Horse Transport Welfare | Animal Welfare Hub

Horses are transported long distances for racing, breeding, sales, and slaughter. Transport welfare standards vary enormously and long journeys cause significant suffering.

Key Facts

Horses can be legally transported for up to 24 hours in the EU with minimal rest stops
Transport-related respiratory illness is a major cause of post-transport horse deaths
Horses transported to slaughter travel some of the longest distances in the food chain
Approximately 100,000 horses are slaughtered in the EU annually from various sources
Poor ventilation and vehicle design cause injury and heat stress during transport

Welfare Considerations

Long-distance horse transport causes welfare problems through exhaustion, dehydration, respiratory infection from accumulated dust and ammonia, and injuries from vehicle movement. EU regulations allow journeys of 24 hours with only brief water stops — welfare organizations consider this far too long. Transport to slaughter across international borders involves horses from multiple sources in poor condition. Horses transported for slaughter experience the highest welfare costs as they are often in compromised condition before transport begins.

What You Can Do

Support maximum journey time limits of 8 hours for horse transport in your jurisdiction
Advocate for horses to have water access every 4 hours during transport
Support bans on long-distance horse transport for slaughter
Choose equine events that minimize unnecessary transport
Donate to organizations investigating and improving horse transport welfare