The welfare of working equids is one of five priority topics of the second Action Plan (2017-2019) of the Platform on animal welfare for Europe. In many countries of the region, equids (horses, mules, and donkeys) are still used as a drafting power for agriculture and transportation, especially in rural areas and play an important economic role.
The poor welfare of these animals remains an important challenge, and raising countries’ awareness of the newly adopted Chapter 7.12 on the welfare of working equids of the Terrestrial Animal Health Code is a first step to improving this situation and paving the way for future capacity-building activities.
The second Action Plan (2017-2019) of the OIE Platform includes several activities on the welfare of working equids, focusing initially on raising awareness of working equids welfare issues in the countries of the region.
