New government guidelines, issued by the Scottish Ministers under section 38 of the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006, have shared best practice for equine welfare. Among the recommendations, which include aspects of daily care, feeding and nutrition, handling and training, and veterinary care, is daily free movement, which does not include ridden work.Advice also includes the need to provide positive experiences and the importance of social interaction, as well as responsible breeding and buying and selling.The New Scottish Welfare of Equids Guidance document shares what is expected of horse owners as a minimum, but also how they can go beyond this and put their horses needs at the centre of their management decisions.World Horse Welfare were among the originations who helped create the guidelines, which they described as a fantastic collaborative effort.The guidelines set out what is expected of everyone caring for horses but also explain what owners and keepers can do to truly give their horses a good life, taking a holistic, whole-horse approach and considering their mental as well as physical wellbeing, said World Horse Welfare Field Officer John Burns. Its key to take into account how horses experience the lives we provide for them and not just view decisions through a human lens.Feedback from horse owners across Scotland informed the development of the guidance and responses highlighted a number of key themes, including limited awareness of the old Scottish Codes of Practice amongst owners and professionals. Respondents were strongly in favour of updating the Codes and for them to include mental wellbeing, social needs and quality of life alongside physical health. By developing this clear, accessible guidance, which draws on the latest expertise from leading vets, allied professionals and equine sector specialists, the Scottish Government is leading the way on supporting horse owners and keepers to know exactly what their responsibilities are and how they can go above and beyond that, in line with the latest evidence on what makes a good life for a horse, as seen through the horses eyes, added World Horse Welfares Head of Public Affairs, Kim Ayling.Following the launch of the new Scottish Welfare of Equids Guidance, wed urge policymakers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland to take note. Defras Code of practice for the welfare of horses, ponies, donkeys and their hybrids was launched in 2013 and weve learned a huge amount since then about how horses learn, their needs and how they experience the environment around them.The Scottish Equine Guidance Document can be viewed on the Scottish Government website.Lead image by ShutterstockRelated contentHow to provide a stabled horse with the three Fs (and why its so important that you do)7 ways to enrich your horses environmentHow to tell if a horse is happyThe post Daily free movement included in governments new equine welfare guidelines appeared first on Your Horse.