Horses destined for slaughter face some of the worst welfare conditions in any equine transport system, including long-distance journeys, mixing of unfamiliar horses, and inadequate rest, food, and water.
Horses bound for slaughter face a transport welfare crisis that compounds the suffering of their final journey. Unlike cattle transported to slaughter in regulated conditions, horses transported across US borders to Mexico and Canada face journeys that routinely exceed humane transport time limits. Mixing unfamiliar horses in transit causes serious injuries. Documentation requirements for drug residues are often inadequate. The welfare solution requires either strong transport regulation with genuine enforcement, humane slaughter facilities with proper oversight, or sufficient retirement and adoption infrastructure to reduce the volume of horses entering these pipelines.