Horses kept for work, sport, breeding, or meat production have complex physical and psychological needs that are often inadequately met in commercial settings, raising significant animal welfare concerns.
Farmed and working horses occupy a complex welfare space. In high-income countries, horses kept for sport or breeding are often well cared for as individuals, yet systemic welfare problems persist — prolonged stabling restricts movement and social behavior, causing gastric ulcers, stable vices, and musculoskeletal problems. Racehorses and sport horses may be pushed beyond their physical limits. In lower-income countries, working horses and donkeys frequently lack adequate veterinary care, carry excessive loads, and are worked while injured. PMU farming for hormone drugs raises specific welfare concerns: mares spend much of their pregnancy in small stalls with restricted water access to concentrate their urine. Horse transport across borders often violates legal rest and space requirements. Across all contexts, horses need daily social interaction, adequate forage, free movement, and regular veterinary and farrier attention.