Opportunities for agency in domestic horses: Applying the behavioural domain to increase equine welfare
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.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Veterinary Equine Medical Research
Human-Animal Interaction Studies
Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Animal Welfare
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press (CUP)
- Volume
- 35
- Pages
- e26–e26
- Publication date
- 1 January 2026
- Language
- EN