An estimated 100 million working equines in low and middle-income countries face severe welfare challenges from overwork, inadequate nutrition, poor harness fit, and lack of veterinary care.
Working equines in low-income settings face chronic, severe welfare compromise. Overloading and long working hours cause musculoskeletal pain and exhaustion. Ill-fitting harnesses cause painful wounds that worsen without treatment. Dental disease prevents effective food processing, causing weight loss and nutritional stress. Many owners lack knowledge of equine needs and access to veterinary care. Yet these animals are vital economic assets — their welfare is directly linked to their owners livelihoods. Community-based welfare programmes that combine veterinary care with owner education generate sustainable welfare improvements.