WELFARE

Ancient people already knew that quality stabling would improve the health of horses. Every owner took special care of their hooves. In order to prevent them from being unnecessarily damaged and worn out by fast off-road riding or hard work, the ancient Romans put on a kind of bast shoes, which were later fitted with small metals (hyposandals). The Illyrians and Celts already used spikes (horseshoes) to attach the metal to the hoof. How close they were to making the horseshoe itself can be imagined. This still forms an indispensable part of the horse's equipment today, not only protecting the hoof but also making an otherwise very painful movement easier for many horses. Roman veterinarians then took the treatment of the horse much further, in the spirit of rational Greek “Hippocratic” medicine, they also tried to treat internal diseases by developing the body's natural defences using herbal remedies. They did not shy away from difficult surgical procedures, which they performed relatively successfully without narcotics.

With the advent of the Middle Ages, however, animal care generally deteriorated. The treatment of horses was taken over by various folk veterinarians. They were not medically trained and drew on the experience of centuries of folk medicine. A great influence among them was exercised by the grooms (also known as stableboys), who held an important position at the courts of the rulers or the nobility. They were not only responsible for the breeding and training of horses, but also for their treatment. In the case of the less wealthy, the blacksmith or shoemaker had an indispensable function in the treatment of horses. There was also a role for the ‘coolies’ who removed dead animals from the roads. It was not uncommon for them to advise people on the treatment of their horses. They were, however, on the fringes of society and often despised. There was little improvement in the quality of veterinary care, with traditional and ‘tried and tested’ procedures routinely carried out, such as vein tapping, routine wound care (ranching), the administration of poultices, laxatives and infusions, the treatment of teeth and hooves, and the administration of medicinal plants. It was not until the second half of the 18th century that a significant change took place, when the first professional schools began to be established throughout Europe, from which, by the 19th century, medically trained graduates capable of treating not only horses but also other domestic animals were leaving. Again, Maria Theresa was a major contributor.

At present, veterinary treatment is at its peak. Amongst other things, stud farms and studs are being modernised and, thanks to today's emphasis on welfare, we can say that horses are now ‘as good as new’. In addition to stall housing, where each horse is given a specific space, we also see free stall housing in groups. Such housing is typical, for example, in stud farms. A common stable for mares and their foals is no exception.

A healthy and happy horse can also help to improve human health. Horses therefore also play an important role in physiotherapy today, specifically in the field of hipporehabilitation, which uses the movement of the horse's back to have a therapeutic effect on the human body.