Also, it’s important not to overlook a few specific situations that might be easy to miss:
• Safe Enclosures: Barbed wire fencing is poor welfare input for horses. We might not score this if we don’t look for it. Veterinarians might only see an animal that’s sustained an injury (due to barbed wire, whether the owner informs the vet or not), but hasn’t had the opportunity to evaluate the horse’s paddock. Our assessment is, therefore, limited to veterinary treatment and will not influence change.
• Behavior: A behavior assessment should also be part of the evaluation. It’s important to not just focus on negative aspects, but also look for positive emotions, such as positive interactions with humans, allo-grooming, and a sense of safety (horses lying down, for instance).