Millions of horses worldwide provide essential transport, agriculture, and construction labor in low-income countries, where access to veterinary care and knowledge of equine welfare is often limited.
Working horses and equids in low-income settings face a welfare paradox: they are economically indispensable to families who often lack resources to provide adequate care. Lameness from overloading, skin wounds from poorly fitted harnesses, and parasitic infection are endemic in many working equid populations. Welfare improvement in this context requires culturally sensitive community education, accessible farriery and basic veterinary services, and economic support that allows owners to reduce workloads and improve nutrition. Improving equid welfare here directly improves human livelihoods.