Long-distance horse transport causes significant physiological and psychological stress. Regulations on journey length, rest periods, and space allowances are central to transport welfare reform.
Horse transport welfare is a significant issue given the long distances involved in both sport horse movement and live slaughter trade. Horses are flight animals with stress response systems highly tuned to novel environments and movement - transport activates these systems continuously over journeys that may last days. Respiratory compromise from head position constraints during long journeys creates both welfare and mortality risk. The EU live horse slaughter trade, which moves horses from Eastern European countries through multiple border crossings to slaughter in Italy and Spain, represents some of the worst transport welfare in the industry. Welfare-based maximum journey time limits are supported by scientific evidence.