A new resource from the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) aims to help veterinary professionals, horse owners, yard owners and other equestrian professionals better manage the behavioural and welfare needs of horses and ponies during periods of confinement.
NEWC member, the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA), has launched a new Coping with Confinement Toolkit, providing evidence-based guidance to support equine veterinary professionals in managing the behavioural and welfare challenges associated with confinement.
Periods of confinement can be necessary for a wide range of reasons, including box rest, restricted grazing, veterinary treatment, rehabilitation and recovery from injury or illness. While confinement may be an important part of an equine’s physical recovery, it can also present significant behavioural and welfare challenges for both the animal and the people responsible for its care.
BEVA’s new toolkit has been developed to help veterinary professionals create individualised confinement plans that consider not only the equine’s clinical requirements, but also their behavioural needs and the practical circumstances in which their care will take place.
Supporting more than the horse owner
Importantly, the resource is not just for horse owners.
Veterinary professionals frequently need to work closely with horse owners, yard owners, yard managers and other equestrian professionals to put appropriate confinement plans into practice. The environment in which an equine is kept, the facilities available, staffing arrangements and the practicalities of daily care can all influence how successfully a period of confinement can be managed.
Having access to clear, practical information can therefore help everyone involved understand the equine’s needs and work together to support welfare throughout the confinement period.
Considering behavioural needs alongside physical recovery can be particularly important. Changes to routine, restricted movement, reduced turnout and limited social interaction can all affect an equine during what may already be a stressful period.
Practical guidance for owners, yards and carers
Alongside the professional toolkit, BEVA has also produced an Owner’s Guide, providing practical information to help owners manage periods of confinement and support their horse or pony’s welfare.
The guide is equally relevant to yard owners, yard managers, grooms and other equestrian professionals who may be responsible for the day-to-day care and management of a confined equine.
For yards providing livery or rehabilitation services, for example, understanding the behavioural and welfare considerations around confinement can help support better communication between the veterinary professional, owner and yard team.
It can also help those responsible for care understand why particular management recommendations have been made and how they can be implemented safely and practically within the available facilities.
A useful resource for the wider equestrian sector
Periods of confinement are something that many horses and ponies will experience at some point during their lives. Having a shared understanding between veterinary professionals, owners and those providing day-to-day care can help ensure that welfare remains a priority alongside clinical treatment and rehabilitation.
The Coping with Confinement Toolkit and Owner’s Guide provide useful resources for anyone involved in supporting an equine through this process, helping to bridge the gap between veterinary advice and its practical implementation.
Find out more
The Coping with Confinement Toolkit and Owner’s Guide are available from BEVA:
Coping with Confinement Toolkit:
BEVA – Coping with Confinement Toolkit
Owner’s Guide:
BEVA – Owner’s Guide
NEWC is pleased to highlight this useful resource from BEVA and congratulates everyone involved in its development.
For anyone responsible for the care or management of a confined equine, it is a valuable reminder that supporting welfare during confinement is about more than physical recovery — behavioural needs, practical management and the people providing care all matter too.