An estimated 100 million working horses, donkeys, and mules provide livelihoods for 600 million people in low-income countries, but face severe welfare challenges including overwork, malnutrition, and limited veterinary access.
Working equid welfare is a global justice issue connecting animal welfare to human poverty. Families whose livelihoods depend on a working horse or donkey have strong incentives to care for the animal but often lack knowledge of welfare needs, resources for veterinary care, or access to appropriate harness equipment. Welfare interventions that provide farriery, harness fitting, wound treatment, and nutrition guidance simultaneously improve animal welfare and family income by extending equid working life. The most effective programmes work through community-based approaches that build local capacity rather than one-time interventions.