dear oie. standards & guidelines

7/26/2019 Dear OIE. Standards & Guidelines

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Dear OIE,

I write to congratulate the OIE on the outcome of their 84 SG held recently in Paris. The setting

of international animal welfare standards is a tremendous achievement and a very welcome one

that when eventually implemented can only be of benefit to both animals and humans alike.

In my capacity as a practicing, qualified, Saddle, Harness & Horse Collar Maker specialising in the

manufacture of working equine draught harness, I am delighted by the introduction of this new

resolution of standards and guidelines to address the welfare of working equines and look

forward to reading the finalised report in due course.

As no reference is made of equine harnessing in the overview, it is assumed that guidelines

relating to this are contained therein. It would be an oversight if no reference is made to this

important aspect of equine welfare.

As welfare is the subject of this report, it is accepted that the focus of attention is primarily onveterinarians and deservedly so, for they are at the forefront of all matters relating animal

wellbeing. Vets, I am also sure will welcome the addition of international standards relating to

working equine welfare even though the task of implementing them will be a demanding one.

As stated in your overview, working equine do play an important role in livelihoods and

economic prosperity in developing countries and as such warrant greater attention than they

currently receive. It is hoped the proposed resolutions will help to bring a greater cohesion

amongst those wishing to see improvements in welfare related matters. One area lacking in

attention is that of equine draught and the harness used for that purpose.

The term working horses and donkeys is indicative of equines serving purpose i.e. engaged in

draught or load bearing activities. For working animals to perform the tasks required of them,

there are rules of engagement or certain criterion that needs to be met and adhered too if they

are to perform as required.

Primarily, working animals are required to be fit, healthy and physically able. This being fulfilled,

of equal importance is the harness, the means by which the latent power of equines is captured

transforming them into an important, valuable and sustainable power source that has been

used to the benefit of mankind for several millennia. Here the specialist skills of the harness

maker are required.

This raises the question. Is the welfare of working equines solely dependent upon veterinaryinput and can vets be held wholly responsible for their physical wellbeing?

This is clearly not the case. Given the above, it is apparent that the welfare and wellbeing of

working equines and their capacity to work, is equally dependent upon the skills of harness

makers who, with their knowledge of harness in its multiple variations, its manufacture and

application/usage and understanding of draught animal dynamics, share the responsibilities of

welfare.

The responsibilities of harness makers extend to the added dimension of efficiency and

productivity. With this in mind, the objective is to ensure that working equines are able to move

comfortably unhindered by the apparatus essential to their activities. In other words, the

production of harness fit for purpose and comfortable for the animal to wear.


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Harness related injuries requiring veterinary treatment are directly connected to badly

designed, poorly constructed, inappropriately applied and misused harness, usually of a do-it-

yourself nature. Many of the resulting injuries are preventable yet are an everyday occurrence

in developing countries where the impact upon working equine is severe and detrimental to

their wellbeing and efficiency, not to mention the local economy.

On many occasions veterinary treatment is rendered ineffective by the animal being returned to

the offending harness thereby prolonging a persistent cycle of events that can only be broken by

tackling the problem at source, namely the harness.

By close inspection of localised harness production methods and the proficiency of those who

carry out the work, it is possible to determine where the faults lay and through specially

adapted training techniques, improve their skills. In doing so, the likelihood of a successful

resolution is enhanced.

The importance of harness, its complexities and methods of training, remain a contentious area

within the animal welfare movement. Animal welfare charities, particularly in the UK have longunderstood the need for training indigenous people in welfare related matters. The Brooke,

WHW, SPANA, The Donkey Sanctuary and TAWS are all respected charities that operate

internationally and provide much needed assistance in areas of extreme poverty and hardship.

Their focus is largely on much needed veterinary training and in issues associated with the

welfare of working equines and here they do sterling work. Included is their treatment of

harness related injuries.

However, claims of addressing harness development are somewhat unrealistic given that within

their ranks, all with the exception of one, WHW, remain professionally unrepresented by

suitably qualified or sufficiently knowledgeable specialists with the overall ability to address the

issue at root cause or to conduct skills training courses.Because of the lack of experienced representatives, action is somewhat limited and attention

largely focused on problems of an immediate nature and responded too tentatively and

provisionally.

In recognising the impact of harness related injuries, each of these organisations respond in a

manner relative to their understanding of the problem and address it as they see fit. The current

position, where each party enters into a self-styled programme using standards and guidelines

of their own making, is both unacceptable and divisive.

Further to this, there is no independent means or recognised governing body by which to

evaluate the content or outcome of training programmes?Currently, the process of evaluation is usually undertaken by those who initiate and conduct

said programmes. Such action can only be regarded as being far from impartial.

Well-intended as these actions are, they can result only in misunderstandings, conflicts of

interest and more importantly, confusion for those on the receiving end of training.

There is an urgent need for a regulated set of guidelines / standards in harness development

undertakings based upon an already recognised, ancient and well-proven set of principles that if

worked with will be found to be of major benefit to all concerned. Review of these principles

will demonstrate that the harnessing of equine is a matter of simple physics and

technical/practical expertise in matters draught related.


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Throughout the world there are many variations in the design and construction of harness with

most of these relative to local traditions and customs. However, underlying this are the

fundamental working principles/ dynamics of equine draught that remain a constant, are

indisputable and remain universally applicable to equines regardless of location. Simply put,

they are principles that if adhered to will produce results.

For many of the reasons above I welcome the resolutions proposed by the OIE. Can I

nevertheless, make a plea for the OIE to include in their resolution, clear and precise principles

relating to the efficient and comfortable harnessing of working equines. This is an important

area of animal welfare that has been largely disregarded due to lack of knowledge and the

availability of relevant up-to-date information, yet is one of the areas that offers the greatest

potential.

Providing that all concerned are willing to comply with standards and guidelines based on firm

evidence and thoroughly tried and tested procedures, and are seen to be singing from the same

hymn sheet there can be no reason is for such a move to fail.

It is hoped I have succeeded in helping to raise the profile and importance of working equine

harnessing, and the need for a coordinated, regulated approach to intervention and harness

development skills training programmes.

Once again, I congratulate the OIE and wish you every success with the implementation of the

proposed, much needed standards and guidelines.

My best Regards,

Terence Davis (Saddle, Harness & Horse Collar Maker.)

dear oie. standards & guidelines

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