The welfare of recreational horses is an important issue. Horse owner attitudes towards horse ownership are likely to influence owner behaviour in terms of horse husbandry and management practices and human–horse interactions, which in turn are likely to affect the welfare of the horse. Based on Ajzen’s Theory of Planned Behaviour, this paper examines the relationships between horse owner attributes, specifically background factors (demographics, knowledge, and experience) and attitudes (beliefs) towards horse husbandry and management behaviour. Data were collected via a random telephone survey and during on-site inspections with Victorian horse owners and their horses (n = 57), using an attitude questionnaire. Relationships were found between horse owner background factors and horse owner attitudes towards horse husbandry and management behaviour. Generally, belief variables correlated significantly with background factors that were primarily related to knowledge and experience. Further, beliefs concerning three key husbandry practices (parasite control, hoof care, and dental care) all appear to be predicted to some degree by background factors associated with knowledge and experience. Therefore, a practical recommendation may be the implementation of education and training programs aimed at improving horse owner knowledge and experience regarding effective horse husbandry and management to promote horse welfare. Clearly, further research is warranted.

中文翻译：

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人马关系：确定马主对畜牧业和管理行为的态度的前因

休闲马的福利是一个重要的问题。马主对马主的态度很可能会影响马主的行为，例如马的饲养和管理实践以及人与马之间的互动，进而可能影响马的福利。本文基于阿赞的计划行为理论，研究了马主属性之间的关系，特别是背景因素（人口统计学，知识和经验）和对马牧业和管理行为的态度（信仰）之间的关系。数据是通过随机电话调查以及在与维多利亚时代的马主及其马匹进行的现场检查中收集的（n= 57），使用态度问卷。在马主背景因素和马主对马饲养和管理行为的态度之间发现了关系。通常，信念变量与主要与知识和经验有关的背景因素显着相关。此外，与知识和经验相关的背景因素似乎都在某种程度上预测了关于三种主要饲养方法（寄生虫控制，蹄护理和牙科护理）的信念。因此，实际的建议可能是实施旨在提高马主关于有效马牧和管理以促进马福利的知识和经验的教育和培训计划。显然，有必要做进一步的研究。