Using Qualitative Methods to Explore Farrier-Related Barriers to Successful Farriery Interventions for Equine Welfare in India
Abstract
:Simple Summary
Abstract
1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Ethical Review and Pretesting
2.2. Study Area
2.3. Farrier Selection
2.4. Focus Group Discussion Guide
- What are the most significant limiting factors that prevent farriers putting increased technical knowledge into practice?
- What are the differences in terms of challenges of farriery and engagement with Brooke’s programme in these two different locations?
2.5. Data Collection
2.6. Data Analysis
3. Results
3.1. Demand for Services
“Sometimes the owner tells us to trim the whole frog, otherwise he will go to another farrier.”—Farrier No. 2, Group C
“70 to 90% equid owners ask us to do farriery while the animal is still harnessed to the cart.”—Farrier No. 8, Group C
“Clients do not pay us well. Even if we use a specialised shoe to correct a hoof-related issue, they will not pay any more.”—Farrier No. 5, Group B
“I am the renowned and oldest farrier in our area. If I did poor farriery in that case the client will come [back] to me only because they trust me.”—Farrier No. 7, Group A
“Clients are our boss because they formed equine welfare groups and they have received more knowledge than us.”—Farrier No. 3, Group D
3.2. Farrier Status
“[There is] no respect in this job, people say we hold the horse foot, which they perceive as bad.”—Farrier No. 5, Group D
“I already doing good farriery and do not need to learn.”—Farrier No. 7, Group A
“I want to learn more, I am not satisfied with what I have learnt.”—Farrier No. 3, Group B
“I want information regarding brushing. Also, I want to learn about hoof balancing.”—Farrier No. 6, Group B
“Earlier we only need to think about our own profit, now we also think about welfare of equines.”—Farrier No. 2, Group B
“I never agree with owner, if the client wants to go and avail another’s services, then I don’t bother as I have other business.”—Farrier No. 4, Group B
“We use good quality shoe [heavy metal] to attract clients.”—Farrier No. 3, Group C
3.3. The External Environment
“In last 3 years, the farriery work has reduced to 75%.”—Farrier No. 4, Group C
“We will die hungry, if this persists.”—Farrier No.8, Group C
3.4. Training and Technical Knowledge
“I am working in brick kiln as a beldar [construction worker]. I do not have much to do after I finish my work in the afternoon, so I thought I could shoe the equids that work at the brick kiln. Thus, I learnt farriery in one and a half to two months.”—Farrier No.1, Group D
“It takes more time to trim hooves of equine as they overgrow in brick kiln off season.”—Farrier No. 2, Group A
“Brooke Farrier asks questions from us but never tells us anything or gives any information.”—Farrier No.7, Group A
4. Discussion
5. Conclusions
Supplementary Materials
Author Contributions
Funding
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
- FAOSTAT 2017. Available online: http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QA (accessed on 1 February 2019).
- Rahman, S.A.; Reed, K. The management and welfare of working animals: Identifying problems, seeking solutions and anticipating the future. Rev. Sci. Tech.Off. Int. Epizoot. 2014, 33, 197–202. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Valette, D. Invisible Workers. Brooke, UK. 2015. Available online: https://www.thebrooke.org/sites/default/files/Advocacy-and-policy/Invisible-workers-report.pdf (accessed on 1 February 2019).
- Kiros, A.; Gezahegn, M.; Aylate, A. A cross sectional study on risk factors associated with lameness of working donkeys in and around Hawassa, Ethiopia. J. Anim. Health Prod. 2016, 4, 87–94. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Broster, C.E.; Burn, C.C.; Barr, A.R.S.; Whay, H.R. The range and prevalence of pathological abnormalities associated with lameness in working horses from developing countries. Equine Vet. J. 2009, 41, 474–481. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
- Pritchard, J.C.; Lindberg, A.C.; Main, D.C.J.; Whay, H.R. Assessment of the welfare of working horses, mules and donkeys, using health and behaviour parameters. Prev. Vet. Med. 2005, 69, 265–283. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Christine, E.R.; Dikshit, A.K.; Hockenhull, J.; Parker, R.M.A.; Banerjee, A.; Burn, C.C.; Pritchard, J.C.; Whay, H.A. Two-year participatory intervention project with owners to reduce lameness and limb abnormalities in working horses in Jaipur, India. PLoS ONE 2015, 10, e0124342. [Google Scholar]
- Tadich, T.A.; Stuardo, L. Strategies for improving the welfare of working equids in the Americas: A Chilean example. Rev. Sci. Tech. Off. Int. Epizoot. 2014, 33, 203–211. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Wilson, J.H.; Otto, A.; Turoff, D.R.; Bridges, D.; Mejia, F.C.; Reyes, D.C.; Paniagua, R.A. Launch of Equitarian Projects: Strategic Partnerships, Rewards, Challenges, and Solutions. In Proceedings of the 58th Annual Convention of the American Association of Equine Practitioner, Anaheim, CA, USA, 14 December 2012. [Google Scholar]
