Tools to change our behaviour to make horses' lives better

The RSPCA hopes its new tools will not “educate” owners, but help them look at equine welfare differently

- By ELEANOR JONES

TOOLS aimed at changing human behaviour could mean better lives for our horses – if the sector unites behind them.

Community interest company Human Behaviour Change for Life (HBCL) has created the tools for the RSPCA as part of its Horse Sense project. The first phase of this was research that found most equines’ welfare needs are not fully met (news, 20 March).

It found that lack of owner experience is a major barrier to good welfare, as is lack of turnout; the next stages of the project are about trying to improve the situation.

“We get so much from horses,” RSPCA senior scientific manager for equines Mark Kennedy told H&H. “We want that to continue. But in return, it’s only right those horses have good lives with us.”

In a webinar on 17 September, Dr Kennedy and representatives of HBCL talked through the project. HBCL co-founder Suzanne Rogers explained that as part of the research, the team spoke to varied focus groups.