THE JUDICIOUS USE OF EQUINES DISCUSSION


The most common types of equines are horses and donkeys. Thus, distant hybrids such as mules and hinnies are uncommon. Even though equines do not typically represent food animals, the food and agriculture production systems in the Global South rely heav- ily on them. Equines mainly offer riding and ferrying services in remote areas. Women and the poor in rural areas, for instance, de- pend on equines, particularly donkeys, to support their livelihoods (Geiger, 2020 ; Geiger et al., 2020 ). However, the increased use of motorised transportation and expansion of rural roads threaten equines survival. Natural resources, such as grazing lands, must be properly managed and conserved for the equine industry to survive (Lee et al., 2021 ). Bender and Stowe ( 2019 ) stated that equines can be legally protected as a highly prized heritage while still being al- lowed to roam free. In addition, veterinary services need to be im- proved to enhance equine welfare. According to Mikou et al. ( 2019 ), the current rural accessibility


index (RAI)—the proportion of the rural population living within two kilometres of an all-season road in sub-Saharan Africa–is 29. A com- parable study (Ngezahayo et al., 2019 ) reported that only approx- imately 34% of people in sub-Saharan Africa have access to rural roads. This finding demonstrates the significance of equines in rural transportation. As a result, universal access to all-season roads is not a feasible strategy for some nations in the near or medium term (Mikou et al., 2019 ). This phenomenon highlights the importance of equines in the future. According to Fay et al. ( 2019 ), sub-Saha- ran African nations have invested between 1.9% and 3.5% of their GDP in infrastructure. According to Hine et al. ( 2019 ), the network of Ethiopia ' s roads increased fivefold between 1997 and 2014. As a result, RAI increased in Ethiopia from 46 in 2010 to 52 in 2016 (Nakamura et al., 2020 ). The rapid expansion of road networks in rural areas poses a threat to the use of equines. Although rural roads play a significant role in enhancing the


quality of life (Hine et al., 2019 ; Mikou et al., 2019 ; Nakamura et al., 2020 ), a growing body of evidence raises concerns regarding the likely negative effects of road construction on biodiversity and forest cover (Hine et al., 2019 ; Mikou et al., 2019 ). However, the de- gree of impact is strongly related to the type of road and the local context (Mikou et al., 2019 ). The development of all season ' s roads may accelerate the spread of infectious diseases (Hine et al., 2019 ). Additionally, it intensifies wild-animal collisions by vehicles (Coffin et al., 2021 ). According to Mascarenhas and Suri ( 2018 ), the rapid growth of motorised vehicle fleets—15% to 17% annually in many nations—could worsen matters. However, the loss of biodiversity caused by rural road expansion can be halted by using equines to transport people and goods in biodiversity hotspot areas. Lessons need to be learned from the Amish philosophy in the USA, in that their religion forbids them from driving cars, which can be used to preserve the traditional use of working equines in rural agriculture (Dijak et al., 2020 ). However, products derived from this type of farming must be treated as specialty products and command pre- mium prices.


| 313 Donkeys are commonly used for riding in the Sahel region.


Despite their reputation as low-status animals, donkeys are used for weeding and seeding field crops,


like sibling equines


(Starkey, 1994 ). Donkeys do not need as much care as horses. A load is carried by donkeys along narrow routes that moto- rised transportation and even horses and mules cannot navi- gate. Starkey and Mudamburi ( 2022 ) reported that donkeys can ride, and Klecel and Martyniuk ( 2021 ) stated that donkey riding began before horse riding. Consequently, for example, Yılmaz et al. ( 2012 ) called the donkey the ‘poor man ' s horse’. Donkeys pose little risk of theft because of their low prices. However, the high demand for ejiao, also known as donkey gelatin, in China in- creases its cost (Geiger, 2020 ; Starkey & Mudamburi, 2022 ), and the risk of theft (Starkey & Mudamburi, 2022 ). Donkey skin is the raw material used to produce the traditional Chinese medicine ejiao (Geiger, 2020 ). Equines can be used for steady pulling, intermittent short-distance


transportation and challenging or congested environments with lim- ited manoeuvrability (Starkey, 2001 ; Starkey & Mudamburi, 2022 ). They can be used for weeding and cultivation purposes. Renewable energy can be derived from equine power. Small-scale farmers in South Africa use horses for tillage, as is the case in northwest Ethiopia. Owing to the high-status image of horses, horse carriages are also common in many industrialised nations around tourist destinations. In tillage, horses can be used alone, paired or yoked with other species. According to Collins ( 2010 ), historical evidence suggests that equines have gradually replaced the oxen used for tillage. Donkeys and mules can be used as pack animals in remote and mountainous areas (Starkey & Mudamburi, 2022 ). According to Desta et al. ( 2022 ), mules can travel over terrain that most vehicles cannot reach. If thick smoke or cloudy weather makes it difficult for aeroplanes and helicopters to fly, the equines can still contribute to the control of wildfires by transporting supplies to firefighters camped in remote regions (McKenna, 2022 ). Premarin, a medication used to treat postmenopausal women


(Winegar, 2011 ) and a well-known drug for hormone replacement therapy (Wimalawansa, 2000 ), can be produced from the oestro- genic-rich urine of pregnant mares. Whooping cough can be treated with donkey milk (Marufu, 2014 ). According to Prasad ( 2020 ), beauty products, such as soap, cream and body milk, can be made from donkey milk. Additionally, the Mongols consumed horse blood while commuting on long journeys and allowed horse milk to ferment to produce kumis (Frazier, 2005 ). Hippotherapy and therapeutic horse- back riding can help people with physical and mental disabilities im- prove their health and well-being (Bush & Marczak, 2001 ). Animals, as ethnozooindicators, predict climate and weather conditions (Alves & Souto, 2015 ). According to Lavergne ( 2021 ), horse hair can be used to make


bows for string instruments such as the violin, viola, cello and dou- ble bass. Moreover, the traditional instrument mesinko in Ethiopia ' s music industry is made up of horsetail hair. In addition to the sisal fibre, horse hair can be used to make the tip of a whip, which can be used to beat oxen during ploughing. However, while using horses '


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