This document establishes the legal framework and regulatory requirements for the protection and treatment of horses during their transport to and presence at markets and other sale venues. The text is issued by the government of Great Britain as a statutory instrument, serving as a formal codification of animal welfare standards. It outlines the specific obligations placed upon market operators and handlers to ensure the physical health and safety of equines within the commercial trade environment.

Legal professionals and agricultural regulators utilize this text as a foundational reference for interpreting equine welfare compliance in the United Kingdom. Readers frequently note the technical density of the prose, which is characteristic of statutory instruments designed for strict regulatory application.