Animal Welfare Assessment in Exhibition Equines in the Municipality of Técpan de Galeana, Guerrero

This chapter presents the results of a study conducted at the Corraletas, ranch, located in Técpan de Galeana, Guerrero, Mexico, to evaluate animal welfare status in 20 show horses. The methodology used was a mixed approach: qualitative, through direct observation and interaction with the specimens; and quantitative, applying the Quality Welfare protocol, which considers four fundamental principles (good nutrition, good housing, good health, and appropriate behavior) distributed across 12 specific criteria. The analysis of the results showed that the Corraletas, ranch obtained a high category in the principle (Good Housing), and three criteria (comfort during rest, thermal comfort and ease of movement) with 63.30% and excellent category in three principles (Good Nutrition, Good Health and Appropriate Behavior), and nine criteria (Absence of prolonged Hunger, Absence of prolonged Thirst) with 82.50%, (Absence of Injuries, Absence of Diseases, Absence of Pain Induced by Handling) with 83.30%, and Expression of Social Behavior, Expression of other behaviors, Good Human-Animal Relationship, Positive Emotional State) with 81.25%, averaging all principles and criteria: An overall score of 77.59% was obtained, with a high category according to the Animal Welfare scale, with good welfare for the horses of the Las Corraletas ranch.