Horses have worked alongside humans for millennia in agriculture, transport, sport, and therapy. As their roles evolve, so too do the welfare standards we apply to animals that give so much in service to human needs.
Working horses cannot advocate for themselves, making human stewardship of their welfare entirely our responsibility. In sport, this means honest assessment of whether training and competition demands are appropriate, whether early signs of pain or lameness are being taken seriously, and whether the horse's experience of work is genuinely positive. In agricultural and draft contexts, particularly in lower-income settings, it means ensuring access to veterinary care, appropriate feeding, and protection from overwork in extreme heat. The welfare of working horses is often entangled with the economic vulnerability of their human caretakers — sustainable welfare improvement requires addressing the material conditions of human poverty alongside animal care.