OPINION: Kenya's growing horse industry needs more than admiration, it needs responsibility

Horses have long been associated with prestige, equestrian sports and exclusive clubs in Kenya. Increasingly, however, they are becoming part of everyday life, appearing on beaches, in schools, hotels, shopping malls, recreational facilities and public events.

For many young people, particularly in urban areas, horses are also emerging as a source of income through tourism, recreation and entertainment.

But as the industry expands, animal welfare experts are warning that Kenya lacks the systems needed to safeguard the welfare of the country's growing horse population.

Those concerns are captured in the newly released State of Horse Welfare in Kenya report, launched alongside Furaha Ya Farasi, Kenya's first national horse welfare programme.

The report, compiled by the Kenya Society for the Protection and Care of Animals (KSPCA) with support from Brooke East Africa, paints a troubling picture of an industry growing faster than its regulatory and welfare structures.

The assessment follows an earlier study conducted in 2023 across the Greater Nairobi area that identified widespread welfare concerns. A follow-up review found that many of those challenges have not only persisted but intensified.

Speaking during the launch of the programme in Loresho, Nairobi, KSPCA Chief Executive Officer Emma Ngugi said the findings underscore the urgency of strengthening horse welfare in the country.

"This report has been a long time coming, but we've been concerned about the situation for horse welfare in Kenya for a while. It is extremely important now because we see that the situation is worsening, and the situation is worsening rapidly," she said.

One of the report's key findings is the absence of a national registration and identification system for horses. According to the report, Kenya has no comprehensive mechanism for tracking horse ownership, movement or population data, making effective oversight difficult.

"There are a lot more horses in Kenya than there used to be. There is a problem being able to say the exact number, but we know that we're in the tens of thousands. The reason there is a problem is because we don't have any registration or census system to be able to count them, and that's actually one of the things that we need to take action on," Ngugi said.

The report warns that the lack of oversight creates risks extending beyond animal welfare, including disease surveillance and illegal cross-border trade. It cites concerns over unmonitored movement of horses and suspected illegal trafficking of ponies through the Ethiopian border.

Brooke East Africa Programme Manager Elijah Mithigi said the profile of horse ownership in Kenya has changed significantly over the years.

"We've been assuming that horses are a prestige animal. But we have seen that shift, where now the horses are not just for sport or for these fancy places, but these are now animals that are increasingly becoming a source of livelihood, especially for young people in our urban areas, in recreation facilities," he stated. 

However, Mithigi noted that the expansion of the industry has not been accompanied by adequate knowledge on horse care.

"Sometimes we imagine that when these animals land with a new owner, they know how to care for the horse. They know how to ride the horse. They know how to handle the horse. It's an assumption, really," he noted.

According to the assessment, many owners and handlers lack basic knowledge of horse husbandry, nutrition, handling, equipment use and welfare practices.

"These animals are landing in people who have no background, no knowledge about the whole husbandry component of a horse. And so, the training for the owners is very, very critical," Mithigi added.

The report documents a range of welfare concerns across both formal and informal horse enterprises, including poor nutrition, inadequate veterinary care, lack of suitable shelter, inappropriate equipment, overworking, overloading and, in some cases, physical abuse.

While these practices contravene Kenya's Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (Cap. 360), the report argues that enforcement alone is insufficient. It calls for a broader approach combining education, regulation, industry standards and stronger accountability.

The assessment also highlights economic challenges affecting horse welfare. Proper feeding, veterinary care and equipment require significant financial investment, yet many horse-hire businesses operate on narrow margins, leading some operators to cut costs at the expense of the animals.

The report notes that improving horse welfare can also improve business outcomes by providing safer and better experiences for customers while reducing injuries and improving the longevity of the animals.

To address the challenges, the report recommends establishing a national horse welfare coalition bringing together government agencies, veterinarians, equestrian organisations, welfare groups and horse owners.

It also proposes developing national welfare standards, introducing a registration and identification system for horses, strengthening equine veterinary services, expanding training programmes for owners and handlers, creating a welfare certification system for businesses and establishing rescue and rehabilitation centres for neglected or abused horses.

Animal welfare organisations say the recommendations provide an opportunity for Kenya to build a horse industry that is both economically sustainable and aligned with internationally recognised welfare standards as the sector continues to grow.

The writer is an animal welfare enthusiast and digital communications specialist.