The use of horses in film and television production has a history of welfare problems, but improved oversight through organizations like American Humane has substantially reduced on-set harm.
Horse welfare in film production has improved dramatically since the unregulated early Hollywood era, but ongoing oversight remains essential. American Humane certification provides on-set supervision that has reduced acute welfare incidents significantly. But the broader welfare picture for performing horses extends to transport, training methods used off-set, and the handling of horses that have completed their working lives in production. Welfare oversight that covers only the camera-visible moments misses the majority of a performing horse's welfare experience. The gold standard is certification that encompasses training, transport, and post-production retirement alongside on-set monitoring.