Test drives for Fiaker: How climate change adds horses!

Test drives for Fiaker: How climate change adds horses!

Test drives for the study "Horse use in times of climate change" are now taking place in Vienna. This aims to collect comprehensive data on the well -being of fiaker horses under different weather conditions. Fiaker farms take part in the test drives, which are equipped with special measuring instruments and a detailed test plan. The city's client are the city of Vienna and the federal government, while the Veterinary University of Vienna takes over the implementation. The relevance of this study is underpinned by the persistent criticism of animal welfare organizations in the working conditions for fiaker horses under extreme weather conditions.

Especially at high temperatures, animal rights activists have pointed out the need to rethink the use of horses for tourist purposes, according to the association against animal factories and the Austrian animal protection association. Critics such as Ruth Jily from the Vienna Veterinary Office already report on measures to improve the working conditions of the animals, which often suffer from stress in an urban environment, especially on hot days.

Study and goals

The practical part of the study, led by Prof. Jessika Cavalleri and supported by other scientists, is carried out over a year. Twelve horses of Carmen Blantz are observed closely during their missions in the city and in their stables. In these observations, extensive methods are used, including the recording of blood, saliva and welding samples in order to measure the physical stress of the animals precisely. The behavior of the animals is also documented using video cameras to analyze the effects of stress factors.

A GPS broadcaster enables the exact tracking of the routes that cover the fiaker horses. These detailed studies are intended to provide information about which environmental influences affect the well -being of the horses and which improvement measures can be derived from this. Florain Fellinger from the Ministry of Health also pointed out the problems with tournament horses on hot days, one of the many topics that are relevant in the current discussion about animal husbandry in the context of climate change.

Animal welfare and alternative concepts

In the debate about the fiaker horses in Vienna, the proposal is also discussed to replace them with camels. Camels are considered heat testers, which is an interesting but controversial idea. However, the animal protection organization "Four Paws" rejects this proposal and emphasizes that the keeping of camels in urban environments could also be problematic. Anatomical differences between camels and horses could also be uncomfortable for passengers, and camels have special nutritional needs that are difficult to meet in a city.

A proposal by the Austrian animal welfare association to solve this problem are electrical slides, which are not only regarded as an environmentally friendly, but also as a practical alternative. The switch to electrical slides could reduce the suffering of horses and maintain the attractiveness of the Fiaker offer in a sustainable way.

Insight into the effects of climate change

The current developments and the need for this study are in the context of climate change, which has already noticeable effects in many European regions. Extreme temperatures such as currently in southern Europe - where numerous forest fires are raging - impressively show how important it is to address the formation of heat islands in cities like Vienna. Climate change not only leads to higher temperatures, but also longer dry periods that can endanger the health of the animals.

In Germany, hay prices have already increased due to the drought in recent years, and feeding horses has also been affected. Agriculture is confronted with new challenges, because droughts endanger the yields and cut the available feed. Experts and scientists already recommend adaptation strategies to improve the conditions for keeping horse, and thus promote sustainable use of animal husbandry in view of the climate crises.