Equine Codes of Practice in England, Scotland and Wales provide a fundamental basis for assessing if an individual horse, pony, donkey or mule is a concern. They summarise the legal responsibility under the Acts and provide guidance on how keepers are expected to meet the needs of their animal. As such, they are effectively a ‘green cross code’ to owning or keeping an equine.

It is the owner and keeper’s responsibility to read the code of practice and to fully understand their animal’s welfare needs and what the law requires from them. Many owners are completely unaware of the existence of these codes of practice and are receptive to learning more about the requirements included within them. If you are involved in caring for horses, you should be aware of the guidance within the Government Codes of Practice.

Should a prosecution be taken, the courts will consider whether the actions, or lack of action, were that of a prudent owner or keeper.  They will use the Codes of Practice to help them decide which actions could/should have been taken in order for the animal to be cared for properly.  Failure to comply with the codes is not an offence in itself.

The Codes of practice provide useful guidance around the full range of welfare concerns including;

• How to plan for euthanasia
• How to provide a suitable environment for equines
• How to provide a suitable diet and specific focus on laminitis prevention and weight management
• How to provide for the behavioural needs of equines including training and how to avoid fear associations and appropriate use of restraint.

From the Compendium to NEWC’s Standards Guidance

Since its first publication in 2002, the National Equine Welfare Council’s Equine Industry Welfare Guidelines Compendium played a central role in supporting good welfare practice across the UK.

Developed collaboratively with the equine sector and widely used by practitioners, educators and enforcement bodies, the Compendium evolved over three editions to reflect advances in welfare science and changes in legislation.

As the industry’s needs continued to develop, NEWC has now brought this work together into a more comprehensive and future-focused resource: its Standards Guidance.

This guidance builds on the legacy of the Compendium by providing clear, evidence-based expectations for safeguarding equine welfare and promoting a good quality of life for all equines.

It underpins NEWC membership, supports consistent high standards across the sector, and is reviewed regularly to ensure it remains current and reflective of emerging research and best practice.