Recent studies raise serious welfare concerns regarding the estimated 93.6 million horses, donkeys and mules in developing countries. The work aims firstly to quantify the different levels of veterinary intervention given to horse owners in Cambodia and secondly to assess whether there is a correlation between this intervention and any significant changes to welfare parameters. The study provides a cross​-­sectional and a comparative analysis and the aim is to show a base level of intervention that will lead to an improvement in equid health and welfare.

I visited Cambodia in June-­July 2016 and travelled with the CPWO team during their routine visits. The CPWO veterinary team visit communities to care and provide preventative health services for working ponies in rural communities. Community visits are conducted on a three monthly rotation whilst a liaison officer in each community oversees health care in the meanwhile. An emergency call-­out service is also provided to many of the communities.

In 3 weeks we visited a total of 7 regions subdivided into 21 smaller communities. A total of 295 ponies were assessed in this time

During my time in Cambodia I gained so much from the experience personally and met some inspiring people who work extremely hard to continue improving working equid welfare in Cambodia. I learnt simple phrases in Khmer and was guided every step of the way to explore beautiful Cambodian landscapes, rural and urban culture, architecture and way of life. I loved meeting new people, vets and pony owners alike, and experienced great hospitality and wonderful food as well as lots of laughter! I feel motivated to continue working with the hard working animals and their owners, who taught me so much.

Thank you to all those involved in making my experience a great one. To World Horse Welfare for supporting me in every way, without whom none of this is possible. To the fantastic team “on the ground” in Cambodia whose enthusiasm and humor is infectious and who work extremely hard every day to improve equid welfare, one pony at a time. Thank you.