For many people
owning a horse is a dream come true, however there are a number of
things that you must consider, especially as it is something involves
a lot of responsibility. They must be properly fed, have suitable
living quarters including shelter for when it is cold and be well
maintained.
Injured
Horses Require Comfortable Accommodation & Bedding
As horses are
regularly prone to injury they often need to be kept under box rest
for long periods of time. Due to the Animals (England) Regulations
2000, Schedule 1, paragraph 6;
Where
necessary, sick or injured animals shall be isolated in suitable
accommodation with, where appropriate, dry comfortable bedding.
Due to the amount
of time they will spend in their stall, comfortable bedding is
essential. Straw is a common bedding option for many horse owners;
however it can work out expensive as you need a certain amount to
provide a comfortable layer between them and the floor. It can also
take a while to muck out each time. Rubber matting is a great
alternative to straw as it provides a much more comfortable base for
them to lie on, as it acts as a great insulator and also provides a
cushiony barrier. Although the initial cost is more expensive than
straw, they are a great investment, especially with their long
lasting and durable qualities.
The regulation
stated in Schedule 1, paragraph 10 of the Welfare of Farmed Animals
declares;
Where animals
are continuously or regularly tethered or confined they shall be
given the space appropriate to their physiological and ethological
needs in accordance with established experience and scientific
knowledge.
Horses
Need Appropriate Space To Rest With Comfortable Flooring
If your horse is
injured and does need to be on box rest, you need to ensure that
there is enough room for them to comfortably rest, whether that is
lying down or standing. Concrete flooring or hard flooring that is
used in many stables is extremely harsh on the joints and hooves of
your horse, leading to many leg and knee problems. Rubber matting is
much easier on their joints, providing maximum comfort and reducing
fatigue within your horse. As it also reduces the chances of a slips,
trips or falls, it is unlikely that there will be any further
accidents.
The
Duty Of Care Must Be Met By The Person Responsible
Under the Animal
Welfare Act 2006;
It is an
offence for a person not to meet the basic needs of an equine for
which they are responsible
If the person
responsible for the horse is seen not to be carrying out their duty
of care adequately, they will be
served with an improvement notice, which will give the person a time
frame and the issues that need to be improved. All the requirements
must be met within the time frame, at which point the professional
who assessed the situation will reassess to see if the requirements
have now been met. If they have not met the requirements, they will
be liable for prosecution under the Animal Welfare Act.
This post was
written by Ekta Mair who, after caring for her own injured horse,
wanted to ensure it was as comfortable as possible, so contacted
Fairfield Sales
for their quality rubber matting and helpful services.