New transport regulations drive changes to online awareness and education training series
The Horse Welfare Alliance of Canada (HWAC) today launched an updated version of our online training program for equine owners, caregivers, industry professionals, and general horse enthusiasts. Released with the goal of keeping horses safe and healthy in April 2020, the free educational series is structured around the Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Equines.
“The training provides a timely refresher about important management and welfare practices,” says HWAC project coordinator Mikki Shatosky. “We’ve designed it to be convenient but also to follow the distinct sections of the Code including appropriate care, housing, feed, water, health management, transportation, as well as change of career and end of life. It’s really a great resource for industry but is also being used by animal welfare inspectors and livestock investigators.”
While the online, self-paced training has been available for a year, HWAC recently updated the transportation section to reflect recent regulation changes.
“Safe and humane transport of animals was actually one of the main motivators for the establishment of HWAC more than a decade ago, so this is an area that is extremely close to our heart,” explains Shatosky. “These new federal regulations provide clarity around the best practices for loading, transport and unloading of equines in Canada.”
Since its inception, HWAC has worked diligently to raise awareness and provide industry endorsed information, guidance and practical tools. In fact, in addition to the virtual training program, the group has developed a number of tailored assessment checklists to help equine owners, custodians, industry specialists, and professionals evaluate, improve, and manage the welfare of equine on their property and/or in their care.
The assessment checklists can be found at www.horsewelfare.ca/assessments and are customized for equine at public venues, boarding stables, on-farm, feedlots, racetracks and rescue facilities. Not only do the assessment checklists prompt owners to ask key questions, they also facilitate continuous improvement within the industry itself.
For more information about HWAC initiatives or to register for Code of Practice Training please visit www.horsewelfare.ca/equine-code-training or e-mail design@declercq.ca.
ABOUT THE HORSE WELFARE ALLIANCE
Established in 2008, the Horse Welfare Alliance of Canada has a proven track record of working within the equine sector to educate and promote humane care, handling and welfare of equines throughout their lifetime. The Alliance includes provincial equine organizations, farm animal care groups, producers and other segments of the animal agriculture industry.
The Equine Code of Practice Awareness and Education initiative is managed through the Horse Welfare Alliance of Canada and funded partly through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership’s AgriAssurance Program – a federal, provincial, territorial initiative.