Welfare problems of horses

The article presents an analysis of the basic concepts of animal welfare, which is a prerequisite for quality and successful innovative animal husbandry. The horses welfare should be considered from the standpoint of the concept of the "five freedoms", which should be reflected in the lives of animals. The aim of the article is to analyze the state of the horses welfare and the prospects of development and implementation at the national and European levels. The analysis indicates the need to develop a system for assessing the welfare of horses and its implementation in Ukraine, while, taking into account objective and subjective indicators, the system for assessing the welfare of horses should include owners, veterinarians (horse care) and experts. To assess the welfare of sport horses, the Veterinary Regulations (BP) of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) must be used during the competition, which must be observed during the event. Methods for assessing the degree of welfare, characterize the condition of the animal in both external and internal indicators, but the dominant is stress, which through the nervous and endocrine systems adversely affect all parts of the immune system.