The World Animal Protection estimates 100 million working equines globally, primarily in low- and middle-income countries. Many face chronic overloading, inadequate feed and water, ill-fitting harnesses, and no veterinary care. Working equines are often essential to family livelihoods, making welfare improvement complex.
Ill-fitting harnesses cause pressure sores, nerve damage, and chronic pain. Traditional collar designs in many regions have not changed for centuries. Regular hoof care is often unavailable, leading to severe lameness from overgrown, cracked, or infected hooves.
Overloading relative to body weight and condition is widespread. Inadequate rest and recovery time leads to exhaustion, metabolic disease, and premature death. Evidence-based workload guidelines based on body condition score and terrain type improve welfare and working life.
Working equines require significantly higher caloric intake than sedentary animals. Feed is often inadequate in quality and quantity, particularly during high-demand seasons. Access to clean water multiple times daily during work is a basic welfare requirement rarely met in some contexts.
Organizations like Brooke Hospital for Animals and SPANA (Society for the Protection of Animals Abroad) operate mobile veterinary clinics, community training programs, and farrier training in working equine communities globally. These programs improve welfare while respecting community livelihoods.
The Donkey Sanctuary and SPANA have developed validated field welfare assessment tools adapted for resource-limited settings. These enable rapid assessment of large numbers of animals at markets and working sites. Welfare data guides program targeting and policy advocacy at national level.