Dancing Hooves Stable & Boarding

This needs to be shared far and wide. Common sense.

Quality of life for horses (or animals) is debated, but thankfully, there are research based standards to help us when opinion and emotion cloud our judgement to the point animals suffer (which is often).

The Five Freedoms in animal welfare are internationally accepted standards of care for animals back in 1965. They were adapted by the Association of Shelter Veterinarians for companion animals in shelters. I find them used from equine, as they should be, in presentations often.

They are:

Freedom from hunger and thirst

Freedom from discomfort

Freedom from pain, injury and disease

Freedom to express normal behaviour

Freedom from fear and distress

Additionally,

The AAEP, based on research and evidence on welfare, backs up and further adds their criteria for euthanasia.

A horse should not have to endure the following:

Continuous or unmanageable pain from a condition that is chronic and incurable.

A medical condition or surgical procedure that has a poor prognosis for a good quality of life.

Continuous analgesic medication and/or box stall confinement for the relief of pain for the rest of its life.

An unmanageable medical or behavioral condition that renders it a hazard to itself or its handlers.

Horse owners must try to familiarize themselves with these and be honest with ourselves for the sake of horses in our care when any of these are not being met

Love Dixie Equine🤠. When you are the favorite client life is good 😄

Help a horse! 5. will make a difference 🤠