EQUITARIAN SESSION


is both realistically achievable and beneficial. If welfare organizations fail to provide a “flagship” ser- vice that demonstrates the benefit of veterinary in- tervention, there will be no sustainable response. The provision of “primary first aid” and routine pro- phylactic treatment for working animals serves many purposes, even though it does itself not bring huge benefits. There would seem to be little point in treating an individual donkey for parasites when his environment is worm ridden and he gets little other help. However, visible veterinary attention does have


many beneficial effects, including improving respect for the animal, elevating the position of veterinari- ans and in the end, increasing the job satisfaction of the veterinarian. If any animal in the world needs the very best diagnostic and therapeutic interven- tions it is the working animal, an animal upon which lives and opportunity depend. Key veterinary interventions will vary widely ac- cording to the local circumstances. Broster et al3 identified the extent of the veterinary welfare issues facing working horses. In some circumstances, vaccination against epidemic disease or against dis- eases that are locally significant can be critical. For example, historically in Mali, tetanus was a very significant cause of both morbidity and mortality in the working donkey population. A simple vaccina- tion program rapidly resulted in a virtually 100% prevention of this otherwise highly fatal disease.4 This simple intervention brought significant bene- fits but required significant logistic organization and some investment. Did it work? Yes it did. Was it worth it? Yes it was. In Ethiopia, epizootic lymphangitis (histoplasmo-


sis) is a massive issue. It is clear that vaccination would require considerable development involving significant funding, so a policy of euthanasia of se- verely affected horses has been introduced and is supported by government. This has resulted in sig- nificant benefit with fewer new cases being reported. Better awareness has significantly improved the welfare situation for all animals. In a study by Popescu et al,5 697 working horses


were assessed by using observation, behavioral tests, clinical examinations, and questionnaires. In working horses, it is clear that the heavier the work they perform, the more important it is for horse owners/breeders/farmers to ensure that their welfare needs are addressed to help them cope with the multiple specific risks imposed by their work. In recognizing this, we raise the standard of animal welfare while reducing human burden at the same time.


There are few studies on the benefits of either education or veterinary input. The need for moni- toring has been highlighted by Upjohn et al.6 Pear- son7 described the outcomes of interventions directed at health and husbandry improvements to working animals in Africa and suggested that inter- ventions were capable of bringing long-term im-


provement in both the welfare of working animals and the economic circumstances of the users. The challenges that face all of us who work with working equids in the developing world are enor- mous. The first priority is to identify the problems (local and regional) and then devise definite, achiev- able, sensible, and legally binding strategies to ad- dress them. Without that fundamental legal support, it is hard to see how progress is going to be made. Continued reliance on nongovernmental or- ganizations that depend on donation income will not bring permanent change. Governments must rec- ognize the need and the obligation to address the broad issues relating to working animal welfare. Education is probably the most basic requirement but education alone does not always overcome habit, prejudice, or antagonism. Education needs to start with children but must involve all levels of society at the same time. It is easier to “teach” a child empa- thy than it is to get an old farmer to change his donkey’s harness, even if there are financial re- wards. Old habits die hard.


5. How Can Veterinary Interventions Be Better Coordinated With Other Intervention Methods?


Given that it is clear that the use of working animals is going to continue into the indefinite future world- wide,8 we have to make critical decisions on the roles that each of us, individually and corporately, can play in this overall situation. We can individually and corporately put pressure on governments to support sensible preventive medical and veterinary care. We must emphasize the role of the working equid in society and we must try to generate legis- lative support for the equine species in the economic structure of the countries concerned. Although we can cynically suggest that the development of a vac- cine for African Horse Sickness and epizootic lymp- hangitis would be best driven forward by the fear that these infections would spread to the developed world, it would be far better if the vaccines were developed to improve the societies where the disease is endemic, and so by extrapolation, reduce the risk of spread of the disease. Burn et al9 explored environmental factors asso-


ciated with potential welfare problems in working equids, with the laudable intention of targeting wel- fare interventions toward the most vulnerable ani- mals. In this study, hoof and limb problems were found in 90% of animals and 85% of working equids were thin. Older, thin animals in poor condition had the most problems. Equids used to transport people or goods by cart, or by pack, or those required to work in brick kilns had more problems than oth- ers. Rural horses and donkeys had more problems than urban ones, but urban animals had more obvi- ous skin and other lesions, and were generally less well behaved. All equids were significantly thinner in warmer climates. These results provide signifi- cant guidelines for potential interventions leading to improvements in welfare. However, the complexity


AAEP PROCEEDINGS  Vol. 61  2015 299


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