Millions of horses are slaughtered for meat each year globally. Horse slaughter raises specific welfare concerns due to the flight response of horses and their sensitivity to slaughter plant environments.
Horses are highly sensitive prey animals with extreme fear responses to novel environments. Slaughter plant handling of horses is consistently identified as a welfare risk — unfamiliar smells, sounds, and handling cause intense fear. Transport to slaughter over long distances is particularly harmful, with injuries, exhaustion, and dehydration documented in shipments. Captive bolt reliability for horses is lower than for cattle, increasing the risk of failed stunning. Welfare standards for horse slaughter lag behind those for conventional livestock.