Rescue & Welfare

Calgary Stampede Chuckwagon Horse Deaths Controversy

Updated:

July 20, 2019

Few equestrian sports fuel as much drama and controversy as the chuckwagon races at the Calgary Stampede, and this year was no exception. During the GMC Rangeland Derby Chuckwagon Races, which ran in nine heats of four chuckwagons per heat each night from July 5 to 14, 2019, six horses died and several were injured over the ten days of racing that sparked critical and heated backlash from the public.

How to Safely Refeed the Malnourished Horse

Updated:

January 1, 2019

Horse owners are familiar with the tragic pictures shared on social media of the emaciated horse rescued by the authorities, or the one that could not be saved due to its poor condition. Malnourished horses are a reality even in our affluent Western world. Sometimes these horses are the result of well-intentioned people trying to “save” unwanted horses, only to find they are unable to do so because of cost or scarcity of feed.

Major Threats to Equine Welfare Identified in Research Study

Updated:

April 10, 2018

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What would you list as a threat to the welfare of horses in Canada? What actions could we take to fix this? Questions like these may not always be the first thing on the mind of most horse lovers, but they are extremely important to the continued success and growth of Canada’s horse industry. Recent research led by Cordelie DuBois and Dr. Katrina Merkies at the University of Guelph has shed light on the answers to these questions and more, giving us a better picture of the perceptions of welfare in the Canadian horse industry.

Music Helps Horses Better Respond to Performance Demands

Updated:

April 4, 2018

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Researchers from Poland¹ set out to determine the effect of music played in the barn, on the emotional state of race horses. Many horse owners have found that music has an apparent calming effect on fear, aggression, and overall stress. Race horses, in particular, have demands of increased cardiac activity and speed that may be improved through music exposure.

For the Love of Alberta’s Wild Horses

Updated:

December 23, 2017

Alberta’s Wild Horses, The Wild Horses of Alberta Society (WHOAS) June Fox, FotosbyFox

The Wild Horses of Alberta Society (WHOAS) was formed in 2002 after public outcry over the destruction of several wild horses that lived in the mountains and foothills of the eastern slopes of Alberta. Their mission is to ensure the provision of all aspects of conservation and humane treatment of wild horses in Alberta, and they are committed to the preservation of these magnificent animals in their natural environment.

BC Horse Community on Alert!

Updated:

September 18, 2017

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As livestock and property owners worriedly watch the skies praying for rain, the wildfire season in British Columbia shows no sign of abating and could continue until the first snows fly. According to the BC Wildfire Service, the 2017 wildfire season is officially the worst on record in the province.

Equine Charities Unite to Put Welfare Policy into Practice Worldwide

Updated:

April 12, 2017

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Equine welfare charities Brooke, The Donkey Sanctuary, SPANA and World Horse Welfare announce their first formal coalition - The world’s leading international equine welfare charities: Brooke, The Donkey Sanctuary, SPANA and World Horse Welfare, announced their first formal coalition on March 17, 2017. Formed specifically to put policy into practice, the coalition aims to advise, motivate, and support the implementation of the first-ever global welfare standards for working horses, donkeys and mules. These landmark standards were approved by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) in May 2016 following advocacy and technical support from Brooke and World Horse Welfare.