Quantifying the Impact of Mounted Load Carrying on Equids: A Review

Abstract

There are approximately 112 million working equids in developing countries, many of which are associated with brick kilns. Brick kilns and overloading are associated with welfare problems in working equids. Understanding equids’ abilities and influencing factors are important for both effective performance and welfare. Traditionally, measurement of the amount of ‘bone’ was used, and more recently, gait symmetry has been identified as a potential marker for loading capacity. Assessment of stride parameters and gait kinematics provides insights into adaptations to loading and may help determine cut-off loads. Physiological factors such as the ability to regain normal heart rates shortly after work is an important tool for equine fitness assessment and a more accurate measure of load-carrying capacity than absolute heart rate. Oxidative stress, plasma lactate, and serum creatine kinase activity are reliable biochemical indicators of loading ability. For monitoring stress, salivary cortisol is superior to serum cortisol level for assessment of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis and is related to eye temperatures, but this has yet to be interpreted in terms of load-carrying ability in equids. Further research is needed to standardize the evidence-based load-carrying capacity of working horses and donkeys.

Welfare concerns for mounted load carrying by working donkeys in Pakistan

“…We explored mounted load carrying by donkeys in Pakistan and the factors associated with the weight of load carried. Despite overloading being an important donkey welfare problem (5), the current report is the first to elucidate factors associated with mounted loads carried under field conditions. One quarter of donkeys carried loads equal to 90% or more of their own bodyweight, with some donkeys estimated by their owners to be carrying more than 150% of their bodyweight.…”

“…There are approximately 50.5 million donkeys globally (2), benefiting around 600 million people and playing a vital role in the livelihood of poor and vulnerable communities (1,3,4). The importance of working donkeys for their owner's livelihood and the economies of developing countries is well known (3)(4)(5). However, their importance has often been overlooked in government-level animal welfare policies (6).…”

“…However, their importance has often been overlooked in government-level animal welfare policies (6). As such little is done to safeguard donkey welfare (7), leading to compromised welfare due to marginalization, harsh working conditions and lack of legislation (3,5).…”

“…Donkeys are used in a variety of settings, across rural, peri-urban, and urban areas (7) for the transportation of construction, agricultural, and domestic loads (3–5), including brick production (Figure 1). One of the most severe problems working donkeys experience is overwork and overloading (8–10).…”

“…However, their importance has often been overlooked in government-level animal welfare policies (6). As such little is done to safeguard donkey welfare (7), leading to compromised welfare due to marginalization, harsh working conditions and lack of legislation (3,5). Donkeys are used in a variety of settings, across rural, peri-urban, and urban areas (7) for the transportation of construction, agricultural, and domestic loads (3)(4)(5), including brick production (Figure 1).…”