Working horses, mules, and donkeys power agriculture and transport for millions of people globally. Their welfare depends on appropriate workloads, veterinary care, and owner knowledge that varies enormously worldwide.
Working horse welfare is inextricably linked to the livelihoods of the people who own them, which is both a welfare challenge and an opportunity. Owners who depend entirely on their horses for income have strong economic incentives to maintain their animals, but may lack the knowledge or resources to do so effectively. Organizations like the Brooke have found that community-based education programs that simultaneously improve horse welfare and productivity create sustainable change because owners experience direct economic benefit. The welfare intervention that matters most is often not direct treatment but building the knowledge and resource access that allows owners to recognize and address welfare problems before they become severe.