Horses are slaughtered for human consumption in significant numbers globally, with welfare concerns around transport, handling, and slaughter methods receiving increasing attention.
Horse slaughter welfare is a complex issue involving the interests of horses, the livelihoods of those in the equine industry, and consumer choice. Horses bred and worked as companions and athletes face different welfare considerations than animals reared specifically for food. The long-distance transport pipeline from sport horses to slaughter facilities in Mexico and Canada has been documented as causing severe welfare harms. In countries where horse consumption is culturally embedded, welfare improvement focuses on transport conditions and slaughter method standards rather than abolition. In countries where cultural resistance to horse slaughter is strong, the challenge is preventing surplus horses from entering an unregulated pipeline.