Do Horse Owners Know Enough? What the Study Found

Most horse owners care deeply about their horses and want to do the right thing. However, vets, trainers and welfare groups have long raised concerns that some common practices are based more on tradition or habit than on up-to-date knowledge. This is particularly true when it comes to recognising pain or discomfort, understanding behaviour, and using training methods that minimise stress.

In France, horse owners not already licensed under an equestrian governing body are required to successfully pass an online theory module and a practical test to buy, own or sell a horse as part of laws implemented in December 2021 to combat animal abuse and strengthen the bonds with companion animals. This legislation aims to ensure that horse owners can demonstrate sufficient knowledge of horse needs and show the capacity to protect the welfare of their horses. This aligns with the requirements for members of the French Equestrian federation since 2019.

In 2023, researchers from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland and Charles sturt University in Australia surveyed horse owners from around the world to see how well people understood the basics of looking after horses. The study was published in 2024 in the Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science and set out to answer a simple question: do most horse owners actually know enough to meet their horse’s needs, and would basic education help?

The study found that approximately 1/3 of horse owners lacked fundamental horse care knowledge, and that this deficit in knowledge and likely correct application increases the risk of owners using misinformed or inappropriate techniques to manage horse behaviour and training, predisposing the horse to experiencing a sub-optimal quality of life.

The study also concluded that overall no significant difference was found between the total correct scores of horse owners with or without a certificate, except for the more complex questions, and that further work is needed to develop an evidence-based assessment framework if mandatory certification of horse owners is to become an effective tool for improving horse welfare and quality of life.

The Research

The research was conducted by Megan Watney (University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK), Bryony Lancaster (Charles Sturt University, Albury, Australia) and Hayley Randle (University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK). The study included horse owners from 17 countries, including Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States and several European countries. Data was collected during 2023, meaning the results reflect how horses are being cared for today rather than historic practices.

The researchers wanted to understand how widespread these knowledge gaps are and whether formal education or certification makes a difference to how well owners understand horse welfare.

The aims of the study were to:

Determine the extent of owners’ fundamental knowledge of equine care.
Gain their opinions on the implementation of a mandatory certificate of knowledge
Investigate the association of certification on horse owner knowledge.

Participants were adult horse owners aged 18 and over who were responsible for the day-to-day care of at least one horse. They came from a wide range of backgrounds, including pleasure riding, competition, professional and hobby ownership. Some participants held formal equine qualifications, while others had learned through experience alone.

The survey asked questions about horse care, health, behaviour and wellbeing, as well as participants’ views on whether basic education should be required to own a horse.

What the Study Found

On average, participants answered about two-thirds of the knowledge questions correctly. The biggest gaps were around recognising pain, understanding behaviour and knowing how horses learn and respond to training.

Horse owners’ lack of knowledge and experience or horse care management and handling practices based on convenience, anecdotal and traditional practices rather than scientific evidence-based information are highly likely to lead to compromised welfare for the horse.

Owners with some form of formal education or certification tended to perform better on more complex topics, particularly those related to behaviour and pain recognition.

The knowledge questions focused on the basics of fundamental care and areas that have raised welfare concerns due to lack of knowledge among those responsible for the care of horses.

Around six in ten participants believed that some form of basic knowledge certificate should be required to buy or own a horse.

This study demonstrated that the majority of horse owners favour the introduction of a mandatory knowledge certificate to buy, own, or sell a horse, acknowledging its necessity to improve horse welfare, in accordance with scientists, policymakers, and key equine stakeholders.

Lessons Learned for Horse Owners

Good intentions are important, but they are not always enough. Caring about your horse does not automatically mean you will recognise pain, stress or discomfort when it appears.
Behaviour is often misunderstood. Many owners struggle to tell the difference between a horse that is uncomfortable and one that is being labelled as difficult. Behaviour is often the first sign that something is not right.
Understanding how horses learn really matters. Knowing how pressure, release and timing work can make everyday handling calmer, safer and fairer for the horse.
Education helps with the tricky parts of horse care. Formal learning does not replace experience, but it can help owners recognise issues that are easy to miss even after many years with horses.
Reputable professionals make a real difference. Working with qualified vets, farriers, dentists, saddle fitters and trainers who keep their knowledge up to date can prevent small problems from becoming serious welfare issues.
Asking the right questions is part of good horse ownership. Good owners do not follow advice blindly. They ask why something is being done, what signs to watch for, what the alternatives are, and how to tell if something is not working for their horse.

Learning does not stop. Even experienced owners have gaps in their knowledge. The key message from this study is not blame, but the importance of ongoing learning as part of responsible horse ownership.

Why This Matters

This research shows that improving horse welfare does not always require more rules or criticism. Often it comes down to better access to clear, practical education, learning to read horses more accurately, and being open to updating long-held habits.

Small improvements in knowledge can make a meaningful difference to a horse’s comfort, safety and quality of life.

Reference

https://www.ffe.com/actualites/loi-visant-a-lutter-contre-la-maltraitance-animale-les-initiatives-federales-prises-en-compte
Watney, M., Lancaster, B., and Randle, H. (2024). Horse owners’ knowledge of fundamental care and their perceptions on the implementation of a mandatory certificate of knowledge. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science. https://doi.org/10.1080/10888705.2024.2393124