Opportunities for agency in domestic horses: Applying the behavioural domain to increase equine welfare

2026/01/01 by Lindsay F. Goodale · 1 voice
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Veterinary · #Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies #Human-Animal Interaction Studies #Veterinary Equine Medical Research

paper · pdf · doi:10.1017/awf.2026.10085

openalex publication_date 2026/01/01 · openalex created_date 2026/04/08 · openalex updated_date 2026/05/21

Abstract

Giving animals the opportunity to exercise agency can improve their welfare, but horse owners and researchers may not be aware of the growing body of agency research in other animals, and studies on agency and choice in horses are scattered across disciplines and not connected to each other or to broader theory. This paper summarises research findings on management of domestic horses through the lens of animal agency and explores the potential applications of research on choice, control, and challenge in animals to improve the welfare of horses.

Citations

• The 2020 Five Domains Model: Including Human–Animal Interactions in Assessments of Animal Welfare
• The agency domain and behavioral interactions: assessing positive animal welfare using the Five Domains Model
• The voice of choice: A scoping review of choice-based animal welfare studies
• A consensus on the definition of positive animal welfare
• Stall architecture influences horses’ behaviour and the prevalence and type of stereotypies
• Animal agency, animal awareness and animal welfare
• Motivation for social contact in horses measured by operant conditioning
• The use of mirrors for the control of stereotypic weaving behaviour in the stabled horse
• Extending the ‘Five Domains’ model for animal welfare assessment to incorporate positive welfare states

Discussions

• Goodale L (2026). Opportunities for agency in domestic #Horses: Applying the behavioural domain to increase #EquineWelfare. #AnimalWelfare, 35, e26, 1–13. 🐎 doi.org/10.1017/awf.... [bsky, 2 points, 0 comments]

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• Indicators of Horse Welfare: State-of-the-Art
• Owners’ everyday interactions with their horse: Pain-related issues and those of veterinary concern