As an organization mandated to promote and advance the health and welfare of horses in Canada, we are saddened and disturbed by any account of a horse in distress or a situation of abuse or neglect.
Equestrian Canada (EC) takes the issue of animal maltreatment extremely seriously and has zero tolerance for the abuse of a horse. Our jurisdiction is limited to horses and individuals that have a relationship with EC, but any report received that does not fall within our jurisdiction will be forwarded on to the appropriate authorities including law enforcement and/or the SPCA.
All reports of abuse fall within our Horse Welfare Code of Conduct. EC follows a third party complaints process to deal with any violations of the code of conduct including physical abuse of a horse which is governed by our Discipline, Complaints and Appeals policy.
As part of the Horse Welfare Code of Conduct, all individuals and members of the public are required to report instances of horse abuse to EC which shall immediately address such reports as needed under the terms of the applicable policies.
Anyone that witnesses or has reasonable grounds to believe that a horse is suffering or has suffered abuse, is obligated to report it and we encourage anyone that has information or further details to report their concerns themselves as their duty to report.
If anyone has further information on any instance of horse abuse, we encourage them to report their concerns here: Submit a Complaint or Appeal.
We all have a role to play to ensure a horse’s right to safety and well-being. Working together, we can advance the best interests, protection, and welfare of horses in Canada.