Looking at government information publications, I see there’s a consultation about the care and protection of equines (horses and the like to you and me). Well, it’s often said that the British are more concerned about the care of animals than human beings, so I looked at it (there are consultations on other groups of animals too, all a result of the Animal Welfare Act 2006, trumpeted as ‘the most significant change in animal welfare legislation in almost a century’ on the Defra website).

Here’s a quotation:

The law requires that you must take reasonable steps to ensure that it [your equine]:
-Has a suitable environment to live in;
-Has a healthy diet;
-Is able to behave normally;
-Has appropriate company;
-Is protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease

There are then detailed recommendations for what you should do; I wonder if we should have this for the care of children, older people, disabled people…

But then of course we all know how to care for them, naturally, as we’re humans too, and we don’t have any responsibility for them because we don’t own them. What do you think?

The relevant page of the DEFRA website: http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/welfare-equines-cop/index.htm