Tänk utanför boxen : en undersökning om hur tävlingshästar inom travsporten hålls, samt travhästhållares attityder till grupphållen lösdrift och investering i mekaniserade lösdriftssystem

Abstract: The aim of this study was to examine how racehorses in harness racing in Sweden were housed and trainers and horse owners' attitudes towards free-range housing and active stable system. A survey was sent out and gathered 251 answers from trainers and horse owners. 53 % housed their horses in boxstalls and 41 % in free-range housing. The main reason why horses were housed in box stalls was individual feeding. The horses' access to movement and good air quality were considered as the prior positives with free-range housing. Of those who housed their horses in boxstalls, 42 % answered no to house the horses in free-range housing, compared to 21 % who answered yes. 43 % of all who participated in the questionnaire, answered no to investing in an active stable system and 20 % answered yes. Previous studies have shown that free-range housing has a good impact on the horses' welfare and health and that an active stable system benefits individual feeding.