Time-activity budget in horses and ponies: A systematic review and meta-analysis on feeding dynamics and management implications

Background: The time-activity budget is a key indicator of animal welfare. This meta-analysis integrated 14 studies (1979-2020) with 364 horses under wild, natural-living, and stabled conditions to evaluate feeding, resting, standing, and locomotion. Aim: The study aimed to categorize daily behavioural patterns in equines, with emphasis on feeding behaviour. Methods: Fixed and random effects models, forest plots, and ANOVA assessed the influence of management, sociality, sex, age, body size, and feeding type. Results: Feeding was greater in free-ranging (56 %) than stabled horses (38 %; p < 0.0001), in grouped (54 %) vs. isolated (39 %; p = 0.0052), in females (64 %) vs. males (48 %; p = 0.0253), and in grazing (56 %) vs. hay-fed horses (39 %; p = 0.0003). Resting was higher in young, small, grouped, and grazing horses. Standing was commoner in stabled, isolated, adult, larger, and hay-fed animals. Locomotion increased in free-ranging, grouped, and grazing horses. Conclusion: Management promoting foraging, social interaction, and locomotion enhances equine welfare.