Horse slaughter is legal in some countries and banned in others. The welfare implications of slaughter versus sanctuary and the treatment of horses at end of life are actively debated.
Horse end-of-life welfare depends on whether humane euthanasia by lethal injection is accessible and affordable. Long-distance transport to slaughter causes preventable suffering. Welfare-focused approaches prioritize accessible euthanasia services, retirement sanctuary capacity, and reduction of breeding surplus through demand management. The debate about slaughter versus alternatives must center on minimizing individual horse suffering rather than economics alone.