For the first time since 2013, Canada’s Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Equines is being updated, and the public is invited to provide input. Adding your voice makes a difference to the lives of equines.
The National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC) has now opened the public comment period. This stage of the process allows the public to review the draft Code and submit feedback before it is finalized.
This Code sets out the minimum requirements of care for everyone who raises and cares for equines in Canada and plays an important role in shaping how they are treated on farms nationwide.
The update follows an earlier national survey that gathered top equine welfare concerns from the public. That input, along with a scientific review of current research, was used by a diverse team of experts to develop the draft Code.
Or keep reading for tips to ensure your voice is heard.
Key welfare issues for equines that we would like to see addressed include:
- Clear space allowances outdoors, as current space requirements are too vague and should include specific minimum standards (Section 2.1 Pastures, Paddocks, and Pens).
- Prohibiting tie stalls to ensure horses are not confined in restrictive environments and adding clear indoor space allowances, as current space requirements are not clearly defined and should include specific minimum standards (Section 2.3.1 Indoor Space Allowance).
- A specific requirement for horses to receive forage as an essential part of feeding practices (Section 4.4 Nutritional Content and Feed Management).
- Regular observation and monitoring, with minimum frequencies included (e.g., twice daily for housed horses and once daily for pastured horses) (Section 5.1 Health Management).
- Ensuring adequate social opportunities, enrichment, and turnout, including a minimum daily turnout and required enrichment, especially for horses housed indoors (Section 7.1 Turnout, Social Opportunities, and Enrichment).
- Requiring less painful identification methods such as microchipping and ensuring pain control for branding is effective immediately if branding is not prohibited (Section 7.3 Methods of Identification).
The public comment period is open until March 12, 2026. Anyone can participate, and public input will help inform the final Code.
In the interview below, we met up with Shelby Dennis, CHBC from Milestone Equestrian, to discuss the code revision, some of the issues covered in it and why it’s important to get involved.
Tips to keep in mind: To ensure your submission is reviewed, please follow these suggestions for filling out NFACC’s survey:
- Use your own words – share your unique perspective; identical submissions may be ignored.
- You don’t need to comment on everything – feel free to comment on all sections of the code, or just the ones you care about the most. Every bit helps!
- Be polite – submissions that include profanity or derogatory language will not be considered.
- Address on-farm welfare issues – the Code does not apply once equines leave the farm, so it does not cover transport.
- Suggest exact changes you would like to see.
-
- For example, “Please change the requirement that states ‘Horses must be observed as often as required to maintain their health and well-being’ to ‘Horses must be observed at least daily, and more often if they are sick, injured, about to foal, or very young.’”
-
- Provide references, examples, and explanations, where possible, to explain why you would like to see a change.
-
- For example, “Several other NFACC Codes (e.g. goats, poultry) require daily monitoring of animals. Animals must be observed at least once every 24 hours to ensure they are not trapped, injured, or sick, and that they have access to food and water. Equines can suffer deteriorate rapidly if left longer than this without intervention.”
-
Learn more
- Learn about raising horses in Canada and other welfare issues they may face
- Learn how the Code helps protect equines in Canada
