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Headroom requirements for horses in transit
1Manitoba Agriculture, Veterinary Services Branch, Winnipeg.
Summary
Canadian transport regulations for horses may not ensure adequate headroom in double-deck trailers, potentially compromising the welfare of sport horses during transit.
Area of Science:
- Animal Welfare Science
- Transportation Science
- Equine Science
Background:
- Horses for slaughter in Western Canada often travel in double-deck trailers with limited headroom.
- Previous research has not adequately addressed the specific headroom needs of sport-type horses in these conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess if current Canadian transport legislation and codes of practice provide sufficient headroom for sport-type horses in double-deck trailers.
- To evaluate the welfare implications of restricted headroom during equine transport.
Main Methods:
- Estimation of poll and withers height from photographs of various horse breeds.
- Comparison of estimated horse heights with legally mandated headroom requirements.
Main Results:
- Poll and withers heights varied significantly across different horse breeds.
- Current Canadian legislative and code of practice headroom requirements may be insufficient for many sport-type horses.
Conclusions:
- Existing transport regulations may not adequately protect the welfare of sport-type horses due to insufficient headroom in double-deck trailers.
- Further research and potential revision of transport regulations are needed to ensure equine welfare.