Working horse welfare in Senegal is linked to owner’s socioeconomic status, their attitudes and belief in horse sentience

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0309149
• Publication Date: 2024-10-18T17:24:21Z
• Authors: Mactar Seck; Gemma Carder; Jennifer Wathan; Marcela Randau; Kate Fletcher; Leanne Proops
• Keywords: Sentience

The role that working equids play in both rural and urban communities low middle-income countries is invaluable. They contribute to daily tasks such as carrying food, water people, support income generation, are of social cultural importance. Despite their importance, global standards equid welfare low. Many variables can impact the status animals under human care, but often specific factors explored isolation. Factors include, not limited an owner’s socioeconomic attitudes beliefs towards animals. In this study we assessed relationships between 1.) Attitudes belief horse sentience, 2.) Owner’s (including household income, coverage needs education) 3.) Horse status. study, consisting owner questionnaire a assessment horses, was conducted three regions Senegal; participants included 299 owners horses. Overall, our findings show more positive attitude stronger higher standard living greater ability cover associated with welfare. A sentience significant predictor horse’s body condition, larger households those were likely own good general health. Our demonstrate complex relationship welfare, attitudes, It first aware has these different variables. from provide valuable insights into interconnected which upon Senegal potentially widely.