Standing Ovation by Ovation Riding

Today’s honoree: World Horse Welfare.

World Horse Welfare (WHW) is an international organization based in Great Britain, aiming to improve welfare standards for horses both at home and abroad to help end suffering. The organization’s vision is a world in which every horse is treated with respect, compassion and understanding.

WHW began in 1927 as the International League for the Protection of Horses, or ILPH, after Ada Cole saw slaughter-destined workhorses on the docks of Antwerp. The ILPH initially focused most of its efforts on changing legislation regarding horse slaughter and slaughter-bound animals, and in 1937 the ILPH successfully influenced lawmakers to pass an act effectively halting the export of live horses for slaughter.

Over the years, the scope of the ILPH — which became known as World Horse Welfare in 2008 — expanded and shifted; the organization added a rescue center at home in Great Britain and started to work abroad across Europe and Africa. The scope of WHW now covers three continents with training and educational programs focused on the world’s working horses, as well as resolving horse welfare issues in the UK through field work and intervention.

WHW supports the truth that horses are still relevant in modern culture as pets, companions, athletes and working animals. In the UK, that mission is supported through rescue, rehabilitation, rehoming, helping horse owners and providing a tip line where concerned citizens can call to report a problem. Of note is the page on WHW’s website helping concerned callers determine if a report is necessary (helping to identify the difference, as an example, between a horse resting a hind leg while dozing and a non-weight-bearing injury to a leg).

Abroad, WHW helps provide training for farriers, saddlers and other skilled service providers, training in handling, training in nutrition, business skills and networking with other global and local organizations. WHW believes in the importance of working equines in developing nations and supports the goal of educating owners to encourage better animal welfare.

To learn more about World Horse Welfare, please visit the organization’s website and Facebook page.

Many thanks thanks to Ovation Riding for their support of both Horse Nation and individuals and organizations that are doing good work in the horse world. If you know someone who deserves a Standing Ovation, we would love to recognize them in a future post. Email the name of the person or organization along with a message about the good work they do to [email protected]. Photos/videos are always welcome, and include a link to their website if applicable.