The Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Equines

 Are you aware that a Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Equines CPCHE was published in Canada in 2013? Did you know that Equestrian Canada the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals SPCA the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association CVMA and the Canadian Feed Inspection Agency were among the many partners involved in the development of the CPCHE under the National Farm Animal Care Council NFACC and that they remain part of the team that supports the industryrecognized recommendations and requirements established within the Code for good equine husbandry? Lets look at what exactly this equine Code entails.

What is the Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Equines?
The CPCHE is a reference document that is intended to bring guidance to horse owners and to provide regulatory strength to enforcement agencies working to ensure that horses in Canada are always treated humanely. The objective of the CPCHE is to ensure that horses like all other livestock are guaranteed the Five Freedoms
1 Freedom from hunger and thirst by ready access to fresh water and a diet to maintain full health and vigour
2 Freedom from discomfort by providing an appropriate environment including shelter and a comfortable resting area
3 Freedom from pain injury and disease by prevention or rapid diagnosis and treatment 
4 Freedom to express normal behaviour by providing sufficient space proper facilities and company of the animals own kind and
5 Freedom from fear and distress by ensuring conditions and treatment which avoid mental suffering.
The Code was initiated under the umbrella of the NFACC a group providing leadership at a national level for advancing farm animal welfare. NFACC includes farmers regulators scientists and animal welfare groups collaborating to make sciencebased decisions on the humane treatment of farmed animals. The CPCHE is just one of a number of codes of practice developed for multiple species of livestock including beef cattle dairy cattle swine goats and poultry.
In 1980 an early code of practice for horses was developed by the Canadian Association of Humane Societies. This early code was an attempt at establishing recommendations for the care of horses but it was comprised only of recommendations and there was no means of enforcement to it. The current CPCHE was initiated in 2005 by a Code Development Committee CDC acting under the auspices of the NFACC comprising a range of stakeholders from the equine world including veterinarians industry leaders and representation