Abstract
Equines are providing traction power and transport services, like pulling cart, packing and riding, at low cost in both rural and urban areas of Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Gondar city from November 2014 to April 2015 to assess major health problems and to investigate the economic contribution of cart horses to livelihood of the community. Cart horses were randomly selected from the study area. Observational study was also conducted and semi-structured questionnaire survey was administered to all cart horse owners. The study revealed that behavioral responses, skin coat and dental conditions were significantly associated with body condition and age of cart horses (p<0.05). Wound and musculoskeletal problem had no significant association with body condition and age of working horses. Young horses with good body conditions were more prone to wounds (75%) than the older horses with poor body conditions. The majority of the carthorse owners used their horses for transportation for long hours (> 8 hours) per a day, 5-6 days per week and loaded them 500-700 kg. The income in cash for the cart horse owners was recorded as 80-100 ETB per day. The current study indicated that the cart horse contribution to livelihood of communities is considerable. The working animals deserve better husbandry and veterinary care to sustain their contribution. We suggest a more detailed and systematic study be conducted in the study area to influence policy makers towards better regulation in animal welfare.
 Keywords: Cart horses, Economic contribution, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Highlights
Equines are widely distributed throughout the world
Study Area The study was conducted on selected sites of Gondar town from November 2014 to April 2015, Amhara National Regional State, North Western of Ethiopia
The economic contributions of horses were associated with the livelihood of owners
Summary
Equines are widely distributed throughout the world. There are about 1.91 million horses, 6.75 million donkeys and over 0.35 million mules in Ethiopia (CSA, 2013). The Brooke welfare assessments (The Brooke, 2008) have found that between 90 and 100 percent of working equine animals suffer lameness and foot abnormalities while 80 per cent have eye abnormalities which may contribute to poor physical and mental welfare These problems are often exacerbated because in many areas people are paid according to how many goods they can carry, making overloading a major problem. The welfare of working horses in Ethiopia is crucially important, for the health and survival of the animals, and for the livelihoods of those people dependent on them (Pearson and Krecek, 2006; Wilson, 2002). The present study was designed to study the economic contribution of carthorses to livelihood of their owners
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