A new national code for the care and handling of equines is good news for all equine owners and caregivers, say officials.
“It's a substantial improvement on what we had in the industry,” Maggie Harvey, director of industry with Equine Canada, told the Gazette. “It really is a good how-to guide for people looking for a resource on what it takes to own a horse. It's geared to the beginner, the new owner, and it is written in very straightforward language; and it doesn't shy away from the difficult topics, such as euthanasia.
“It recognizes that there are all sorts of horses and all sorts of environments for horse ownership. There are templates in the new code that are helpful for people to understand the true cost of horse ownership.”
Equine Canada and the National Farm Animal Care Council recently announced the release of a new code of practice for the care and handling of equines. The new code replaces the 1998 national code.
The code of practice includes requirements regarding facilities and housing, feed and water, health management, feedlot management, husbandry practices, reproductive management, transportation and euthanasia.
An 18-person code committee comprised of equine owners, animal welfare and enforcement representatives, researchers, vets and government representatives formulated the code of practice.
“The development of this new code is perhaps the most important project in recent Canadian history for the health and welfare of equines in Canada,” said Jack de Wit, chair of the development committee.
“This is a code of practice we can all be proud to have. It is among the most comprehensive of equine codes internationally, and will serve a vital role across our diverse industry.”
The new code of practice will be a powerful tool for meeting rising consumer, marketplace and societal expectations relative to farm animal welfare, he said.
The new code includes the following provisions:
• Equines that are sick, injured or in pain must receive appropriate treatment without delay or be euthanized without delay.
• For sick, injured or compromised horses that are not showing improvements, horse owners or caregivers must, without delay, obtain veterinary advice on appropriate care and treatment or make arrangements for euthanasia.
• An acceptable method of euthanasia must be used, and euthanasia must be performed by a person knowledgeable in the methods used for equines, and disposal must be in accordance with provincial and municipal regulations.
• Appropriate authorities must be advised of suspected or confirmed cases of federally reportable disease, such as equine infectious anemia.
• Horses must be observed as often as required to maintain their health and well-being.
• A parasite control program to prevent parasite related disease must be in place. The requirement applies to internal and external parasites.
Jackie Wepruk, general manager and project coordinator of the National Farm Care Council, says the feedback on the new code has been “very positive” to date.
She said the process that went into forming the new code was comprehensive and “very credible”.
Asked if the code is binding on horse owners, Harvey said, “It can be. It is a guide for people with the SPCA to determine health and welfare infractions. That's where the code is new in that sense. They are not regulations as such but it is a code and people who own horses are expected to follow that code. This is going to be an important tool for people trying to assess abuse in horses that are not being cared for properly.
“Without a code of practice some things become objective. When you have a code of practice adopted nationwide, it is important for people to be aware of the code.”
The new code is being sent to 4-H clubs, agricultural schools and others.
“A lot of 4-H coaches are going to be using it in their barns,” she said. It is available online, and hard copies can be ordered for free at www.equinecanada.ca.
A new Canadian code of practice for the care and handling of beef cattle has also been developed.
That code “sets a new standard that will improve the lives of beef cattle across the county,” says Geoff Urton, spokesperson for the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies.
