Horses transported across Europe and internationally face serious welfare risks from journey duration, loading stress, temperature extremes, and inadequate rest stops.
Loading and transport are among the highest-stress events in a horse's life. The combination of confinement, unfamiliar movement, social disruption, and often extreme temperatures creates cumulative welfare harm. Long journeys to slaughter are particularly concerning — horses may travel for days across multiple jurisdictions. The 8-hour journey limit proposed by welfare advocates would dramatically reduce suffering without eliminating necessary transport.