Putting ourselves in horses' place to give them lives well lived

World Horse Welfare explains why looking through our horses' eyes is the key to giving them good lives

- ELEANOR JONES

PUTTING ourselves in horses' shoes and trying to understand the world as they do is a simple concept in theory - but one that could have a huge impact.

This is the key to this week's 2025 World Horse Welfare conference (21 November), "Through the horse's eyes".

Charity CEO Roly Owers told H&H why the charity had chosen this theme.

"Everyone is talking about this broader perspective, yet it's still not really landing," he said.

"People are still very focused on physical welfare; health is one of the five domains and really important, but it's only one."

The five domains model for welfare assessment comprises health, nutrition, environment, behaviour and mental state; Mr Owers said the first four feed into the "ultimate state" - how horses feel in themselves.