Access to appropriate veterinary care including pain management, diagnostics, and specialist expertise is a critical welfare determinant for horses worldwide.
Equine veterinary welfare depends on timely access to appropriate care when horses are ill or injured. Colic welfare in particular requires rapid veterinary response as pain escalates quickly and prognosis worsens with delay. The geographic distribution of equine veterinary services leaves many horses in rural areas with delayed access to specialist care that significantly affects welfare outcomes. Telemedicine consultation models that allow rural veterinarians to access specialist expertise without physical referral are improving welfare access equity. Owner education in recognizing signs of pain and understanding when to call a veterinarian immediately versus monitoring is a critical welfare intervention.