The Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Equines

are suffering as a result. In many of these cases the SPCA the role of which is both regulatory and educational is called because of public concern. In most of these cases the SPCA will attempt to help facilitate change for the operation but sometimes sufficient change is not possible and these cases can proceed to a legally enforced seizure of the horses in question.
The CPCHE is undoubtedly a foundation stone in the work being done to ensure that horses in Canada regardless of their job always enjoy the Five Freedoms. In the ongoing endeavours of equine welfare groups the Code will also be critical in ensuring that the unwanted horse never suffers needlessly. 
The issue of the horse that has no job and no future as a working horse or pleasure horse is a challenging one in North America. In other parts of the world where consumption of horse meat is considered acceptable the issue of the unwanted horse is not so pressing. But in North America we have a wide range of opinion on what is an acceptable solution for the unwanted horse. Regardless of what that solution is the horse must NEVER suffer. We as stakeholders in the equine industries we love owe it to the horses to ensure that even if they are destined for slaughter or euthanization they are always treated with appropriate care with respect to their transportation housing veterinary care feeding and their right to feel safe from pain or threats.
The CPCHE is indeed an important document for Canadian horse owners in more ways than one. It is important for the education of horse owners and as a baseline for regulatory agencies to enforce the appropriate care for horses. It is also a valuable tool for the assessment of equine facilities and one that may be used by our equine veterinarians in their efforts to help clients with potential management issues. The CPCHE may well need more clearly defined regulations in the future to facilitate the goal of ensuring that the unwanted horse never suffers but for that to happen the equine industry must also come to a consensus as to the solution for the unwanted horse in Canada. All Canadian horse owners and equine industries need to own this issue to ensure that we have a CPCHE that protects all horses.