Codes Of Practice
Developed through NFACC
Under Revision
Archived Recommended Codes of Practice
Code Development Process
Equine
CODE UNDER REVISION
The Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Equines was released in 2013. The equine Code’s 5-year review was completed in 2018, and the outcome of the review can be found here. An update to the equine Code was initiated in 2023.
Code update timeline:
- Start: January 2024
- Public comment period: January - February 2026
- Projected completion: January 2027
Timeline for all Codes of Practice being amended or updated.
Current Code of Practice and related resources are below.
Committees
Code Committee members
The Code Committee is populated in accordance with Step 1 of NFACC’s Code development process.
| Role | Committee Member | Organization |
| Veterinarian | Bettina Bobsien (Chair) | Canadian Veterinary Medical Association |
| Producer representative | Glenn Flewelling | Feedlot sector representative |
| Charlotte Nagy | Canadian Sport Horse Association | |
| Calandra van Massenhoven | Donkey representative | |
| Geoff Maltby | Racing representative | |
| Renée Lévesque | Cheval Québec | |
| Animal welfare advocacy association | Susi Cienciala | Humane Canada |
| Provincial animal protection enforcement authority | Lisa Joachim | Manitoba Agriculture |
| Provincial government representative with responsibilities in animal welfare | Alison Moore | Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs |
| Federal government | Angela Rouillard | Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada |
| Corrie Rot | Canadian Food Inspection Agency | |
| Technical expert | Jennifer Woods | Horse Welfare Alliance of Canada |
| Erica Cheung | Nominated by Equestrian Canada | |
| Allister Gray | Nominated by Equestrian Canada | |
| Researcher/academic | Chair of the Scientific Committee (TBD) |
Scientific Committee members
The Scientific Committee is populated in accordance with Step 2 of NFACC’s Code development process.
| Name | Named by |
| W. Michael Scott, DVM, MVSc, DACVS & DACVSMR | Canadian Veterinary Medical Association |
| Kathleen MacMillan, MSc, DVM, DABVP (Eq) | Canadian Veterinary Medical Association |
| Katrina Merkies, PhD | International Society for Applied Ethology & International Society for Equitation Science |
| Carissa Wickens, PhD | International Society for Applied Ethology & International Society for Equitation Science |
| 1 equine researcher from either CSAS or ASAS – pending |
There are various ways to view the Code:
- HTML version (or select from the Table of Contents below)
- PDF version (1.9 MB)
- EPUB (please note that you will need an application on your device [phone or tablet] to download and open the book)
There are a limited number of hard copies of this Code. NFACC encourages use of the electronic version and does not store hard copies. If hard copies are required, please contact Equestrian Canada.
Please note that content in the transportation section of this Code, along with additional transportation-related content (e.g., glossary terms) that had referenced or reflected the outdated version of Part XII (Transport of Animals) in the Health of Animal Regulations (HAR), or the now archived Compromised Animals Policy, has been updated to align with the amended regulations, which took effect on February 20, 2020. Hard copies of the Codes that were printed prior to this alignment will not include these updates. For clarity, Codes that have been updated will include a statement on the front cover that reads “Alignment with Part XII (Transport of Animals) of the Health of Animals Regulations: 2021”.
This update process was strictly aimed at revising existing text that no longer aligned with the amended HAR. Every effort was made to respect the original priorities and decisions of the Code Development Committee (e.g., text from the HAR was not added if it was not covered in the original Code). In case of a discrepancy between the hard copy and online version of a Code, the online version shall take precedence.
Other resources:
- Equine Code of Practice Online Training Program
- Scientific Committee report - Review of scientific research on priority issues - July 2012
- Equine Code Backgrounder - Do You Know the Code?
- NFACC Code development process
- Animal Welfare Research Needs
- Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA)
- Use of Thermocautery for the Treatment of Lameness in Horses – Position Statement
- Elective and Non-Therapeutic Veterinary Procedures for Cosmetic or Competitive Purposes (Formerly Cosmetic Alteration) – Position Statement
- Surgical Castration of Horses, Donkeys and Mules – Position Statement
