Companion Animal Welfare

Horse Transport: Stress, Injury, and Best Practice

Road transport is inherently stressful for horses; journey duration, vehicle design, loading methods, and post-journey recovery all significantly affect welfare outcomes.

Key Facts

Horses transported for 6+ hours show elevated cortisol and suppressed immune function
Facing rear during transport reduces motion stress in many horses
Loading problems affect an estimated 30% of horses and are often caused by negative past experiences
Post-journey respiratory disease is a significant welfare risk after long-distance transport

Welfare Considerations

Horse transport stress accumulates through multiple pathways: the confined vehicle space, postural muscle exertion maintaining balance, noise, vibration, and the challenge of eating and drinking during movement. Long journeys without adequate rest cause fatigue and immune suppression that predisposes to shipping fever. Training horses to load calmly and providing adequate rest, water, and hay during journeys significantly reduces welfare costs.

What You Can Do

Train horses to load positively using reward-based methods before they need to travel
Provide hay and water during transport journeys
Advocate for EU and national journey time limits and mandatory rest periods for horses