Potential compromises to Affective States of PMU mares:

• Housing conditions have potential to cause the mares’ undue discomfort and pain.
• Infection and chaffing from urine contraption devices would cause the mares to experience a negative affective states
• Crowding from narrow stalls could cause the mares to be distressed from lack of space for them to move or lay down

Industry Reports

• Mares confined for the first time were not physiologically stressed (Houpt & Waran, 2003)
• Mares confined did not develop stereotypic behaviour (other than ones acquired prior to collection periods)
• Independent of stall size some mares never laid down throughout their collection period (Houpt et. at., 2001).
• An increased absence of stereotypic behavior was seen in mares that had more or ad libitum access to hay.
• Mares are housed beside other mares which may alleviate potential signs of distress.
• Given low prevalence of observed stereotypic behaviors keeping large numbers of pregnant mares in tie stalls is rational and that the welfare of mares is sound (Flannigan & Stookey 2002).