Removing the Blinkers…

Abstract

44 July/August 2015 • equine HealtH © 2 01 5 M A H ea lth ca re L td T he role of equines throughout Europe is vast and varied, with industries reliant on them generating more than 100 billion euros to the economy each year and providing almost one million jobs. While the actual population of equines has been estimated at a relatively modest figure of around seven million, the income they generate shows the important position they hold in society across Europe. These and other findings were the result of 18 months of research by World Horse Welfare and pan-European advocacy organisation Eurogroup for Animals. At the request of the European Commission, they have published the first ever report to set out the scale of the horse sector in Europe, the legislation affecting equidae and, the key health and welfare challenges of the EU’s horses, donkeys and mules. ‘Removing the Blinkers: The health and welfare of European equidae in 2015’ attempts to bridge the huge gaps in information about the scale of European equine sector and answer some fundamental questions such as: z How many are there in the EU? zWhat are they used for? zWhat laws exist to protect them and are these laws sufficient? zWhat are the main health and welfare problems in the EU equine population? While the report is a key first step, it raises many more questions than it answers, due in part to the lack of verifiable data. It does however provide clear recommendations as to how equids can be better protected, to safeguard both their welfare and the health of Europe’s significant equine sector. Five areas of specific concern were identified and addressed within the report. These consist of: (i) Identification Removing the Blinkers...