The first-ever United Nations (UN’s) World Horse Day (WHD) is observed across the globe on July 11 to acknowledge, celebrate, and protect the immense global contribution of horses to human society.
- The day underscores the importance of horses as “one of the most important animals in human history,” recognizing their essential roles in transportation, agriculture, mining, recreation, and tourism, while also raising awareness about the declining global horse population and the challenges faced by equine industries.
Background:
i.On 3 June 2025, the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the draft Resolution 79/291, led by Mongolia, to formally designate July 11 of every year as “World Horse Day”.
ii.WHD aims to highlight the contributions of horses to culture, economy, rural livelihoods, sport, therapy, and the unique challenges they face, including loss of habitat, climate change, and declining population.
iii.The resolution calls on governments, schools, businesses, and individuals to celebrate the role of horses and to tackle the challenges they face in the modern world.
Role of Horses in Human Life:
i.Food & Farming: Draft horses provide low-carbon tillage, light soil impact and natural fertilizer.
ii.Jobs & Rural income: Working horses help 600 million people work, study and live with less physical burden.
iii.Culture & Tourism: The European Union (EU)’s equine sector supports festivals, trail tourism and rare breeds, preserving heritage and boosting local economies.
iv.Sport & inspiration: Olympic equestrian events follow strict “Beat the Heat” protocols, including misting lanes, shaded cool-downs and live temperature checks.
Horses Worldwide:
i.The Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO)’s 2023 data counts 60.8 million horses globally, although they are unevenly distributed.
- The United States of America (USA) has 2.41 million horses and ponies on over 63,000 farms (2022 United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Census).
ii.The EU supports a herd of about 7 million equines and 8,00,000 jobs in breeding, sport and tourism. In Mongolia, horses are still a part of daily life, with 3.4 million horses for 3.3 million people.
Challenges Faced:
i.The decline in the number of horses and reduced investment in the sector are due to lifestyle changes, technological innovations, economic instability, and climate challenges.
ii.Rising global temperatures are worsening the conditions for keeping and working with animals, making it necessary to adopt new protection standards and adapt to climate change.
About Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) :
Director General (DG)- Qu Dongyu (China)
Headquarters- Rome, Italy
Established– 1945
