Scientists find way to calculate our horses' carbon hoofprint

The aim is to understand the current situation, to inform changes that can continue for the long term

- LUCY ELDER

SCIENTISTS have calculated a way of measuring sport horses’ estimated carbon footprint.

The project was carried out by Wageningen University & Research with the European Equestrian Federation (EEF). The team worked with stables in Sweden and the Netherlands to understand the greenhouse gas emissions for which horses at different stages and disciplines are accountable.

The idea is to understand the situation, in order to make changes in a sustainable way.

“Hoofprint can calculate emissions from equines and with that, you can identify hotspots,” said researcher Iris Huisman, in an EEF webinar.

“It is important to know what the impact is before you can do something about it. Otherwise, you don’t really know what you’re changing or making improvements to.”

Ms Huisman explained that feed production, transport and manure came into the equation and gave examples of how the influence of each can change.

For a yearling, feed makes up the majority (59%) of the carbon footprint – for a horse competing internationally, this shifted to transport (90%).