Sometimes employers will instruct employees to engage in abusive practices towards horses in their care. This includes instructing you to:

• Withhold food or water
• Ride an injured horse
• Use equipment that causes pain
• Inflict pain on horses such as hitting, kicking and punching
• Apply harmful chemicals to a horses’ body

You are never required to follow instructions that cause unnecessary suffering to an animal. The Animal Welfare Act 2006 places a duty of care on anyone responsible for an animal, meaning that carrying out abusive instructions could make you personally liable, regardless of who gave the order.

We know it can be difficult to refuse instructions from employers. If you find yourself in this situation, refuse instructions calmly but firmly, document what you witnessed or were asked to do (include dates, times, what was said, any witnesses), and report the concern here. EQUISS can help you to escalate the report with appropriate authorities to ensure it is taken seriously.

If you witness animal abuse, it is important to collect evidence. If you can, video the abusive behaviour with the abusive person in frame.