The HEY tool is based on the Five Domains Model.

World Horse Welfare has launched a free-to-use tool to help yard managers and horse owners assess the welfare of horses in their care.

The Horses’ Experiences on Yards (HEY) tool has been developed using the Five Domains Model to gauge the welfare experiences of horses in yards and rescue centres.

The Five Domains Model is designed to explore the key areas influencing a horse’s ability to thrive in their environment. The Five Domains are nutrition, environment, health, behavioural interactions and mental state.

Produced by animal welfare scientist Jill Fernandes and equine welfare scientist Cristina Wilkins, the tool is designed to make it easier for owners, grooms and yard managers to assess their horses’ experiences.

The two-part HEY process will guide the user through scoring the experience of horses in their care against 15 essential needs. Users are then encouraged to consider the short-term and long-term actions that will promote more positive experiences.

The guide is suitable for owners of multiple horses, but is designed to consider welfare at the overall yard level.

Care givers should discuss each horse’s individual biological and physical needs, deciding on answers for the HEY tool by consensus. If the discussions are robust, the full assessment can take 2-4 hours to complete.

The toolkit includes a scoring chart for all 15 essential needs, behaviour observation guidance and an action plan to promote positive welfare.

Malcolm Morley, director of UK at World Horse Welfare, said: “The shorter, free-to-use HEY tool has been developed to enable owners, grooms, and yard managers to easily assess their own horses’ experiences,

“We hope it gets people talking and sharing their thoughts, with the horses at the centre of the discussion. Everyone’s opinion matters in this process – this really should be a team effort!”

Malcolm added: “It’s really important that people using the HEY focus on what the horses in their care are telling us through their behaviour

“It can be easy to assume we’re meeting our horses’ needs, but if we really pay attention, their behaviour might show otherwise.”

The HEY tool, and guides explaining its use, can be found on the World Horse Welfare website.

Image © Shutterstock.com/Inesmeierfotografie