What does Risk Assessment involve?

The causes of equine welfare problems can be investigated using several methods, usually in combination, one of which is Risk Assessment. Risk Assessment is able to use objective, scientific means to look in detail at the causes of welfare problems which have been prioritised both from the perspective of the animal and the animal’s owner.

Currently, the Risk Assessment process involves the five steps detailed below. We are in the process of developing a “tool box” of Risk Assessment methods, based on the fundamental principles of the seven steps below, which will allow us a flexible approach to choosing the right Risk Assessment tool for the questions we are trying to answer.

Research: The first step involves collecting background information on the animal and owner population. Next, the animal-owning communities are consulted using Focus Group Discussions, body mapping, root cause analyses and other participatory methods. This ensures that our research incorporates the experience and opinion of the animal owners, whilst introducing our staff and work. Literature research is also carried out and experts and vets with experience within the relevant animal-owning communities are consulted.

Design:The Risk Assessment Team compiles the gathered information into a series of forms that can be taken out to the field and used to record information. They spend time following the animals throughout their day. They speak to people who are involved with the animals’ life and work and they practice and refine questionnaires. They design, test and standardise different methods for measuring potential risk factors and the welfare issue itself. They refine the forms used to record all this information so that every piece of information is recorded in a defined, standardised and ethical manner. Since 2007, we have been improving our methods for assuring, maintaining and recording the quality of the data collection process using specially developed protocols. A sampling plan is then developed to ensure that the study is:

1. Non-biased
2. Representative of the equine population identified for risk assessment
3. Of sufficient size and design to allow good statistical analysis of the resulting data

For example, the sampling plan used in the Pakistan lip lesion risk assessment 2005 details exactly how many of each species and work type from each location in the population must be included in the assessment in order to achieve the above criteria.

Data Collection: The team use the forms to record data from each of the animals selected by the sampling plan. Data can be  collected from each animal, its environment, its owner or user, any economic or resource influences that may affect it and any other area that has been deemed to be a possible influence on the welfare issue. Every effort is made to minimise the impact of the assessment on the behaviour of the owners. Everything that is measured is done so in a way that is ethically sound and will not cause pain or fear for the animal, or interfere unduly with the work or welfare of the owner.

Analysis of data: Data collected in the assessment is investigated using statistical analysis to identify relationships between the welfare issue and any potential risk factors. Risk Factors are defined as “a factor that contributes to the presence, severity or duration of the welfare issue”. For example, if the data shows that as padding thickness decreases lesion size increases, we may conclude that thin padding is a risk factor.

Interactions between risk factors are also investigated. For example, we might find that lesions are more severe with wider straps if the strap is dirty, but are smaller if the wide strap is clean.

Lastly, statistics is used to test any particular hypotheses that the team have developed during their unique exposure to the welfare issue and the animal’s working environment.

Currently, analysis is carried out by experts at Sheffield University but certain members of our Risk Assessment teams in each country have been allocated “Data Management Specialist” roles and are undergoing training in data handling and statistics. In the long run they will be able to take over the analysis of their own data and the long-term sustainability of the project will be maintained.

Reporting and using the results : The conclusions from the analysis are compiled in a report, which is placed on our internal worldwide computer system. The Risk Assessment report includes conclusions from the data and interpretations of them based on extensive field experience. The results are shared in detail with the Brooke staff who work with the animal owning communities in order to find ways that the findings of the Risk Assessment can be built into existing activities, or new activities developed if necessary.