The University of New England (UNE) has launched two industry-focused online short courses that will see improvements in the welfare of sport and recreation horses across Australia.
Created and backed by some of the country's leading equine experts, the courses are a direct response to a major report released in 2021 by the Thoroughbred Aftercare Welfare Working Group (TAWWG) outlining what needs to be done to improve equine welfare in Australia.
One of the courses specifically addresses the report's recommendation to increase implementation of the Five Domains Model, which is a framework created by UNE alumnus Professor David Mellor that considers nutrition, physical environment, health, behaviour and mental state to assess animal welfare.
UNE Professor of Animal Behaviour and Welfare, Paul McGreevy, says this short course provides a comprehensive understanding of the Five Domains Model for everyone involved in the horse racing and breeding sectors.
"A sustainable industry begins with optimally managed horses, so it is critical that anyone involved with equine athletes has a basic understanding of how to assess welfare using the Five Domains Model," he says.
"We envision this course will become a requirement for those involved in horse racing and breeding, as it covers key areas such as identifying welfare risks, recognising optimal conditions for horses, and applying a Five Domains-based welfare assessment using reliable indicators.
"This course has been created by Director of the One Welfare Academy, and Editor in Chief of Horses and People Magazine, Cristina Wilkins, who brings with her five decades of horse industry experience."
