Summary

This project will review the potential impacts of climate change on the Australian horses industry & community. It will consult the literature and stakeholders, consider current knowledge and future directions for research. To achieve this, the project will be oriented around the following four stages:
1.A desktop literature review on issues, topics and opportunities around climate change for horse keepers
2.A survey of horse keepers to identify current attitudes and knowledge in relation to climate change
3.A facilitated industry workshop to;
a) Engage horse keepers & organisations in climate change
b) Present to horse keepers an overview of known climate change data & research
c) Identify gaps in knowledge
d) Provide opportunity for future collaborative research projects to be established & ID investment
e) Identify & prioritise desired research directions.

4. Establish an online forum in order that “champions” of climate change & horse keeping can share information and it may facilitate future research collaborations or investment

Key stakeholders will be engaged at each stage, including
• horse industry leaders (racing & non-racing)
• government
• researchers
Project outcomes will include
1.An issues paper summarising the impact of climate change on horse keeping according to current expert knowledge
2.A report on current attitudes and knowledge of horse owners about climate change
3.The identification of knowledge gaps and a prioritised agenda for further research
4.The creation of an online forum to enable community discussion

Program

Thoroughbred Horses

Research Organisation

Horse SA

Objective Summary

The objectives of this project are:
1.To summarise current expert understanding of issues, topics and opportunities around climate change issues for horse keepers
2.To identify horse keepers attitudes, practices and knowledge in relation to meeting climate change challenges
3.To engage horse organisation representatives, government and researchers in an industry workshop. To be held at the Adelaide Showground (site of best practice environmental design & innovation)
4.To establish a horse keeping & climate change online forum an ongoing communication, information sharing and engagement tool
Prepare a report which identifies and knowledge gaps and prioritises issues for further research. This will form a research agenda for the short, medium and long term. These objectives will be completed within a 12 month timeframe.

This project meets the following aspects of the RIRDC Horse R&D Plan:
•Vision – for skills and knowledge for efficient, profitable and sustainable production
•Mission – promotion of sustainable use of land and water resources, enhancement of skills, knowledge and capability of people in the industry
•Objectives – Improve welfare of horses, and enhance the environmental sustainability of the industry