Evidence-based practices for minimizing welfare harm during horse transport and journey planning.
Horse transport welfare depends on the interaction between vehicle design, journey management, and individual horse experience. Horses that load willingly, travel in vehicles with good ventilation and movement absorption, and arrive at destinations with minimal physiological stress markers represent well-managed transport. The regulatory framework for horse transport addresses minimum standards, but best practice goes further in limiting journey duration, providing regular rest breaks, and training horses to load and travel calmly. The welfare of horses in long-distance transport for slaughter — particularly cross-continental journeys in Europe — remains a priority area for regulatory reform.