'All My Animals Are Equal, but None Can Survive without the Horse'. The Contribution of Working Equids to the Livelihoods of Women across Six Communities in the Chimaltenango Region of Guatemala.
Authors: Vasanthakumar Molly A, Upjohn Melissa M, Watson Tamlin L, Dwyer Cathy M
Journal: Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
Summary
# Editorial Summary Women in six communities across Guatemala's Chimaltenango region play a substantially underrecognised role in working equid husbandry, yet commonly lack adequate knowledge and training to perform these responsibilities effectively. Through 34 face-to-face interviews analysed using both quantitative and qualitative methods, researchers found that horses and donkeys alleviate women's domestic burden, create income opportunities, facilitate livestock feeding, and save considerable time—yet 32 of the 34 women interviewed held significant care responsibilities despite reporting insufficient confidence in their husbandry knowledge. Notably, 31 women expressed strong willingness to access training but identified barriers around unclear advertising and uncertainty about whether women would be welcomed in extension programmes. These findings expose a critical gap in equine welfare provision: women are de facto carers for working equids across these communities, yet extension services, veterinary advice, and farriery education remain predominantly male-oriented and difficult for women to access. For equine professionals working internationally or with underserved populations, this research underscores the importance of tailoring communication, scheduling, and teaching approaches specifically for women, recognising that improved female engagement directly supports both equine welfare outcomes and economic resilience in communities dependent on working animals.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Extension services and training programs must actively recruit and accommodate women, as they perform substantial equid care work but feel undertrained and underrepresented
- •Recognize women as primary stakeholders in working equid welfare—improving their knowledge and capacity directly benefits animal health and productivity
- •Marketing training to women with explicit messaging about inclusion increases uptake and helps address knowledge gaps that currently constrain equid welfare
Key Findings
- •Working equids reduce domestic drudgery, generate income, feed livestock, and save time for women in Guatemalan communities
- •32 of 34 women (94%) played major roles in caring for one or more equids despite limited formal knowledge
- •31 women (91%) expressed willingness to attend training if clearly advertised and inclusive of women
- •Significant gap exists between women's practical roles in equid husbandry and their perceived competency and access to training