Horse Welfare in Developing Countries

Working equines in low and middle income countries face severe welfare challenges including overwork, inadequate nutrition, lack of veterinary care, and chronic pain from poorly fitting equipment.

Key Facts

An estimated 100 million horses, donkeys, and mules work in developing countries, often as the primary source of transport or power for low-income families
The Brooke organisation estimates that over half of working equines they assess show signs of pain or distress
Poor harness and saddle fit causes chronic pressure sores, back pain, and gait abnormalities in working animals
Access to farriery is limited in many regions, leading to severe hoof problems affecting locomotion and welfare
Waterborne diseases and parasites are leading causes of ill health and death in working equines in tropical regions
Female equines are often worked through pregnancy and immediately post-partum, with welfare consequences for mother and foal
Training methods based on fear and punishment remain common in many working animal contexts worldwide

Welfare Considerations

Working equines in low income settings occupy a unique welfare and development context: they are essential livelihood assets for some of the world poorest families, meaning their welfare is inseparable from human poverty. Organisations like the Brooke and Donkey Sanctuary address this by training communities in basic equine care, improving harness fit, and establishing community veterinary schemes. A pure welfare-first approach that ignores economic realities is ineffective; sustainable welfare improvement in these contexts requires that better care is shown to improve working capacity and longevity, aligning animal welfare with owner self-interest. This is one of the clearest examples of human and animal welfare being directly aligned.

What You Can Do

Support organisations including the Brooke, Donkey Sanctuary, and SPANA working with equines in developing countries
Donate to community veterinary training programmes in equine-dependent communities
Advocate for inclusion of working equine welfare in international development programming
Share information about humane harness fitting and basic equine care through relevant networks
Engage travel companies about the welfare standards of equine transport experiences in developing countries
Support research into cost-effective welfare interventions for working equines in low-income settings
Contribute to campaigns improving access to farriery education and tools in equine-dependent communities