Canada Live Horse Export for Slaughter Accountability

Last Updated on March 7, 2026

Home » Features » Organization » Activism » Feature: The Canadian Horse Defence Coalition (CHDC)

Does Canada’s responsibility to its animals end at the border? Currently, thousands of horses are shipped to Japan for slaughter, enduring grueling journeys without food or water for over 28 hours. While the government promised an end to this in 2021, a massive accountability gap persists; injuries and deaths occurring post-arrival are simply brushed off. In this feature, the Canadian Horse Defence Coalition (CHDC) exposes the reality of live exports and the legislative stalling that keeps this industry alive. It is time to bridge the oversight gap and hold our leaders to their promise: end the exports.

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Protesters hold a banner honoring horses lost to Canada's live horse exports.

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An Amplified Voice for Horses: Who Is the Canadian Horse Defence Coalition (CHDC)?

The Canadian Horse Defence Coalition (CHDC) is a national collective of individuals and organizations driven by a single, vital mission: to protect Canada’s horses from slaughter and the cruelty of live exports.

As a premier advocacy group, the CHDC works at the intersection of research, public education, and political lobbying. They serve as a crucial watchdog, uncovering the hidden realities of the horse meat industry and holding the government accountable to its own welfare standards. By pushing for legislative milestones like Bill C-355: Prohibition of the Export of Horses by Air for Slaughter Act, the CHDC acts as the primary defence for thousands of draft horses that otherwise have no voice in the halls of Parliament.

Out of Sight, Out of Oversight: The Gap in Canada’s Horse Export Policy

It doesn’t take a huge moral compass to understand that Canada’s responsibility to our exported horses should not end when they leave Canadian soil. Yet currently our country wants to wipe its hands of the matter, endorsing air shipments of horses to Japan without a care about their welfare when they reach the other end: “The reporting requirement does not apply to deaths or injuries that occur after the horses are transferred to ground transport or during quarantine in Japan. As reported by the Canadian government in Regulatory Oversight for Live Horse Exports to Japan, the CFIA does not have the regulatory authority to require reporting of incidents that occur after transfer to ground transport and during quarantine.

In other words, numerous deaths and injuries occur to Canadian horses in Japan after they arrive in that country, even if they are related to the shipments, are brushed off like embarrassing dandruff.

“Documents from Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture show horses arriving with diarrhea, fever, and in some cases, having miscarried during the flight—incidents never reflected in Canadian oversight data.”
– Animal Justice investigative report Exposing Deaths & Injuries in Horses Exported for Slaughter

The “Luxury” of Cruelty: By the Numbers

The Market: These horses are not being shipped for food security; they are victims of a niche luxury market for Basashi (raw horse sashimi). This industry prioritizes “freshness” for raw consumption over the basic right of an animal to live free from agony.
The Reality of 2024-2025: Despite government claims that transport is “humane,” investigative records from Japan revealed that at least 21 horses died in a single year during or shortly after transport—suffering from fever, exhaustion, and injury.
Time Limits Ignored: While the legal limit for transport without food or water is 28 hours, flight tracking data proves shipments regularly exceed 30 to 33 hours. The government’s refusal to count time spent on trucks and in quarantine is a calculated move to mask the true extent of this cruelty.

The Solution: Stop the Exports (like our Canadian Prime Minister ordered in 2021)

Close-up of a horse's face with text about Bill C-355 ending and advocacy.

The fact is, there exists a solution: stop the exports like our Prime Minister ordered in 2021. Monday, December 16th, 2025, is the four-year-anniversary of PM Justin Trudeau’s mandate letter to the Agriculture Minister – to bring an end to the exports of live horses to Japan for slaughter.

Four years later, the cruel air shipments continue. Although Bill C-355 to stop the exports made it through the House of Commons and proceeded to the Senate, there was a Federal election, and Bill C-355 fell through. We are now calling on the government to enact a regulatory change in order to end the exports

The Excuses and Stalling of Horses’ Basic Rights Need to End.

No matter how some politicians like to spin it, there is no justification for Canada to be complicit in depriving horses of food, water, and rest for up to 28 hours at a stretch – or longer, as recent evidence from Japanese records shows. This is cruelty, plain and simple! We wouldn’t do it to our dogs or cats. Sport horses shipped for overseas events are not deprived of the essentials. So, why are slaughter-bound draft horses not granted the basic care and respect that all living beings deserve?

Surprisingly, most Canadians are unaware that their government ships horses each and every week to Asia for sushi. We need to create awareness so this ends!
-The Canadian Horse Defence Coalition (CHDC)

How to Help Defend Horses in Cruel Live Export

Please reach out to Prime Minister Mark Carney and politely ask him to be instrumental in ending the cruel exports without delay! Also, we encourage you to write to your own Member of Parliament and ask him/her to support an end to this barbaric practice.

A letter can be sent to PM Carney here: Contact the Prime Minister | Prime Minister of Canada.

You can find contact information for your MP here: https://www.ourcommons.ca/Members/en/search.

Join the Movement: Volunteering with the CHDC

Protesters holding signs against horse export and slaughter in Canada.

The fight to end live horse exports isn’t just fought in the Senate—it’s powered by a dedicated network of volunteers across the country. Because the Canadian Horse Defence Coalition (CHDC) is an advocacy and research-led organization, its volunteer needs focus on amplifying the message and driving legislative change.

If you have a passion for animal welfare and want to help turn the tide, there are several ways to get involved:

Digital Advocacy: Use your social media presence to share CHDC’s research and updates, ensuring these “out of sight” exports stay in the public eye.
Grassroots Outreach: Help distribute educational materials or organize local awareness events in your community.
Political Action: Assist in coordinating letter-writing campaigns to MPs and Senators to keep the pressure on for a permanent ban.
Professional Skills: If you have experience in research, law, graphic design, or photography, your specialized skills can help the CHDC build stronger cases for policy change.

Ready to help? You can reach out to the CHDC directly through their website contact form or via email to find out where your talents are needed most. Every voice added to the coalition brings us one step closer.

Wear Your Support: The CHDC Shop & Collaborations

Horse-themed swag including hoodies, hats, and shirts for horse lovers.

If you want to carry the message with you, the CHDC offers several ways to support their advocacy through merchandise. 100% of the proceeds from these items go directly toward the legal battles, research, and lobbying efforts required to end live exports.

The #HORSESHIT Collection: In a powerful collaboration with singer-songwriter and activist Jann Arden, the Horseshit.ca shop features “Fight the Flights” and “Say Neigh” apparel. These bold pieces are designed to spark conversation and signal a clear refusal to accept the status quo of horse slaughter in Canada.
The Official CHDC Cafepress Store: For a wider variety of gear, the CHDC’s Cafepress shop offers everything from tote bags to apparel featuring their mission-driven designs.
“Hearts for Horses” Auctions: Keep an eye on their social media for seasonal online auctions. These events often feature unique services and donated items, with all winning bids funding the coalition’s David-and-Goliath legal battles against the CFIA.

Thank you, on behalf of the horses!