Horse welfare is a responsibility that includes all aspects of  well-being, including proper housing, sound management practices, nutrition, disease prevention, responsible care, humane handling, and, where necessary, humane euthanasia.
We all have a responsibility to promote the humane treatment of animals and can demonstrate this commitment on a daily basis.

Assessment of Animal Welfare: the Five Freedoms

In 1965, when the British government first reviewed the welfare of farm animals in intensive husbandry systems they proposed that all farm animals should have the freedom to 'stand up, lie down, turn around, groom themselves and stretch their limbs'. These minimal standards became know as the five freedoms.

In 1993, the UK Farm Animal Welfare Council agreed that the original definitions concentrated too much on space requirements and on one aspect of behavior (comfort seeking) to the exclusion of everything else that might contribute to good animal welfare, like good food, good health and security.

The five freedoms now read:

1. Freedom from thirst, hunger and malnutrition - by ready access to fresh water and a diet to maintain full health and vigor.
2. Freedom from discomfort - by providing a suitable environment including shelter and a comfortable resting area.
3. Freedom from pain, injury and disease - by prevention or rapid diagnosis and treatment.
4. Freedom to express normal behavior - by providing sufficient space, proper facilities and company of the animals own kind.
5. Freedom from fear and distress - by ensuring conditions that avoid mental suffering. 

According to Dr. John Webster: (The researcher who helped develop the Five Freedoms, and Professor of Animal Husbandry, University of Bristol) -

"When put to work by comparing different housing systems, the five freedoms are an attempt to make the best of a complex situation. Absolute attainment of all five freedoms is unrealistic.