Equine Canada and the National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC) announced Dec. 3 the launch of the public comment period on the draft Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Equines. The draft code can be viewed and submissions made online until Feb. 14, 2013. All stakeholders are encouraged to provide input to ensure that this code reflects a common understanding of equine care expectations and recommended practices in Canada.

A scientists’ committee report summarizing research on priority welfare topics for equines can be found online alongside the draft code. This peer-reviewed report aided the discussions of the Code Development Committee as they prepared the draft code of practice.

"I’m proud of the collaborative effort committee members have shown since we began our work in early 2011," says Jack de Wit, director of the Equine Canada Board of Directors and Chair of the Code Development Committee. "The next step is opening the draft code to input from the public. With the public’s help we will have a code that is good for owners and the animals in their care."

Bettina Bobsien, BSA, DVM, Dipl. ABVP (Equine), Canadian Federation of Humane Societies representative on the Code Development Committee, adds, "As an equine veterinarian and horse owner, it’s a pleasure to participate in a code process that provides an opportunity to advance the welfare of equines across our diverse industry. It is important that this code reflect the best practices available for the welfare of horses, donkeys, and mules