- Whay, H.R.; Dikshit, A.K.; Hockenhull, J.; Parker, R.M.A.; Banerjee, A.; Hughes, S.I.; Pritchard, J.C.; Reix, C.E. Evaluation of changes in equine care and limb-related abnormalities in working horses in Jaipur, India, as part of a two year participatory intervention study. PLoS ONE 2015, 10, e0126160. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Luna, D.; Tadich, T.A. Why should human-animal interactions be included in research of working equid welfare. Animals 2019, 9, 42. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Upjohn, M.M.; Attwood, G.A.; Lerotholi, T.; Pfeiffer, D.U.; Verheyen, K.L. Quantitative versus qualitative approaches: A comparison of two research methods applied to identification of key health issues for working horses in Lesotho. Prev. Vet. Med. 2013, 108, 313–320. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Butler, D.; Velenchon, M.; Annan, R.; Whay, H.R.; Mulan, S. Living the “Best Life” or “One size fits all” stakeholder perceptions of Racehorse welfare. Animals 2019, 9, 134. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Pritchard, J.; Upjohn, M.; Hirson, T. Improving working equine welfare in ‘hard-win’ situations, where gains are difficult, expensive or marginal. PLoS ONE 2018, 13, e0191950. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Fazili, M.R.; Kirmani, M.A. Equine: The ignored working animal of Kashmir: Status, constraints, research areas and ways for improvement. Asian J. Anim. Sci. 2011, 5, 91–101. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Upjohn, M.M.; Shipton, K.; Pfeiffer, D.U.; Lerotholi, T.; Attwood, G.; Verheyen, K.L. Cross-sectional survey of owner knowledge and husbandry practices, tack and health issues affecting working horses in Lesotho. Equine Vet. J. 2012, 44, 310–318. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Kumar, H.; Priyadarshi, P.; Bhardwaj, N.; Zaman, S.F. Impact assessment of owner-level foot care training: A holistic approach to improve foot health in working equids in India. In Proceedings of the 7th International Colloquium on Working Equids, London, UK, 1–3 July 2014. [Google Scholar]
- Sommerville, R.; Brown, A.F.; Upjohn, M. A standardised equine-based welfare assessment tool used for six years in low and middle income countries. PLoS ONE 2018, 13, e0192354. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Michie, S.; Van Stralen, M.M.; West, R. The behaviour change wheel: A new method for characterising and designing behaviour change interventions. Implement. Sci. 2011, 6, 42. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Nation-Wide Ban on Earth Mining for Bricks and Roads: NGT. Available online: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/nationwide-ban-on-earth-mining-for-bricks-and-roads-ngt/article5179265.ece (accessed on 1 February 2019).
- Barrett, C.B.; Reardon, T.; Webb, P. Nonfarm income diversification and household livelihood strategies in rural Africa: Concepts, dynamics, and policy implications. Food Policy 2001, 26, 315–331. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Johny, J.; Wichmann, B.; Swallow, B.M. Characterizing social networks and their effects on income diversification in rural Kerala, India. World Dev. 2017, 94, 375–392. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Lanjouw, P.; Murgai, R.; Stern, N. Non-Farm Diversification, Poverty, Economic Mobility and Income Inequality: A Case Study in Village India. The World Bank, 2013. Available online: http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/133791468268845917/Non-farm-diversification-poverty-economic-mobility-and-income-inequality-a-case-study-in-village-India (accessed on 1 February 2019).
- Wilson, B.K.; Mignone, J.J.; Sinclair, A.J. Contextual influences on the sustainability of prospective livelihood diversification initiatives in farm villages in the Karnataka semiarid dryland region of India. Dev. Stud. Res. Open Access J. 2014, 1, 368–381. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
- Attwood, G.A.; Upjohn, M.M.; Verheyeyen, K.L.P. What impact does skills training have? A tracer study of students of a saddlery, farriery and business skills programme conducted in Lesotho in 2007. In Proceedings of the 6th International Colloquium on Working Equids, New Dehli, India, 29 November–2 December 2010. [Google Scholar]
- Swann, W.J. Improving the welfare of working equine animals in developing countries. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 2006, 100, 148–151. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Van Dijk, L.; Pritchard, J.; Pradhan, S.K.; Wells, K. Sharing the Load; Practical Action Publishing: Rugby, UK, 2010. [Google Scholar]
- Pearson, R.A.; Krecek, R.C. Delivery of health and husbandry improvements to working animals in Africa. Trop Anim. Health Prod. 2006, 38, 93–101. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Cabrera, D.; Colosi, L. Distinctions, systems, relationships, and perspectives (DSRP): A theory of thinking and of things. Eval. Program Plan. 2008, 31, 311–316. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Mitra, D.; Valette, D. Brick by Brick Environment, Human Labour, and Animal Welfare Unveiling the Full Picture of South Asia’s Brick Kilns Industry and Building the Blocks for Change. 2017. Available online: https://www.thebrooke.org/sites/default/files/Brooke%20News/Brick%20by%20Brick%20report_0.pdf (accessed on 1 February 2019).
