Responsible ownership is one of the keys to addressing the country's equine welfare problems, said Scott Palmer, VMD, of the New Jersey Equine Clinic. He noted in a presentation at the at the 2010 American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) Convention, held Dec. 4-8 in Baltimore, Md., that racing is one segment of the horse industry that regularly is subject to public criticism, mostly due to catastrophic injuries sustained by race horses. Palmer described responsible horse ownership and the need for reform in some aspects of the racing industry at the meeting.

"Responsible horse ownership must first address the basic needs of the horse, including food, shelter, and health care," Palmer said. "Their well-being must be a priority, and we need to recognize that this stewardship represents significant time and financial commitment."

He described the basic needs of the horse, the financial hardships that some horse owners face, and the challenges that arise because understanding of equine welfare and definitions of appropriate standards of care vary among individuals and organizations.

"Both science and society have a role to play in deciding what constitutes an appropriate level of animal welfare," Palmer wrote in his study. "Whereas science can determine what type or degree of animal welfare risk exists under specific circumstances, science cannot determine what type of risk is acceptable." In other words, defining appropriate welfare risk is subjective and innately complex