A survey of horse owners in Great Britain regarding horses in their care. Part 1: Horse demographic characteristics and management.
BACKGROUND
Information is scarce as to how horses are kept and managed in the general horse population of Great Britain.


OBJECTIVE
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
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.
Hotchkiss
J W
JW
Division of Companion Animals, Institute of Comparative Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Bearsden Road, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK.
Reid
S W J
SW
Christley
R M
RM
D000821:Animal Feed; D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D000818:Animals; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003625:Data Collection; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006736:Horses / Q000502:physiology; D006799:Housing, Animal / Q000592:standards; D008297:Male; D010067:Ownership / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012621:Seasons; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom; D014730:Veterinary Medicine / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards