Working horses in low-income countries often suffer from severe hoof neglect due to limited access to farriery services and owner knowledge, causing chronic pain and lameness.
Hoof neglect in working horses and donkeys in developing countries represents some of the most severe and preventable suffering in domestic animals globally. Animals working long hours on hard terrain with overgrown, imbalanced hooves experience chronic pain with every step. Many owners lack the knowledge and tools to address hoof problems, and professional farriery is unavailable or unaffordable in many rural settings. Organizations providing community farriery training demonstrate that modest investment in education and tools produces substantial welfare improvements. The scale of working equid suffering globally demands sustained international attention and resource investment.