Animal Welfare in the Equine Industry

Horses are used across racing, equestrian sport, leisure, and work contexts with highly variable welfare standards. Understanding the full spectrum of equine use helps focus welfare efforts most effectively.

Key Facts

An estimated 58 million horses are kept globally across working, sport, and companion contexts
Laminitis, a painful hoof condition, is the second leading cause of death in horses after colic
Bit and spur use in equestrian sport has welfare implications that are increasingly regulated in competitive contexts
Overbreeding in thoroughbred racing creates large numbers of horses without adequate retirement placement
High-welfare equine management including appropriate diet, social contact, and movement are achievable at reasonable cost

Welfare Considerations

Equine welfare spans an enormous range from excellent to severely compromised depending on use context, owner knowledge, and management resources. The breadth of equine use makes focused welfare advocacy essential: racing welfare, sport horse welfare, working horse welfare, and companion horse welfare each have distinct challenges. Common threads include pain management for ubiquitous conditions like laminitis, social needs, and the retirement problem when horses outlive their productive use. Equine welfare education is relatively well-developed but implementation lags in lower-income contexts.

What You Can Do

Support equine welfare organizations providing education, veterinary care, and emergency response
Advocate for specific welfare improvements in the equine activity context where you are most engaged
Donate to thoroughbred rescue organizations addressing the racing retirement crisis
Follow equine welfare science on bit and spur welfare to understand evidence for sport regulation changes
Engage with the equine industry from within if you participate in equestrian activities