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Dwyer, Joanne (2025) The effects of weaning related stress on the emotional health of horses. MRes thesis, University of Nottingham.

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Abstract

Domestic weaning processes have the potential to cause intense distress in both mares and foals particularly when the mare and foal are separated abruptly and isolated in a confined space. This distress can create patterns of

emotional dysregulation that could have long-term welfare implications. In wild and semi-feral herds, the physical separation of foals from their mothers does not usually occur until they reach sexual maturity at 2-3 years old and go off to form their own herds. Physically separating foals from their mothers at 6 months old in domestic circumstances can cause a range of stress related behaviours such as stereotypies and increased vocalization and defecation during the weaning process. However, progressive separation, where mares and foals spend a brief time away from each other daily, can not only reduced the intense distress experienced by abrupt forms of separation but the health of the mares has shown to improve where progressive weaning separation appears to reduce the likelihood of mastitis. The aim of this thesis was to establish evidence to develop an equine weaning welfare assessment tool.

A narrative literature review was used to capture the background and current understanding of weaning and to establish what was being used for welfare assessment in weaning related research. The first phase literature review identified a lack of use of welfare assessment tools in equine weaning research. The most common assessment tool used in equine behaviour research is an ethogram used largely to assess pain in ridden horses.

A scoping review was conducted to identify and collate the available evidence on the long-term effects and methods of weaning. Systematic searches were conducted in three scientific databases. 366 publications were identified; 22 were retained for inclusion and charting. 18 studies reported behavioural measures, four only reported physiological measures and 12/22 studies used

a combination of both. 15 studies analysed foal behaviour only (15/22), six analysed foals with their dams and one analysed the mare only. Duration of most studies (19/22) was a maximum of 12 months post weaning; three studies continued measurements until the foal age was 3-4 years old.

Finally focus groups were conducted with professionals working in rescue organisations, managing mare/foal populations. This enabled the gathering of first-hand experience and insights from focus group participants. One organisation was into the second year of assessing welfare in relation to a new and progressive form of weaning separation. They had noticed more positive outcomes than the previous forms of abrupt and isolating separation that they had used in the past. Not only was there a reduction of acute and intense distress, but there was also a reduction in mastitis in the mares that had saved the charity money on medications. The organisations consistently reported that they weren’t using official welfare assessment tools however and were relying on caregiver observation of perceived positive or negative emotional states.

This combined approach to gathering data has highlighted that there is a gap for future research to create a welfare assessment tool specifically for weaning that could be used ongoingly throughout the horse’s lifetime. The experience of industry professionals involved in the weaning of mares and foals agrees with the research that abrupt and isolating forms of weaning separation are likely to cause the most intense distress and therefore present a potential welfare issue.

Item Type:	Thesis (University of Nottingham only) (MRes)
Supervisors:	Freeman, Sarah Roshier, Mandy Hill, Brad Campbell, Madeleine
Keywords:	Weaning processes; Foals; Mares; Stress related behaviour; Separation; Horse welfare
Subjects:	S Agriculture > SF Animal culture
Faculties/Schools:	UK Campuses > Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > School of Veterinary Medicine and Science
Item ID:	80248
Depositing User:	Dwyer, Joanne
Date Deposited:	24 Jul 2025 04:40
Last Modified:	24 Jul 2025 04:40
URI:	https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/id/eprint/80248

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