ABSTRACT
The rapid increase in horse keeping for recreation is replacing traditional agriculture both in Europe and Northern America. This is, in particular, noticeable in urban and peri-urban areas. The transition also affects views and knowledge about the needs and role of the horse. The rationale for keeping horses in a landscape can be viewed from an individualistic bio-centric ethical perspective focusing on equine welfare, but also from a holistic eco-centric ethical perspective focusing on the ecological role of horses for sustainable landscapes. In this case study from peri-urban Stockholm, Sweden, we analyse different stakeholders’ perspectives on horse keeping and horse welfare focusing on pasture and turn-out practices to identify possible synergies and trade-offs between environmental goals and equine welfare. The study is based on field visits and interviews at 25 selected horse facilities and with representatives for municipal and regional government in Stockholm County. In the study, we identified potential synergies between measures for improved equine welfare that also benefit environmental goals including manure management, grazing availability, and turn-out practices. However, the awareness of such synergies and trade-offs is still low and needs to be further identified and developed in practical management and governance.
