes Welfare issues relevant to the organisation What are the gaps?... 6 Appendix 1: Sample list of interventions... 7 Photo - istock An AHIC Welfare Checklist for Horse Organisations April

4 Working towards a best practice horse welfare plan for your horse organisation 1. Organisation Organisation name, purpose, legal structure Structure - operates at the national level? Membership of States and Territories? History - when established, names of precursor organisations Governance - who are the members, how is the organisation constituted? Internal structure management, names of subcommittees Written policies outlining delegation of powers from the board to management and staff, committees, sub-committees, volunteers, etc. Does the organisation have a designated Horse Welfare Officer or equivalent? Consultative process - are there well-established networks to facilitate effective consultation, review and ongoing feedback? Financial capacity and resources, including cost of policy and compliance; Compliance with state and commonwealth legislation; Reputation and relationships 2. Rules general Are the organisation s rules enforceable? How and by whom are the rules enforced? What general areas do they cover? Are the rules available to the public? Are rules accessible via the internet or social media? 3. Rules relevant to animal welfare List your rules relevant to animal welfare Are these rules relevant to activities during training as well as during competition? 4. Horse welfare policies and procedures Does the organisation have a specific horse welfare statement or policy available to the public? Does the organisation have specific policies/sops relevant to animal welfare which are not covered by its rules? e.g. hot weather policy, proce dure for humane euthanasia of an injured horse at an event, etc. How does the organisation advise stakeholders and the public of these policies/sops? 4 April 2017 An AHIC Welfare Checklist for Horse Organisations4

5 5. Accreditation/Licensing/Registration Are there specific requirements for individuals/horses which govern their entry to participation in the activities of the organisation? How are the participants advised of your horse welfare policy? Is your horse welfare policy binding on the participant who registers? 6. Training Do people require qualifications/specific training to participate in the activities of the organisation? If yes, is there any stand-alone training (not information) relating to horse welfare, which is recorded as having being received. Is horse welfare training (not information provision) available on a continuous basis, in different formats e.g. mentoring, online, face to face. 7. Verification/audit/monitoring compliance Are the activities of participants subjected to independent scrutiny or self-certification? How often and by whom? How and where are inspections/self-audits conducted? What aspects do inspections/self-audits cover? Does the organisation collect data on horse activity related injuries, accidents or deaths? 8. Australian and international affiliations Does the organisation monitor state, national and international legislation, trends and standards relating to horse welfare? Does the organisation have formal links with relevant national and international bodies? 9. Research Does the organisation invest in research relevant to horse welfare? Has the organisation developed a list of research priorities relating to horse welfare? An AHIC Welfare Checklist for Horse Organisations April

6 Working towards a best practice horse welfare plan for your horse organisation 10. Continuous improvement processes Does the organisation regularly review its horse welfare related policies and programs as part of its strategic and business planning activities? Is information about rules, policies, standards, research outcomes and other matters relevant to horse welfare regularly provided to stakeholders via the Internet, industry publications, meetings? Does the organisation support the horse welfare principles presented in the Australian Horse Welfare and Well-Being Toolkit Has the organisation benchmarked its horse welfare activities? 11. Horse welfare issues relevant to the organisation Consider the list of interventions produced by the AHIC Sport, Recreation & Working Horse Welfare Advisory Group Discuss and document any potential horse welfare issues relevant to your organisation including: Competition - organisation, infrastructure, conditions, management, practices and procedures Out-of-competition conditions, management, training, practices and procedures. Qualified veterinary treatment and procedures. Professional dentistry and farriery practices and procedures. Saddlery and equipment. Fitness to compete. Health and biosecurity. Identify of any additional welfare issues. 6 April 2017 An AHIC Welfare Checklist for Horse Organisations

