Education and Licensing of Horse Owners: Addressing Poor Horse Welfare in the UK

Horse welfare is a subject of ongoing discussion and scientific investigation. Several solutions to combat poor horse welfare have been suggested by existing research; however, each of these has its limitations. In 2022, it was announced that France was introducing new legislation requiring all horse owners to be licensed on completion of particular horse-care education. This development raises an interesting discussion about whether such a framework could be applied in the UK. This systemised literature review analysed the prevalence of horse welfare concerns in the developed world and the UK, their potential causes and the barriers to reducing them, alongside the most often suggested remedial interventions according to stakeholders and the existing literature. This review also analysed the successes and limitations of education and licensing as possible solutions to horse welfare concerns in the UK. The findings indicate that education can increase horse-owner awareness of welfare issues. However, the literature also indicates that education has a limited influence on human behaviour change. There is also limited evidence in the literature that licensing can improve horse-owner awareness or welfare standards within a population. However, promising areas of future investigation were identified, which could lead to improved horse welfare.