- Slavich, G.M.; Zimbardo, P.G. Transformational Teaching: Theoretical Underpinnings, Basic Principles, and Core Methods. Educ. Psychol. Rev. 2012, 24, 569–608. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
- Shah, S.Z.A.; Nawaz, S.; Laghari, H.; Shafi, M.; Upjohn, M.; Eager, R. Minimising cart donkeys’ foot conditions through community awareness-raising, capacity-building and linking relevant stakeholders in Jacobabad, Pakistan. In Proceedings of the 7th International Colloquium on Working Equids, London, UK, 1–3 July 2014. [Google Scholar]
- Kithuka, J.; Oloo, V.; Compston, P. Clinical quality enhancement of donkey health service providers in Kenya using a work-based assessment rubric. In Proceedings of the VetEd Symposium, Glasgow, UK, 7–8 July 2016. [Google Scholar]
- Gondal, J.I.; Ali, S.M.; Shah, S.Z.A.; Carder, G.; Williams, S.; Skippen, L. An Approach to creating sustainable improvements in animal welfare using Brooke Animal Health Mentoring Framework to enhance animal health practitioner competency. In Proceedings of the Pan Commonwealth Veterinary Association Conference, Banglore, India, 3–7 March 2019. [Google Scholar]
Question Number | Questions |
---|---|
1 | How long have you been practicing farriery? |
2 | How did you learn the farriery skill? (examples-forefather/brother/local ustad/Brooke/other–specify, time took to acquire skill) |
3 | Have you worked with Brooke? Explore in which way and for how long? (Examples: Mentoring/training themes/exposures/association or Equine Welfare Group meetings, linking with community) |
4 | How useful have you found working with Brooke? (Explore when and how any interaction has been useful, as well as has not been useful in terms of cliental, economic, practices, social recognition, etc. Did they fulfil your expectations, what you wanted to learn?) |
5 | Have you changed your practices after working with Brooke? (Explore and use photographs: what are those practices, why or why not did change occur, how easy or difficult was it to change) |
6 | What is the most difficult thing about your job? (Explore: time, money, resources, competition, market, inflation, owner’s attitude pairwise ranking. For each, discuss how this will effect their job if it occurs more or less) Top three difficulties recorded through PRA (participatory rural appraisal) exercise using pairwise ranking:
|
7 | Do you have any income streams apart from shoeing and trimming equine hooves? What are they? Include making shoes and tools. Which is the preferred activity? What would be your ideal job in 10 years’ time? |
8 | What is the best thing about your job and why? (Explore: motivation behind this, any examples) |
9 | How do you try to attract more clientele to your services? (Explore: quick, cheaper, quality services, owners’ satisfaction) |
Meerut | Muzaffarnagar | ||
---|---|---|---|
(A) Engaged group | (B) Less-engaged group | (C) Engaged group | (D) Less-engaged group |
Bruised sole (in equids) | Over-reaching (Dund marna) | Uncertainty/non-functional brick kiln industry | Fewer clients due to reduction in equine population |
Handling aggressive equids | Interference or brushing | Unavailable or expensive farriery tools | Elderly farriers |
Over-grown hooves in equids (especially in the brick kiln off-season). | Hoof balance | Bruised sole (in equids) | Low price paid for services |
© 2019 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Share and Cite
Mohite, D.S.; Sheikh, C.S.; Singh, S.; Kalita, J.; Williams, S.; Compston, P.C. Using Qualitative Methods to Explore Farrier-Related Barriers to Successful Farriery Interventions for Equine Welfare in India. Animals 2019, 9, 252. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani9050252
Mohite DS, Sheikh CS, Singh S, Kalita J, Williams S, Compston PC. Using Qualitative Methods to Explore Farrier-Related Barriers to Successful Farriery Interventions for Equine Welfare in India. Animals. 2019; 9(5):252. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani9050252
Chicago/Turabian StyleMohite, Dinesh S, Chand S Sheikh, Saurabh Singh, Jogen Kalita, Shereene Williams, and Polly C Compston. 2019. "Using Qualitative Methods to Explore Farrier-Related Barriers to Successful Farriery Interventions for Equine Welfare in India" Animals 9, no. 5: 252. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani9050252
APA StyleMohite, D. S., Sheikh, C. S., Singh, S., Kalita, J., Williams, S., & Compston, P. C. (2019). Using Qualitative Methods to Explore Farrier-Related Barriers to Successful Farriery Interventions for Equine Welfare in India. Animals, 9(5), 252. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani9050252