7 12. Ongoing review The board, committee and/or management of a horse organization should regularly review all rules, policies and procedures to ensure they protect and promote horse welfare. The board, committee and/or management of a horse organization is best placed to develop, document and implement policies, procedures and/or amendments to rule books relating to horse welfare that best suits their discipline, event, sport and/or organization. Appendix 1 features a list of interventions drawn from a document prepared for The Dorothy Russell Havemeyer Equine Welfare Workshop, Galliano Island, Vancouver in The list is intended to provide you with guidance only. Other lists may be available that best reflect your horse organization, sport and/or discipline. In addition to the factors listed in Appendix 1, examples of other factors to consider may include: (a) Venue location, geography, topography, surface, shelter. (b) Performance footing, equipment, safety, evacuation and OH&S. (c) Saddlery bridle, saddle, bits. (d) Biosecurity vaccinations, provisions of certificates. (e) Incident response (large animal rescue). (f) Injury management, including access to veterinary care and euthanasia (g) Transport to, from and during the event. An AHIC Welfare Checklist for Horse Organisations April

8 Appendix 1 Sample list of interventions Credit: Adapted from the Dorothy Russell Havemeyer Equine Welfare Workshop 2015 Context Intervention Intervention scope Foals at events Individual Weanlings at events Pregnant mares Mares Stallions Geldings Aged horses Paired Group Natural Individual Paired Group Natural No. of days after weaning allowed to attend event Up to 3 months Pregnant Last 3 months Foals at foot Dry Colts - 6 months to 3 years Stallions over? years Housing at events Outdoor - tied to transport, highline individual, no shelter Outdoor - tied to transport individual, shelter Outdoor - tied to transport paired or group, no shelter Outdoor - tied to transport paired or group, shelter Outdoor, solid yard adj transport individual, no shelter Outdoor, solid yard adj transport individual, shelter Outdoor, solid yard adj transport paired or group, no shelter 8 April 2017 An AHIC Welfare Checklist for Horse Organisations

9 Context Intervention Intervention scope Outdoor, solid yard adj transport paired or group, shelter Outdoor - solid yard e.g. polo yards individual, no shelter Outdoor - solid yard e.g. polo yards individual, shelter Outdoor - solid yard e.g. polo yards Outdoor - solid yard e.g. polo yards Outdoor - paddock Outdoor - paddock Outdoor - paddock Outdoor - paddock Outdoor - other Indoor stable Indoor stable Indoor stable paired or group, no shelter paired or group, shelter individual, no shelter individual, shelter paired or group, no shelter paired or group, shelter individual group individual with free access yard Indoor stable Indoor stable Indoor stable Indoor stable - inside truck Inside tie stall Indoor stable - other group with free access yard individual, turn-out to yard with no shelter group, turn-out to yard with shelter individual individual Road transport Individual habituated Individual Group Group National Transport Standards (Horses) promoted Feeding at events? Prohibited feed additives? not habituated habituated and with familiar companions habituated and with unfamiliar companions Castration Standing castration with post-op analgesia, under 1 year No. of days until permitted at event Standing castration without post-op analgesia, under 1 year Standing castration with post-op analgesia, over 1 year An AHIC Welfare Checklist for Horse Organisations April

10 Context Intervention Intervention scope Standing castration without post-op analgesia, over 1 year Ill-health and veterinary interventions No. of days until permitted at event Elective procedures No. of days until permitted at event General anaesthetic with post-op analgesia, under 1 year General anaesthetic without post-op analgesia, under 1 year General anaesthetic General anaesthetic Castration without veterinary supervision Veterinary certificate clearance? Forsell s procedure Hobday s procedure Neurectomy (cut nerves) Tracheotomy with post-op analgesia, over 1 year without post-op analgesia, over 1 year without post-op analgesia, over 1 year Wolf teeth removal Hot branding Freeze branding Clitorectomy Tail docking Tattooing - lip for ID Microchipping Creating bit seats Hoof branding Measuring Weighing Eyeliner (permanent) Vaccination - Tetanus Vaccination - Strangles Vaccination - Hendra 10 April 2017 An AHIC Welfare Checklist for Horse Organisations

