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A survey of horse owners in Great Britain regarding horses in their care. Part 1: Horse demographic characteristics and management
Author(s) -
HOTCHKISS J. W.,
REID S. W. J.,
CHRISTLEY R. M.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
equine veterinary journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.82
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 2042-3306
pISSN - 0425-1644
DOI - 10.2746/042516407x177538
Subject(s) - horse , demographics , welfare , population , environmental health , demography , veterinary medicine , census , medicine , geography , socioeconomics , biology , paleontology , sociology , political science , law
Summary Reasons for performing study : Information is scarce as to how horses are kept and managed in the general horse population of Great Britain. Objectives : To characterise the demographics of horses in Great Britain and assess their care (with particular reference to the respiratory system). Methods : Horse owners were surveyed using a self‐administered postal questionnaire. These owners were selected randomly, following geographical stratification, using 2‐stage cluster sampling of veterinary practices and their clients. Results : The overall response proportion to the survey was 68.2%. An investigation of nonresponse bias detected minimal differences between responders and nonresponders. A summary of the demographic characteristics, feeding and management of horses in a sample of the general population of Great Britain is presented. Conclusions and potential relevance : Horses are kept under a great variety of conditions with some potentially exposed to high concentrations of organic dusts associated with stabling. This information is relevant to their health and welfare.