Horse welfare legislation varies dramatically between countries, with significant gaps in protection particularly for working horses in lower-income countries.
Strong welfare legislation requires not just laws but enforcement capacity, cultural attitudes that value horse welfare, and economic conditions that allow owners to provide appropriate care. In many countries, horses are working assets whose welfare is secondary to their economic function. International organizations including World Horse Welfare and the Brooke provide advocacy and practical support for improving horse welfare globally, but legislative change requires political will at national and international levels.