THE WELFARE OF WORKING EQUIDS IN MEXICO

Horses, mules and donkeys are widely used for many activities by the p oor peasants of Mexico. This paper describes working conditions of the ir equidae. They pull carts and ploughs and carry loads, and people. T hey are often abused, insufficiently fed and in general neglected. Har nesses and agricultural implements are improvised making efficient wor k impossible and producing nasty wounds. Measures to improve these con ditions are suggested. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reser ved.