‘It’s more emotionally based’: Prince Edward Island horse owner perspectives of horse weight management
Horse obesity is a growing concern that can result in negative welfare. The role horse owners play in horse weight management is not well understood. This study aimed to: (1) explore the attitudes, beliefs, and perceptions of owners with overweight or obese horses regarding their horses’ weight; and...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Cambridge University Press
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Animal Welfare |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0962728624000095/type/journal_article |
| _version_ | 1797266274872459264 |
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| author | Megan Ross Kathryn Proudfoot Eileen Campbell Nishimura Emily Morabito Katrina Merkies Jean Mitchell Caroline Ritter |
| author_facet | Megan Ross Kathryn Proudfoot Eileen Campbell Nishimura Emily Morabito Katrina Merkies Jean Mitchell Caroline Ritter |
| author_sort | Megan Ross |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Horse obesity is a growing concern that can result in negative welfare. The role horse owners play in horse weight management is not well understood. This study aimed to: (1) explore the attitudes, beliefs, and perceptions of owners with overweight or obese horses regarding their horses’ weight; and (2) understand the motivators and barriers for owners to implement, improve and maintain weight management-related strategies. A semi-structured interview guide based on the Theoretical Domains Framework was developed. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 24 owners in Prince Edward Island, Canada whose horse(s) were previously classified as overweight or obese by a veterinarian. Interviews were analysed using template analysis, organising patterns in the data into a codebook and overarching themes. Owners believed horse weight management was important, however, their perceived complexity of the issue made the implementation of the weight management practices difficult. Owners held conflicting perceptions, viewing overweight horses as well cared for, yet recognised these horses were at increased risk for negative health outcomes. Ultimately, participants felt emotionally torn about compromising their horse’s mental well-being to address weight issues. Owners considered the practicality of weight-management strategies, the strategies’ effectiveness, and whether recommended strategies aligned with their beliefs regarding good horse care practices. Knowledge was embedded into owners’ understanding of horse weight, however, some highlighted that traditional knowledge dominates the equine industry hindering systemic industry change. Increased understanding of the effectiveness and impacts of weight management strategies on horses and fostering a society that recognises and accepts horses within a healthy weight range are warranted. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-25T00:58:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fa0193530d0c4ebc827f1c16a00d148e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0962-7286 2054-1538 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-25T00:58:06Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animal Welfare |
| spelling | doaj.art-fa0193530d0c4ebc827f1c16a00d148e2024-03-11T08:03:29ZengCambridge University PressAnimal Welfare0962-72862054-15382024-01-013310.1017/awf.2024.9‘It’s more emotionally based’: Prince Edward Island horse owner perspectives of horse weight managementMegan Ross0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1457-5318Kathryn Proudfoot1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5877-2431Eileen Campbell Nishimura2https://orcid.org/0009-0009-8847-959XEmily Morabito3https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1992-6471Katrina Merkies4https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9462-4150Jean Mitchell5https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9610-7069Caroline Ritter6https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7349-5241Department of Health Management, Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, PE C1A 4P3, CanadaDepartment of Health Management, Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, PE C1A 4P3, CanadaDepartment of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, CanadaDepartment of Health Management, Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, PE C1A 4P3, CanadaDepartment of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada Campbell Centre for the Study of Animal Welfare, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, CanadaDepartment of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, PE C1A 4P3, CanadaDepartment of Health Management, Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, PE C1A 4P3, CanadaHorse obesity is a growing concern that can result in negative welfare. The role horse owners play in horse weight management is not well understood. This study aimed to: (1) explore the attitudes, beliefs, and perceptions of owners with overweight or obese horses regarding their horses’ weight; and (2) understand the motivators and barriers for owners to implement, improve and maintain weight management-related strategies. A semi-structured interview guide based on the Theoretical Domains Framework was developed. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 24 owners in Prince Edward Island, Canada whose horse(s) were previously classified as overweight or obese by a veterinarian. Interviews were analysed using template analysis, organising patterns in the data into a codebook and overarching themes. Owners believed horse weight management was important, however, their perceived complexity of the issue made the implementation of the weight management practices difficult. Owners held conflicting perceptions, viewing overweight horses as well cared for, yet recognised these horses were at increased risk for negative health outcomes. Ultimately, participants felt emotionally torn about compromising their horse’s mental well-being to address weight issues. Owners considered the practicality of weight-management strategies, the strategies’ effectiveness, and whether recommended strategies aligned with their beliefs regarding good horse care practices. Knowledge was embedded into owners’ understanding of horse weight, however, some highlighted that traditional knowledge dominates the equine industry hindering systemic industry change. Increased understanding of the effectiveness and impacts of weight management strategies on horses and fostering a society that recognises and accepts horses within a healthy weight range are warranted.https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0962728624000095/type/journal_articleanimal welfarebehaviour changedecision-makingphenomenologyowner perspectivespublic perception |
| spellingShingle | Megan Ross Kathryn Proudfoot Eileen Campbell Nishimura Emily Morabito Katrina Merkies Jean Mitchell Caroline Ritter ‘It’s more emotionally based’: Prince Edward Island horse owner perspectives of horse weight management Animal Welfare animal welfare behaviour change decision-making phenomenology owner perspectives public perception |
| title | ‘It’s more emotionally based’: Prince Edward Island horse owner perspectives of horse weight management |
| title_full | ‘It’s more emotionally based’: Prince Edward Island horse owner perspectives of horse weight management |
| title_fullStr | ‘It’s more emotionally based’: Prince Edward Island horse owner perspectives of horse weight management |
| title_full_unstemmed | ‘It’s more emotionally based’: Prince Edward Island horse owner perspectives of horse weight management |
| title_short | ‘It’s more emotionally based’: Prince Edward Island horse owner perspectives of horse weight management |
| title_sort | it s more emotionally based prince edward island horse owner perspectives of horse weight management |
| topic | animal welfare behaviour change decision-making phenomenology owner perspectives public perception |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0962728624000095/type/journal_article |
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