THE recommendation for the establishment of a Department-run equine abattoir was published last week in Professor Patrick Wall’s report titled, ‘Reforms to Strengthen Equine Identification, Traceability and Welfare’. The debate surrounding equine slaughter in Ireland can be fraught with emotion, but one thing is clear - if horses are to be processed in abattoirs, they must be handled with dignity and compassion. Many horses arriving at abattoirs may be frightened, in pain, or difficult to manage due to past stress, making proper training for staff a critical element of ensuring humane end-of-life care.

With Ireland’s equine sector producing thousands of horses annually, some of whom may not have viable futures due to injury, old age or behavioural issues, regulated equine slaughter provides a necessary option for responsible horse owners. However, ensuring that these animals experience as little distress as possible in their final moments depends on the skills and empathy of the workers handling them. Here, I’m posing the question of what equine abattoir staff training could look like for the proposed new facility - do we have a chance here to update out-dated or inadequate training to a more welfare-forward approach? Is there an opportunity here for Ireland to develop the gold standard for equine and also human care in an abattoir context?

Equine behaviour

One of the first steps in training to equip abattoir workers with the skills needed for compassionate handling is education on equine behaviour. Horses are prey animals, meaning they are highly attuned to their environment and react instinctively to fear and pain. Should workers be trained to recognise the subtle signs of stress, such as flared nostrils, pinned ears, excessive sweating, and trembling?

Could training also focus on how horses respond to human interaction. Approaching a horse too quickly, using excessive force or failing to provide clear directional cues can escalate anxiety, making handling more difficult. Could workers be taught low-stress handling techniques, such as approaching from an angle rather than head-on, using calm, deliberate movements and allowing the horse time to assess its surroundings.

Additional care

Many horses arriving at abattoirs will be suffering from chronic pain due to arthritis, lameness, or past injuries. Handling a horse in pain requires additional care and awareness. Should workers in this difficult job receive expert training on how to identify discomfort, such as uneven weight-bearing, reluctance to move or reactive behaviour when touched?

A designated, qualified and frequently monitored equine welfare officer should be present at all times to assess a horse’s condition upon arrival. If an animal is in severe distress, could immediate veterinary intervention or, if necessary, humane euthanasia be provided without forcing the horse through the slaughter process?

For certain horses, especially those that have been mistreated or poorly handled in the past, they may be more reactive. In the perfect world, should workers be trained in methods to keep a nervous horse calm? These methods could include:

Strategies for workers

Working in an equine abattoir can be emotionally challenging. Compassion fatigue is a real concern, and training could include strategies for workers to manage their own well-being.

Workshops on mental resilience, stress management, and the ethics of humane slaughter could help workers process the difficult aspects of their job, while maintaining professionalism and care. Support services, including counselling or peer support groups, could also be made available to help staff cope with the emotional demands of the role.

To ensure humane treatment is consistently upheld, could equine abattoirs implement ongoing training and strict supervision, why not CPD like many other professions?

Incorporating continuous professional development (CPD) programmes could allow workers to stay up to date with the latest advancements in low-stress handling techniques and equine welfare standards. Encouraging a culture of learning and accountability could not only improve horse welfare, but also enhance workplace morale and public trust in the industry.

Regular welfare audits, conducted by independent animal welfare organisations, could help identify areas for improvement and reinforce best practices. Prominent proponent of the humane treatment of livestock for slaughter, Dr Temple Grandin, has been flown to Ireland before for her expertise on slaughter houses, could we invite her back again for input into the new equine abattoir?

An example of an international programme focused on training handlers in equine abattoirs to work compassionately with horses is a study conducted in north east Italy. This programme emphasised the use of positive reinforcement-based training techniques to improve the welfare of horses destined for meat production.

In this initiative, 32 young horses raised for meat were divided into two groups. Eighteen of these horses underwent a training regimen that utilised operant conditioning, with shaping and positive reinforcement. Handlers taught the horses to self-load into transport vehicles by guiding them to follow a target and rewarding them with food for desired behaviours. Over several weeks, the horses learned to enter the transport trucks voluntarily, reducing stress and potential injury associated with forced loading.

The results were significant: trained horses loaded in an average of 44 seconds and exhibited more voluntary forward movement compared to their untrained counterparts. This approach not only minimised stress during transportation, but also highlighted the importance of handler training in improving animal welfare in abattoir settings.

This example offers up the possible effectiveness of specialised training programmes that equip handlers with humane techniques, ensuring that horses are treated with dignity and compassion at the end of their lives.

What abattoir training is currently available in Ireland, which includes equine? Teagasc offer an in-company only Animal Welfare Officer Training Course. This is a one-day workshop designed to ensure compliance with regulations, focusing on humane handling and slaughter practices, including equines. The course includes some of the welfare-focused training I’ve mentioned, but is one day really enough? My feeling is firmly no.

The European Commission has developed comprehensive guidelines to promote good animal welfare practices for equines. These guidelines serve as a resource for stakeholders in the equine sector, including abattoir workers, by providing best practices for the keeping, care, training and utilisation of horses. The aim is to enhance the overall welfare of equines across various settings. In the European Union, the welfare of animals at the time of killing is governed by strict regulations. For instance, in the United Kingdom, abattoir workers are required to obtain the Level 2 Award for Proficiency in Protecting the Welfare of Animals at Time of Killing (WATOK) within 13 weeks of supervised work and training. This certification ensures that personnel are competent in humane handling and slaughter techniques, including those specific to equines.

Organisations such as the Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) offer training courses worldwide to improve animal welfare during transport, marketing and slaughter. These programmes provide technical information, hands-on training and advice to industry professionals. The Food and Drink Training Education Council, a not-for-profit skills charity, formally known as The Meat Training Council, offers an eight-week course for abattoir workers, who must hold a valid license to operate to comply with the WATOK (Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing) legislation.

In the United States, the slaughter of horses for human consumption has been effectively prohibited (legally)since 2007, leading to the closure of all domestic equine slaughter houses. Consequently, there are no formal training programmes specifically for equine abattoir workers in America. However, tens of thousands of American equines continue to be trucked over the borders each year to slaughter facilities in Mexico and Canada.

Globally, there are established guidelines and training programmes aimed at ensuring that equine abattoir workers handle animals with care and uphold high welfare standards. These initiatives are crucial in promoting humane treatment - can Ireland lead the way in evidence-based training for equine abattoir staff and reflect a collective commitment to ethical practices within the equine industry?