What is the HEY?
I’ve collaborated with experts at World Horse Welfare and equine welfare scientist Cristina Wilkins to produce this free welfare assessment tool for horses living on yards or in group settings, called the HEY (Horses’ Experiences on Yards).
The HEY is based on the Five Domains Model of animal welfare assessment developed by animal physiologist David Mellor and colleagues. Using the tool, the horses’ caregivers (e.g., yard manager and grooms) are asked to score the percentage of time that the horses under their care have 15 core needs met across the domains of Nutrition, Environment, Health, and Behavioural Interactions. Scores are supposed to be based on objective positive and negative indicators that the caregivers have observed in the horses.
You can read more about this tool, watch videos I’ve made on how to use it, and download it as a free interactive PDF on World Horse Welfare’s website:
The HEY helps us assess welfare from the horse’s perspective by using objective evidence.
Hoping that this tool leads to improvements in the welfare of horses everywhere!
