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| INTRODUCTION Implications
Horses, donkeys and ponies, as well as the two reciprocal distant hybrids of horses and donkeys, known as mule and hinny, are invis- ible workers and are known to be living machines that are classified as large non-ruminant domestic herbivores. Although equids are rarely used as food animals, they deliver a wide range of goods and services. As a result, equines contribute significantly to the United Nations ' Sustainable Development Goals (Grace et al., 2022 ). Human history is deeply ingrained in the use of equids and their compan- ionship. According to FAOSTAT ( 2021 ), most sibling livestock spe- cies outnumber equine species. Among equids, hinnies and ponies have rarely been encountered. Most equines are maintained by smallholder farmers in non-industrial nations (FAOSTAT, 2021 ). Although the number of equines is relatively stable in developing nations (FAOSTAT, 2021 ), their importance in rural areas is becoming increasingly diminished by the expansion of motorised transporta- tion and the network of rural roads. For instance, in many nations, the road network in rural areas expanded by 2% between 1998 and 2008 (Faiz, 2012 ), and the number of vehicles doubled approxi- mately every 5 years (Mascarenhas & Suri, 2018 ). However, in the Global South, a significant proportion of the citizens could not af- ford to invest in and maintain vehicles and recurrently purchase fuel (Rajper & Albrecht, 2020 ). Equine production is an unquestionably small family business
in Ethiopia and other developing nations. Plantation forestry and crop production, which encroach on grazing lands to feed the ev- er-increasing human population, have reduced the feed supply for equines and sibling livestock species (Desta et al., 2022 , 2023 ). Smallholder farmers have prioritised raising versatile Bovines be- cause of the scarcity of feed. As feed resources become increasingly scarce, farmers are forced to choose between equine species. Smallholder farmers frequently use equines in distant hybridi-
sation programs to produce robust distant hybrids such as mules and hinnies. Equines can be used as model animals in scientific studies because of their amenability to distant hybridisation. Equines play significant roles in the leisure industry and are fre- quently used as companion animals. Equines produce considerable traction power for their live weight. Pal et al. ( 2002 ) reported that donkeys can carry up to 50% of their bodyweight and generate traction power equivalent to 24% of their bodyweight (Tiwari et al., 2003 ). Owing to their widespread use in transportation and traction, equine products and services support rural agriculture and sociocultural practices. Perhaps this is why locomotive energy is measured in horsepower. Equines ' derived use values and strategies for expanding and
maintaining the traditional services they provide are vital for the survival of the species. Consequently, it is important to gather data on their use value across regions that maintain equines. Equine survival in the face of increasing motorisation is in jeop- ardy if preventative measures are not implemented on time. This exploratory study reports diverse use values of equines, as well as their current status.
• At this historical juncture, when the survival of equids is in jeopardy, it is essential to reiterate the historical value of equids and the essential services they provide to improve the lives of people all over the world. Transportation and agricultural mechanisation systems must be modernised; however, there is a remarkable, unanticipated chance for equids to serve as development engines, particularly in the Global South.
• It is ethical to consider the survival of equids as impor- tant domestic herbivores and companion animals. This study reports the opportunities and threats affecting the equine world, as well as the common and derived use val- ues of equids.
DESTA
MATERIALS AND METHODS The study sites
An exploratory observational study was conducted while travel- ling and speaking to people living in various parts of the central and southeastern Ethiopian highlands. The study was conducted in both urban and rural areas where equines are raised.
The study methods
This report was compiled through in-depth interviews with 10 knowledgeable farmers, informal discussions, exploratory observa- tional studies and personal insights. The population status, prevail- ing equine use values, key factors that contribute to their declining utilisation and opportunities for their widespread use were all as- sessed in depth in this study.
Data analysis
The summary statistics of the global equine population were com- piled from the FAOSTAT ( 2021 ) dataset, and R (R Core Team, 2016 ) was then used to create a graph showing the dispersion pattern of their population in 2021. The annual trend of the global equine population was outlined using the FAOSTAT historical dataset (1961–2021).
RESULTS
Equids provide services that overlap and are specific to locations in both urban and rural settings. This section presents the various
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