Editorial: The Implications of Transport Practices for Horse Health and Welfare

摘要

Animals are transported frequently for many different reasons, from competing to slaughter, overshort or long distances during their lifetimes. However, transportation is a significant stressorfor animals and frequently leads to severe behavioral and health problems (1–3). Transportationhas therefore to be considered as a human-related risk for our animals (4, 5). While movementsof several livestock species are traceable, in most countries horses can be moved without officialcommunications or documentation. The outcome of this lack of process and procedure is thatthere are marked gaps in our knowledge of their implications. If one only considers the highperformance horses competing for Fédération Equestre Internationale (about 80,000 horses), thereare ～4,000 international events encompassing eight disciplines in 134 countries, each requiringextensive and frequent movements. In contrast, if one was to consider horses traveling for slaughter,most complete a single journey (6), but conservatively 800,000 horses are slaughtered annuallyglobally. Consequently, transportation of performance, pleasure and slaughter horses is verycommon. In recognition of animal transportation as one or the persistent animal welfare concernsof our era, this special issue aims to educate all people involved with equine transport (owners,stakeholders, caretakers, drivers, veterinarians, and scientists) on the adverse consequences oftransportation, associated risk factors, regulations and best practices. The articles encompassedwithin this Research Topic provide evidence in support of the need to safeguard horse welfareduring transportation, and since transport also poses a biosecurity risk, there are suggestions onhow to minimize disease spread.