Understanding the Evolution from the Five Freedoms to the Five Domains
When it comes to horse welfare, opinions can vary widely. What makes a horse truly content? While it’s easy to fall into the trap of projecting our own needs onto animals, the truth is that their welfare must be assessed based on their natural behaviours and needs, or ethology. To help us take a more objective approach, the Five Freedoms model was introduced as a benchmark for animal welfare.
The Five Freedoms Model
Introduced in 1965, the Five Freedoms became a widely accepted tool for assessing animal welfare. These freedoms are:
- Freedom from hunger and thirst
- Freedom from discomfort
- Freedom from pain, injury, and disease
- Freedom to express normal behaviour
- Freedom from fear and distress
These principles have helped improve animal care for decades. However, they have limitations. If you were to apply the Five Freedoms to humans, you might find that prisoners, for instance, are deemed to have “adequate” welfare because their basic needs are met. Yet, we know that simply removing negative factors doesn’t necessarily equate to a fulfilling life, whether for humans or animals.
Enter the Five Domains
Recognizing these limitations, researchers Professor David Mellor and Dr. Cam Reid proposed a new model in 1994, known as the Five Domains. This model has largely replaced the Five Freedoms as the preferred approach to assessing animal welfare.
The key difference between the two models is that the Five Domains acknowledges that animals have emotional needs. It’s not just about removing the negatives—it’s about ensuring that animals experience positive emotional states, leading to a life worth living.
In 2020, the Five Domains model was updated, further emphasizing that an animal’s mental state—the fifth domain—is the result of how the other four domains (physical environment, health, nutrition, and behavioural interactions) are managed.
The Five Domains Explained
1 Physical Environment
The environment an animal lives in can either enhance or hinder its welfare. Factors like proper ventilation, adequate space, and suitable lighting contribute positively, while poor living conditions can compromise well-being.
2 Health
Just as an overworked or undernourished animal suffers, so does one that is obese or physically unfit. Health is central to welfare, and this domain also accounts for the negative impacts of injury and disease.
3 Nutrition
More than just calorie intake, good nutrition includes a balanced diet and variety. Overeating can be just as harmful as under-eating, and both scenarios affect the animal’s welfare.
4 Behavioural Interactions
This domain includes interactions with the environment, other animals, and humans. Ensuring horses can engage naturally with their surroundings, socialize with other horses, and receive high-quality care from humans is critical to their welfare.
5 Mental Experiences
The mental state of an animal reflects the success of the other four domains. If a horse’s environment, health, nutrition, and behavioural needs are all adequately met, its mental state will be positive.
Why the Five Domains Matter for Horse Welfare
For horse owners and managers, the Five Domains provide clear guidelines on how to improve welfare. For example, many performance horses are kept isolated from other horses, limiting their ability to interact socially. This restriction compromises the fourth domain—behavioral interactions—and negatively impacts the horse’s mental state. Similarly, excessive rugging or confinement can affect both the physical environment and behavioral interactions, ultimately leading to poor welfare.
The Five Domains model encourages a more holistic view of horse care, reminding us that meeting physical needs alone is not enough. By considering emotional and mental well-being, we can ensure that horses not only live but thrive.
In the world of horse welfare, the shift from the Five Freedoms to the Five Domains reflects our growing understanding of what it means to care for these intelligent, social animals. By striving to meet both their physical and emotional needs, we can offer them a truly fulfilling life.