Draught horses used in agriculture, forestry, and competition face specific welfare challenges related to workload, harnessing, hoof care, and their nutritional needs for sustained physical effort.
Draught horses performing heavy work have specific welfare needs that differ significantly from leisure horses. The physical demands of heavy hauling create risk of musculoskeletal injury, exhaustion, and pain if workload is not carefully managed. Collar and harness fit is particularly important, as poorly fitted equipment concentrates force on small areas creating pressure sores and deep tissue injury. In contexts where horses are used for economic draught work, financial pressures can lead to overworking and underfeeding. Appropriate veterinary and farriery access, humane workload limits, and harness expertise are all essential welfare components.