# Scoping Review of the Socioeconomic Value of Working Equids, and the Impact of Educational Interventions Aimed at Improving Their Welfare

## TL;DR

Working horses, donkeys, and mules are vital for livelihoods in low- and middle-income countries, and education can improve their welfare.

## Contribution

A comprehensive scoping review of socioeconomic value and educational interventions for working equid welfare in low- and middle-income countries.

## Key findings

- Working equids contribute significantly to livelihoods and sustainable development goals.
- Educational interventions improve owner knowledge and equid welfare when community-informed and multilevel.
- Research on working equids is inconsistent and lacks standardized terminology.

## Abstract

Millions of people in low- and middle-income countries rely on work carried out using horses, donkeys, and mules to survive. This includes generating income, saving time and money, and reducing labour. However, these equids’ welfare is often poor, and they receive little consideration in policy and funding decisions. This scoping review examined two areas: the economic and social importance of working equids and the effectiveness of educational interventions and training programmes designed to improve equid welfare. Five databases were searched for studies published since 2014, and over 3500 sources were screened. In total, 84 studies met the criteria: 61 on socioeconomic value and 23 on educational interventions. The findings show that working equids perform wide-ranging roles, such as agriculture, domestic tasks, and transport of people and goods. They provide significant support to their owners’ livelihoods and contribute to achieving sustainable development goals. Educational interventions were generally successful in improving owner/user knowledge and behaviour and/or equid welfare. Approaches developed with input from target communities and that addressed the issue on multiple levels may be more effective. The terminology used and study quality varied. This review highlights the importance of considering working equids in policy and funding decisions and provides recommendations to improve future research.

Working equids support millions of people globally, especially in low-income, lower-middle-income, and upper-middle-income countries. However, they commonly suffer from poor welfare and are typically overlooked in policy and funding decisions. This scoping review aimed to collate evidence on two topics related to working equid use in low- and middle-income countries: their socioeconomic value to their owners and the impact of educational interventions for owners/handlers aiming to improve equid welfare. Original research published from 2014 onwards was eligible for inclusion. This scoping review followed the JBI methodology and PRISMA-ScR framework. One search strategy encompassing both topics was applied to five databases (CAB Abstracts, MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, and IBSS) on 24.04.24. Key characteristics and findings of eligible studies were charted. In total, 3514 sources were independently screened by two reviewers. In total, 61 socioeconomic value studies (47 journal articles, 2 reports, and 12 conference contributions) and 23 educational intervention studies (11 journal articles and 12 conference contributions) were included. Working equids supported their owners’ livelihoods in wide-ranging ways and contributed to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. Educational interventions employed varied approaches, and most reported success. Multilevel initiatives and those developed through participatory engagement may be more likely to directly improve equid welfare in the long term. These aspects should be prioritised during intervention development. The included studies used inconsistent terminology and were of variable quality. This review highlights the importance of including working equids within policy and funding strategies and provides recommendations to increase the discoverability, quality, and impact of working equid research.