Working horses in transportation, agriculture, and recreation face specific welfare challenges that vary significantly by context and region.
Working horses occupy vastly different welfare conditions depending on their use and location. Urban carriage horses face traffic stress, hard road surfaces that damage hooves, extreme summer heat, and working conditions that advocates argue are incompatible with equine welfare. Sport horses in elite competition receive excellent veterinary care but face intense training, travel, and performance pressure. Working horses in developing countries frequently receive inadequate veterinary care and are overworked. Equine welfare organizations work across these contexts with programs ranging from basic veterinary care training to advocacy for carriage horse retirement.