The French Equestrian Federation (FFE) has banned the removal of a horse’s whiskers on welfare grounds. It joins Germany and Switzerland in bringing into effect a rule that would disqualify any horse from competition if the whiskers have been removed.
On their website they state that vibrissae, the correct term for whiskers— which are the long tactile hairs around the eye, nose and mouth of the horse—are sensory organs. And just like cat’s whiskers, they allow the horse to gather information about the environment. Around the eyes they serve as protection and, around the blind spot of the nose, they take over from the eyes.
The FFE has just incorporated a rule on this subject in their General Competition Regulations and, from early 2019, competing on a horse that has been deprived of his/her vibrissae is no longer permitted.
The new rule aligns with their official acknowledgement that horses do not perceive their environment in the same way humans do and we need to learn more about horse ethology and behaviour, which they promote as the key to better management and training.
“The role of the FFE is to communicate good practices,” FFE ethologist and animal welfare mission manager Déborah Bardou said.
“It is important that riders behave appropriately with the horse. They are the advocates for animal welfare, and they underwrite the image of equestrian sports.”
Equine behaviourist Justine Harrison hopes other countries will follow with similar rules. “Many countries, including the UK and Australia, are very backward in many aspects of horse welfare and it’s time for us to catch up with France, Switzerland and Germany and ban the trimming of whiskers.
For information about why horses need their whiskers click here.
T-SHIRTS IN SUPPORT OF HORSE RESCUE FUND
LIMITED TIME OFFER FREE SHIPPING CANADA & USA
CANADA SLAUGHTERS HORSES FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION
It may be hard for some to believe that tens of thousands of horses, including pets, are routinely slaughtered in Canada, for human consumption.
Some of the meat is consumed in Canada and much of it is shipped to the European Union and other markets, including Japan.
The barbaric slaughter of horses is currently not legal in the United States, BUT horses, including pets and ex-racehorses, from the United States are shipped to Canada and to Mexico to be slaughtered.
In addition Canada allows for the transportation of live horses to Japan, to be slaughtered for human consumption, and unfortunately the transportation of horses destined for slaughter within Canada, and by air, is far from humane.
Maclean’s: Canada is Go-To of Horse Meat
Photo by: Jen OsborneMaclean’s: Canada is Go-To of Horse Meat "These activists are trying to change that. The Canadian Horse Defence Coalition is waging a court battle to end Canada’s role as an exporter of live horses and frozen horsemeat for human consumption."...
This Shirt Saves Horses’ Lives
UPDTE NOVEMBER 2021: Back for the first time since JUNE of 2020. Once again available for a limited time. Proceeds from this t-shirt go to helping our friends at Horse Rescue Fund. Horse Rescue Fund is dedicated to raising funds and distributing those funds to...
HORSE RACING HAS OUTLIVED ITS TIME
THE WASHINGTON POST - OPINION MARCH 13, 2020 - By Editorial BoardIN THE aftermath of federal indictments that charged more than two dozen people in or associated with horse racing in “a widespread, corrupt” doping scheme, the industry rushed to put on a good face. The...
