As animal welfare and the quality of life of horses are constantly evolving concepts, they are usually the subject of controversy. Social, ethical, economic, cultural and political factors continue to influence our relationship with animals. The concept of quality of life goes beyond compliance with species-specific welfare standards and needs to be considered individually for each animal from a number of perspectives, as the existence of what we consider to be good husbandry conditions is not sufficient for a good quality of life for all animals. In addition to good housing conditions, physical health and good quality social relationships (the close presence of conspecifics with whom a good friendly bond is formed) are necessary. Today, however, most horses are kept in individual stables, where opportunities for social bonding are limited. However, these ‘social’ interactions can significantly improve the welfare, quality and ethical conditions of the animal’s life. This project aims to establish the quantitative and qualitative importance of these interactions for drawing further ethological and veterinary conclusions.
