Working Horses in Conflict Zones

Horses, donkeys, and mules used by military and civilian populations in conflict zones face extreme welfare challenges with minimal oversight or protection.

Key Facts

An estimated 100 million horses, donkeys, and mules work in developing economies including conflict-affected areas
Military use of horses continues in some mountain and remote terrain conflicts despite mechanisation
Working equines in conflict zones face malnutrition, untreated injuries, and exposure to blast trauma
Veterinary support organisations such as SPANA and Brooke operate in some conflict-affected regions
Abandoned or ownerless equines in post-conflict settings often form feral groups in dangerous environments

Welfare Considerations

Working equines in conflict zones represent an invisible welfare crisis. Without veterinary care, adequate feed, or protection from violence, these animals suffer injuries, starvation, and blast trauma that would be treated as emergencies in developed countries. Their welfare is inseparable from the welfare of the communities who depend on them — a horse or donkey that cannot work may mean a family cannot earn income or transport goods. Organisations working in these contexts understand this interconnection and address equine welfare as part of community resilience, not separately from it.

What You Can Do

Donate to organisations like SPANA and Brooke that provide veterinary care in conflict-affected regions
Advocate for working animal welfare to be included in humanitarian response planning
Support post-conflict rehabilitation programmes for abandoned equines
Raise awareness of the welfare needs of working animals in crisis contexts