HORSES AN IMPORTANT SPECIE IN CHARRERIA, ITS MANAGEMENT AND WELFARE Well-being in charro sport horses

Resumen

Objective: Describe the management practices provided to charrería horses in the state of Guerrero, Mexico and relate them to animal welfare.

Design/methodology/approach: Sixty-four owners of charrería horses were interviewed and 10% underwent an evaluation according to the protocol of the Welfare Quality ®

Results: The most used breeds are Creole, Quarter Horse, Aztec, Spanish and Arabian. The starting age in charrería is two to four years. Hoof shoeing is done every 8 to 12 weeks in 54.3%. The diet is based on forage and commercial feed (82.8%). Deworming is every six months (60.9%), vaccinated against tetanus, rabies, and influenza. The most frequent diseases are digestive and locomotor, skin and respiratory. The stereotypes were rocking, nodding, kicking doors, chewing wood, and walking in circles. Abundant body condition ranged from good to obese in the animals. The majority had white hairs as an indication of injuries caused by the harnesses.

Limitations on study/implications: The lack of knowledge of the owners of horses dedicated to charro sport, to relate the five freedoms of well-being that must be given to every animal to improve their sporting performance, has caused problems in the animal’s life quality.

 Findings/conclusions: The findings observed in the horses indicate that the welfare conditions were affected, which led to the development of vices, poor body condition, sick animals, and skin lesions in the animals.