Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, UK.
Equine Vet J. 2012 May;44(3):310-8. doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2011.00442.x. Epub 2011 Aug 18.
To establish baseline parameters of equine health, owner knowledge and husbandry practices and tack against which benefits to local horses arising from an equine charity's training programme in Lesotho could be measured.
To describe and investigate associations between owner knowledge and equine husbandry practices, horse health and tack-related parameters prior to the start of the training programme.
A cross-sectional survey was undertaken in the catchment area of students attending the first training course. Owners from randomly selected villages were interviewed about horse care using a standardised, structured questionnaire, administered face to face in local language. Horses were clinically examined and tack assessed according to standardised protocols.
Clinical examinations were performed on 312 horses and 287 owners were interviewed. Owners had variable knowledge of equine husbandry and limited understanding of appropriate primary and preventive healthcare. Equine health problems identified included ecto- and endoparasite infestation, mouth lesions, overgrown and unbalanced feet and tack-associated wounds. The majority of tack was in poor condition, dirty and ill-fitting. With the exception of below-average body condition score, no associations were found between key adverse horse-related clinical findings and owners reporting their horse as being 'unhealthy'.
Working horses in Lesotho have a range of physical problems, many of which could be ameliorated through targeted owner education. With limited access to veterinary advice and scarce resources, improved availability of affordable local equine trade skills is key to improving equine health.
Findings could be used to inform and direct training programmes to maximise benefits to equine health and to serve as a baseline against which to monitor effects of educational and other interventions.
确定马的健康基线参数、马主知识和养殖实践以及马具，以便衡量一个马类慈善机构在莱索托开展的培训计划为当地马匹带来的益处。
描述并调查马主知识和养殖实践、马的健康以及马具相关参数之间的关联，这些参数在培训计划开始之前。
在参加第一期培训课程的学生的集水区进行了横断面调查。从随机选择的村庄中选择马主，使用标准化、结构化的问卷，以当地语言进行面对面访谈，了解马的护理情况。按照标准化协议对马进行临床检查和马具评估。
对 312 匹马进行了临床检查，对 287 名马主进行了访谈。马主对养殖知识的了解程度不一，对适当的初级和预防保健知识的理解有限。确定的马健康问题包括外寄生虫和内寄生虫感染、口腔病变、过度生长和不平衡的脚以及与马具相关的伤口。大多数马具状况不佳、肮脏且不合适。除了平均体况评分较低外，没有发现关键的不良马匹临床发现与马主报告其马“不健康”之间存在关联。
莱索托的役马存在一系列身体问题，其中许多问题可以通过有针对性的马主教育来改善。由于兽医咨询的机会有限且资源稀缺，提高当地可负担得起的马类贸易技能的可获得性是改善马健康的关键。
研究结果可用于为培训计划提供信息和指导，以最大限度地提高对马健康的益处，并作为监测教育和其他干预措施效果的基线。
