Horses transported for slaughter and breeding travel thousands of kilometers under conditions that cause significant welfare compromise, with international trade routes circumventing stricter national regulations.
Horses, as prey animals with strong flight instincts, experience transport as genuinely stressful regardless of conditions. Long transports without adequate rest, water, and food cause cumulative physiological and psychological stress. International trade routes for horses going to slaughter frequently evade welfare standards by traversing jurisdictions with minimal oversight.