Back to Equine Welfare and Management
University of California, Davis

Equine Welfare and Management

This unique course was developed by veterinarians at the world-renowned University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. The course will address horsemanship from a welfare perspective, within the context of “The Five Freedoms” of animal welfare. We’ll explore equine physiology, behavior and basic needs including housing, nutrition, hygiene and disease management. You’ll learn how to perform basic tasks to assess the overall condition of the horse and identify problem areas. We’ll also examine the specialized needs of the equine athlete and the major responsibilities we as owners, handlers or competitors must assume in order to ensure the health and welfare of our equine companions. Finally, we’ll look several special topics in equine welfare including disaster planning and the international welfare efforts now in place to protect working horses and other equids in key industries such as racing, international competition, tourism and even mining. By the conclusion of the course, you will be well equipped to develop a comprehensive welfare plan for any horses in your care.

Status: Public Health
Status: Safety Assurance
BeginnerCourse18 hours

Featured reviews

NN

4.0Reviewed Jul 13, 2020

LOVED the accessibility and information given in this course. Will definitely be of great help when become a Vet !

DU

5.0Reviewed Jul 29, 2022

Indeed a knowledgeable course that polsihed my skills about equine management. Thank you coursera and UC DAVIS!

MM

5.0Reviewed Oct 26, 2020

Beyond my expectations,it was more than a basic or introductory course,it covered all materials even though not in full details(expected ).Great I took the course.Easy to understand.

NB

5.0Reviewed Sep 29, 2022

V​ery useful for a person new to working with and owning horses. The lectures were well-prepared and interesting.

GD

5.0Reviewed Nov 12, 2020

everyone who owns a horse should take this course.. it is essential knowledge to advocating for your horses we'llfare and safety and also improves your relationship building with horses.

HR

5.0Reviewed Jan 13, 2025

It's good for entry level knowledge that goes a bit more in depth than your average facebook group. It's put together exceptionally well by trustworthy and accredited people.

DG

5.0Reviewed Dec 12, 2023

Outstanding course. Effective instructor. Well presented and covers a wider variety of equine topics than I expected.

AK

5.0Reviewed Jan 17, 2026

Loved how organized the course was and how knowledgeable Professor/DVM was! Thank you for sharing learning outcomes, teaching and quizzes every so often to confirm my learning! Learned so much!

AK

5.0Reviewed Oct 5, 2024

this course is quite beneficial for the beginners who want to learn the basics of equine management

RM

5.0Reviewed Feb 26, 2021

This course is solid in its information, interesting in its presentation, full of good resources, and able to be paced to fit in with my work schedule. It was definitely worth my time and effort.

CN

5.0Reviewed Sep 13, 2019

Very informative and very well explained. Easy to follow for a non expert. I am very happy I decided to do this course

HB

5.0Reviewed Jul 16, 2019

Lots of information about basics of equine management. The major problems faced by owners and the manage-mental practices for better herd management.

All reviews

Showing: 20 of 137

Georgia Rogers
3.0
Reviewed Oct 22, 2020
Awais javaid
4.0
Reviewed Jun 9, 2019
annie shattuck
5.0
Reviewed Jul 17, 2019
Bradley Styles
5.0
Reviewed Sep 6, 2018
Laura Whitman
5.0
Reviewed Nov 5, 2018
christina preston
5.0
Reviewed Dec 19, 2018
Kate Pretty
2.0
Reviewed Dec 4, 2020
Malik Zahid Gulshan
5.0
Reviewed Jan 18, 2020
HB
5.0
Reviewed Oct 18, 2019
Rita McIntyre
5.0
Reviewed Feb 26, 2021
Gabrielle deVeber
5.0
Reviewed Nov 13, 2020
Natalie Conomos
5.0
Reviewed Jun 2, 2020
mokano lily mosheti
5.0
Reviewed Oct 26, 2020
HAMMAD UR REHMAN BAJWA
5.0
Reviewed Jul 16, 2019
Tina Mayer
5.0
Reviewed Mar 5, 2019
cindy mcdonald
5.0
Reviewed Jan 6, 2020
Elexis Perkins
2.0
Reviewed Feb 25, 2022
María Liliana Carolo Fonte
1.0
Reviewed Dec 5, 2023
Varun Pratap Singh
5.0
Reviewed Sep 15, 2023
Christina Frahm
5.0
Reviewed Dec 9, 2020