AWIN-based assessment of horse welfare across different management conditions in Northern Italy

The Animal Welfare Indicators (AWIN) protocol [1] combines animal-, resource-, and management-based indicators to evaluate health, behaviour, housing, and human-animal interactions [2]. Its reliability under field conditions has previously been demonstrated [3]. This preliminary study aimed to use an AWIN-based protocol to assess welfare conditions in horses kept under different housing conditions, including varying levels of outdoor access, in Northern Italy and to identify the main welfare issues requiring management interventions. Preliminary data was collected from 43 horses housed in two facilities. Welfare assessment was performed using an adapted version of the AWIN protocol, including body condition score (BCS), stereotypies, avoidance behaviour, clinical signs of disease, manure consistency, lameness, hoof neglect, integument alterations, social contact, bedding quality, water availability, and exercise management. Welfare scores were calculated according to the AWIN protocol. Data was summarised using descriptive statistics, and welfare outcomes were expressed as the proportion of horses fulfilling each criterion. Most welfare criteria showed high compliance. Absence of prolonged thirst was fulfilled by 98% of horses, comfort around resting and absence of pain by 100%, absence of physical injuries and disease by 95%, expression of social behaviour by 100%, expression of other behaviours by 98%, and good human-animal relationship by 100%. In contrast, only 4.65% of horses fulfilled the criterion appropriate nutrition, mainly because most horses showed BCS values above the AWIN ideal score of 3/5. Moreover, none of the assessed horses fulfilled the AWIN criterion for ease of movement, defined as daily exercise exceeding two hours. These preliminary findings suggest generally favourable welfare conditions for most health-, behavioural-, and resource-based indicators in the assessed horses, regardless of the management system. However, nutrition- and exercise-related criteria emerged as areas requiring further attention. Ongoing data collection across additional facilities and management systems will support a broader evaluation of welfare outcomes and management-related risk factors in horses.