SaddleSore

When a horse is purchased, perhaps for working on a farm, who oversees it's safety? Is that solely down to the farmer who buys it, or is there a body that issues licenses for owning work horses for instance?

dreamer

There is no needed license that I know of. Just as any other horse, any idiot can own a work horse. For the most part it's up to the farmer (owner) to ensure it's health and safety. The SPCA does investigate complaints against any owner though, and this would probably include work horses.

purplefdu

Horses are just like any other pet. You can use them for work or as a pet and unless you are grossly negligent or abusive noone will interfere. Its rather unfortunate to a degree, but fortunately a neglected/abused animal won't be much good for work so its semi self-policing.

SaddleSore

Very unfortunate, but yes you have a point. However there could easily be a situation where an animal was being worked beyond it's limit and still is able to go on-sure they wouldn't perform to peak but they wouldn't be near death either.

I really feel that there should be some kind of enforcement here, just like with any other worker-a working human has certain protections at least. Thanks for the very disappointing answers