World Horse Welfare Horse Welfare: a Global View Presentation by Roly Owers MRCVS Chief Executive, World Horse Welfare
Overview Introduction to World Horse Welfare Our UK work Campaigning Our international work Our work in ]horse sport So what? 2
World Horse Welfare Every horse should be treated with respect, compassion and understanding. President HRH The Princess Royal Pre-eminent international horse charity Horse-human partnership Pioneering legislation to improve welfare Respected by the public, governments and regulators Practical approach 3
Key facts Leading international charity funded through donations President: HRH The Princess Royal 4
Where we work Head office and campaigning Mexico Haiti Guatemala Nicaragua Honduras Costa Rica Senegal Lesotho South Africa Cambodia 5
What we do 1. Rescue, rehabilitation and rehoming of horses in the UK 2. Campaigning for better welfare laws 3. International programmes to help working horses and their owners 4. Advising sport regulators on horse welfare 5. Education and research e.g. breeding, disease, weight 6
7 In the UK
Our work in the UK National welfare hotline 6,000 + calls each year Network of 16 field officers investigate welfare concerns work with other rescue organisations Work with horse owners to improve welfare Last resort rescue horses and assist with prosecutions under Animal Welfare Act 8
Our four UK centres Currently 300+ horses being rehabilitated in our centres: Glenda Spooner Farm, Somerset Hall Farm, Norfolk Penny Farm, Lancashire Belwade Farm, Aberdeenshire Rescue, Rehabilitate, Rehome 9
UK horse crisis 4,000+ horses at risk (more in winter) Causes: economic downturn, overbreeding, illegal grazing Charities cannot rescue them all Coordinated coalition of welfare organisations and rural organisations to campaign for and introduce Control of Horses Act to counter illegal grazing 10
Campaigner for better laws 11
Ground-breaking report to address lack of data about many parts of the equine sector Discrepancies in treatment under legislation (companion vs farm) The Donkey Sanctuary 18-month project Undertaken at invitation of European Commission 12 Removing the Blinkers
Leisure Leisure (assumed) Working Working (assumed) Unknown 13 Removing the Blinkers
Member States affected Reported Welfare Problems 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 14 Removing the Blinkers
Number slaughtered Welfare at Slaughter End of life decisions crucial to welfare 25000 Ireland - equine slaughter since 2002 Slaughter statistics affected by wider economy e.g. Ireland 20000 15000 10000 5000 Welfare problems evident 0 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 Year 15 Removing the Blinkers
Transport campaign Transport - key welfare issue Campaign against long journeys for slaughter in Europe FEI Transport Stress Project Valuable horses Good care and conditions Fit to travel Travel only essential distances Food, water, rest and recovery Avoidance of unnecessary transport stress Slaughter horses Poor care and conditions Unfit often obese Little or no food, water, rest Journeys last days Injuries and stress Dehydration, exhaustion Disease 16
Science: stop these journeys Scientific evidence: horse health and welfare suffers from long journeys Immune systems fail Respiratory problems Injury, dehydration, stress Disease clinical signs apparent in all inspected consignments Journeys for unregistered horses should not exceed 12 hours - European Food Safety Authority 17
What we re doing Improved conditions Reduced trade from 165,000 in 2001 to 54,000 in 2012 Guidance watering and fitness for transport Pressing for journey limit of 9-12 hours based on scientific evidence On-going campaign 18
Other successes and campaigns EU welfare report Tripartite Agreement Equine identification regulations Animal health law Illegal export 19
Our work 1. International programmes to help working horses and their owners 2. Campaigning for better welfare laws International 3. Advising sport regulators on horse welfare 4. Rescue, rehabilitation and rehoming of horses in the UK 1. Education and research e.g. breeding, disease, weight 20
Hardworking horses Around 100 million working horses, donkeys and mules fuel economies worldwide Taxis, lorries, ambulances Long days, hot sun, heavy loads, inadequate water and nutrition Injury, hoof problems, illness Family needs horse to work regardless 21
Helping these horses We help improve welfare and health through education - sharing skills and expertise with horse-owning communities 22 Basic horse care Hoof care and farriery Tack and saddlery Nutrition Basic veterinary treatment First aid
Across three continents 10 countries Africa, Central America, Asia Work through partners, help set up organisations locally Engage with governments, universities, other organisations Children and women 23
Cambodia success Cambodia team now competing internationally, can host competitions Legacy of improved farriery, saddlery and horse care Horse welfare at heart of growth
25 Sport
Support for horse sport Believe in horse-human partnership Partnership based on compassion and respect Support the RESPONSIBLE use of horses in sport Welfare of horse must be paramount 26
Advisor to sport regulators British Horseracing Authority (BHA) The FEI and so National Federations Member of the British Equestrian Federation and the European Horse Network 27
Supporting horse racing Welfare advisor to the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) Partner in improving horse welfare Risk management, doping, veterinary Review of the whip, Grand National
Welfare and the whip We support use of whip for safety NOT be used if horse exhausted, not given time to respond or out of contention in race NOT be used to terrify horses Inappropriate or overuse of the whip is a flagrant ABUSE of horse welfare Sparing use of the whip is better for horses, looks better and ensures better reputation 29
Welfare advisor to the Advising the FEI for more than 30 years Welfare Code of Conduct All those involved in international equestrian sport must adhere to the FEI Code of Conduct and acknowledge and accept that at all times the welfare of the horse must be paramount and never be subordinated to competitive or commercial influences. - FEI Code of Conduct, drafted with World Horse Welfare 30
Our work with the Olympic Games Research into heat, humidity for Atlanta, Beijing London 2012 equestrian games Transport Stress Project Clean Sport Joint research with FEI on arena surfaces Training methods FEI Solidarity Cambodia
Welfare standards now global 32
33 The welfare of the horse must never be subordinated to competitive or commercial influences in any equestrian sport
Our collective duty to horses Excellent treatment Sparing, sensible whip use No doping No unacceptable practices in sport or anywhere else Issues with some parts of international endurance MUST be rectified FEI trying to address these The future of equestrian sport and racing depends on high welfare standards 34
What to take away from this? Importance of a voice for horses Horse welfare problems rife across globe, with lack of knowledge, neglect and end-of-life issues key factors Need to help working horses and consider skills needed for emerging horse sport industries Highest welfare standards essential for sport Personal responsibility you can make a difference 35
Thank you for your time. Questions? www.worldhorsewelfare.org @HorseCharity @rolyowers