EQUIDS

Equids encompass horses, donkeys, zebras, and their wild relatives. Evolving over 50 million years, they transitioned from multi-toed forest dwellers to the single-toed runners we recognize today. In their natural habitats, equids form close social bonds, traverse vast distances, and communicate through body language, vocalizations, and subtle cues. They exhibit behaviors such as mourning their dead, nurturing their young, and displaying a strong desire for freedom.

FACTS

▫️ Equids originally evolved in North America but went extinct there approximately 10,000 years ago, likely due to a combination of climate change and human hunting.

▫️ Donkeys possess remarkable memories, capable of recognizing areas and other donkeys they haven't seen in years.

▫️ Horses can doze while standing, thanks to a unique anatomical feature called the "stay apparatus." However, for deep REM sleep, they must lie down.

▫️ Free living horses exhibit coordinated defense tactics, such as forming protective circles around their young to shield them from predators like wolves.

▫️ Zebras have never been truly domesticated due to their strong flight response.

 

Every equid is an individual — not merely a means of transport, a tradition, or entertainment. Yet, humans exploit them in numerous ways.

The Many Ways Humans Harm Equids

Sports & Entertainment

Horse Racing: Horses are forced to run at unnatural speeds, leading to frequent injuries and deaths. Many are discarded when no longer profitable. What you can do: Reject all forms of horse racing. Advocate for the end of this exploitative industry.

Harness and Sulky Racing: Horses are compelled to pull carts at high speeds, often resulting in physical strain and accidents. What you can do: Oppose these events and support bans on such practices.

Rodeos: Horses are subjected to stressful and dangerous events like bronco riding and calf roping, causing trauma and injury. What you can do: Campaign against rodeos and educate others about their inherent cruelty.

Show Jumping and Dressage: Horses are forced to perform tricks using coersive training methods, including hyperflexion ("rollkur"), leading to physical and mental harm. What you can do: Denounce these sports and promote equid freedom.

Circuses: Equids are forced to perform unnatural tricks through fear and punishment, keeping them in confinement. What you can do: Support legislation banning animal circuses and choose cruelty-free entertainment.

Festivals: Equids are forced to perform in dangerous events, such as running through fires, causing fear and injury. What you can do: Advocate for animal-free cultural celebrations.

Tourist Rides: Equids are exploited for rides in tourist areas, often under harsh conditions without proper care. What you can do: NEVER use animal rides and encourage ethical tourism.

Labor and Transportation

Cart Pulling: Equids are forced to haul heavy loads, often beyond their capacity, leading to exhaustion and injury. What you can do: Support alternatives to animal labor and aid organizations helping working equids.

Brick Kilns and Mines: Equids are "employed" in grueling conditions, exposing them to extreme heat, dust, and injury. What you can do: Raise awareness and support efforts to end such exploitation.

Mountain Transport: Equids are used to carry tourists in steep terrains, often without to exhaustion. What you can do: Choose alternative transportation options and boycott animal rides.

Garbage Collection and Water Transport: Equids are used for basic services in areas lacking infrastructure. What you can do: Advocate for improved infrastructure and animal-free solutions.

Logging and Construction: Equids are used in physically demanding tasks, risking their health and safety. What you can do: Promote mechanized alternatives and support equid rescue initiatives.

Military Use: Historically and presently, equids have been used in warfare, putting their lives in danger. What you can do: Call for the end of animal use in military operations.

Breeding and Genetic Manipulation

Thoroughbred Breeding: Involves forced reproduction and hormonal manipulation, leading to health issues and overpopulation. What you can do: Oppose breeding and support adoption of equids in need.

Inbreeding and Trait Selection: Prioritizes aesthetics or performance over health, causing genetic disorders. What you can do: Promote awareness of the consequences of selective breeding.

Industrial and Commercial Exploitation

Blood Farming: Extracts hormones from pregnant mares for pharmaceutical use, causing distress and health problems. What you can do: Demand ethical alternatives in medicine and support bans on such practices.

Cosmetic and Pharmaceutical Testing: Equids are subjected to invasive procedures for product development. What you can do: Choose cruelty-free products and support non-animal testing methods.

Slaughter for Meat and Leather: Equids are killed for consumption and fashion. What you can do: Adopt a plant-based lifestyle and oppose the use of animal-derived materials.

Gelatin Production: Uses equid-derived collagen, contributing to the commodification of their bodies. What you can do: Opt for plant-based gelatin alternatives.

Captivity and Display

Zoos and Safari Parks: Equids are confined in unnatural environments, restricting their natural behaviors. What you can do: Never patronizing facilities that keep animals in captivity.

Hybridization for Novelty: Breeds hybrids like zonkeys for entertainment, often leading to health issues and abandonment. What you can do: Educate others about the ethical concerns of animal hybridization.

Neglect and Abuse

Abandonment: Equids are discarded when they are no longer profitable, leading to starvation and suffering. What you can do: Support rescue organizations and advocate for stronger animal protection laws.

Isolation: Keeps social animals alone, causing psychological distress. What you can do: Promote awareness of equids' social needs.

Physical Abuse: Equids are subjected to beatings, harmful restraints, and excessive control methods. What you can do: Report abuse.

Mental Distress: Equids are confined in restrictive environments, depriving them of stimulation and social interaction. What you can do: Encourage enrichment and natural living conditions for equids.

Legal and Systemic Failures

Property Classification: Treats equids as property, denying them legal rights and protections. What you can do: Advocate for legal recognition of animals as sentient beings.

Lack of Enforcement: Fails to uphold existing welfare regulations, allowing ongoing abuse. What you can do: Demand strict enforcement of animal welfare laws.

Export Loopholes: Permits live export of equids for slaughter, circumventing domestic protections. What you can do: Campaign for the closure of export loopholes and end animal export.

Equids are sentient beings with their own needs, desires, and rights. They are not tools or commodities.

Recognizing their intrinsic value is the first step toward ensuring they live free from exploitation.