11 Context Intervention Intervention scope Restraint, management, behaviour at events Vaccination - Hev Vaccination - Rotovirus Vaccination - other Drip = hydration ** any times a non-vet can do? Deworming - pellets or paste Deworming - drenching De-lousing Tick test / treatment Halter / headcollar Ear twitch Nose twitch Skin twitch War bridle Crush Ring bit / anti-rearing bit Bridle - general Bridle - double Bridle - bitless Bridle - other Lip chain Chain over nose Chain, other configuration Front leg hobbles (fetlocks) Front leg hobbles (knee) Side hobbles Hobbles - other Pacifiers - hood Blindfold An AHIC Welfare Checklist for Horse Organisations April

12 Context Intervention Intervention scope Presentation rules Blinkers Anti-crib collar - traditional Anti-crib collar - battery Anti-crib muzzle Application of anti-crib product to infrastructure Rear windsucking device Cross-tying, extended periods Cross tying Tying up head high, nose above wither Fetlock or knee chains (anti-paw) Lasso (anti-slip knot?) Tongue ties Nasal strips Compression bandages / products Grooming, reglar, with brushes Whisker removal Removal inner ear hair Removal eye lashes Clipping Hogging Pulling mane, tail, forelock, feathers Trimming mane, tail, fetlocks Trimming feathers, coronet band Plaiting tails short (i.e. polo) Plaiting tail, mane & forelock Fitting false plaits or false tails Dyeing coat colour Dyeing mane, tail hair Applying tail cleaners e.g. bleach 12 April 2017 An AHIC Welfare Checklist for Horse Organisations

13 Context Intervention Intervention scope Rugging at event Use of neck sweats / throatlatch sweats Apply irritants to coronets, under tail, other Wipe around eyes, dock, muzzle, sheath, udder Apply make-up eyes, muzzle, dock, sheath, udder Apply make-up elsewhere Apply ear plugs Apply nostril applications to change smell range Apply mascara on eyelashes Apply eyeliner (temporary) Apply contact lenses Apply hoof product (natural base) Apply hoof product (non-natural base) Apply fly spray & related products Apply grease to legs (eventing) Apply show shine product to body Trim chestnuts Artificial colour to chestnuts Grooming techniques e.g. quarter marks Scar & blemish applications Shampoos (all natural, biodegradable) Shampoos - other Coat enhancement prodycts (natural) Coat enhancement products - other Kept under artificial lights for coat enhancement Cosmetic hoof patch up for cracks, holes Sandpapering hoof Rugs Tail bags Neck rugs An AHIC Welfare Checklist for Horse Organisations April

14 Context Intervention Intervention scope Hoods Combo rugs Skinny hoods, specialist rugs Compression suits Special purpose rugs e.g. coolers Shoeing at event Trim Conventional shoeing Barefoot trimmed Exercise at event Barefoot with boots Performance hoof shaping e.g. long toes harness Conventional tips Conventional racing plates Studs Pads Weighted shoes e.g. to heighten leg action Lack of hoof care Overgrown hoofs (shod horse) Cast shoe Other Lead in hand (not surrently covered in rule book) Lead from another horse **facility type? or evidence of exercise for confined horses? Single or in company? Lead from motorised vehicle duration, use of equipment? Riding Driving in vehicle Roundpen work (little, no tack) Lungeing Long reining Horse walker 14 April 2017 An AHIC Welfare Checklist for Horse Organisations

15 Context Intervention Intervention scope Treadmill Trails Jumping Swimming pool / beach Water walker Indoor arena Exercise of horses not entered in event Other Dental treatments at event? Care options at event Massage, soft tissue manipulation - manual Massage, soft tissue manipulation - machine Ice buckets, ice hoods Demisters Treatments at events Saddlery and Harness General Care Fans Sand rolls Hosing down Ultra-violet rays Veterinary chiropractor Skeletal manipulation Manual massage Aromatherapy Music therapy Shock wave therapy Nosebands Bitting Training aids e.g. draw reins Magnetic field therapy Feeding arrangements Water supply An AHIC Welfare Checklist for Horse Organisations April

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