Exploring the profile, management, and care of horses in equine-assisted services in Brazil

There is limited research on the profile and care of horses used in equine-assisted services (EAS), as well as the underlying causes of health issues in these animals. An online survey was sent to all 369 equine therapy centers affiliated with the Brazilian Association of Equine Therapy between September and December 2022. The survey included questions on the EAS program (10), horse health management (10), and horse demographics (6). A total of 65 centers (17.6%) responded, representing 393 horses (6.0 +/- 5.1 per center): 65.4% were castrated males, 32.8% mares, and 1.8% stallions, aged 6.3-22.5 years. The most common breeds were saddle horses (60%), Quarter Horses (31%), draft horses (4%), ponies (3%), and Thoroughbreds (2%). Of the horses, 43% were purchased for EAS, 41% were donated, and 15.4% were rented. Respondents reported moderate to weak correlations between back pain and front (P < 0.01, r = 0.511) and hind limb lameness (P < 0.01, r = 0.411), hoof abscess (P = 0.020, r = 0.256), hoof cracks (P = 0.033, r = 0.229), and mean age (P = 0.014, r = 0.271). A weak negative correlation was observed between back pain and the frequency of odontological care (P = 0.018, r = -0.261). This survey provides initial insights into the health and management of EAS horses in Brazil, identifying key areas for further investigation to improve welfare and practices.