Horses at the Pyramids: Giza's New Vet Checks, Microchips and Vaccines

What's changing for horses at the Pyramids

The working horses at the Pyramids of Giza have been registered, microchipped and vaccinated, and are being offered free full veterinary exams, under a new program led by the Egyptian Equestrian Federation with national veterinary authorities and the welfare charity Brooke. The plan is for free periodic checks to continue, not just a one-time clinic.

The timing isn't a coincidence. The Longines Global Champions Tour (LGCT) holds its first-ever Cairo event in front of the Pyramids on October 22-24, 2026: three days of CSI5* show jumping over fences up to 1.60 m, with €1.75 million in prize money.

That puts a global spotlight on the plateau, where horses, camels and donkeys carry tourists every day. Welfare groups have raised concerns about these animals for years, so the question many visitors ask is simple: is anything actually changing?

The three measures, explained

Each step does a different job. Together they're meant to build a system, not a photo op.

1. Registration and microchipping

Egypt's veterinary services began microchipping and registering horses in the Giza Pyramids area in August 2026, according to Egyptian press reports, as part of preparations for the Cairo show. On October 9, Egypt's General Authority for Veterinary Services said it had finished microchipping and registering the working horses in the area.

A microchip is a tiny implant, about the size of a grain of rice, placed in the neck. As the US Equestrian Federation explains, the chip itself holds only an ID number. That number links to a record kept elsewhere.

Why it matters on the plateau:

• One horse, one health file. Reports describe an electronic record for each horse covering vaccinations, exams and treatment history.
• Follow-up becomes possible. A vet who finds a problem can check the same horse again weeks later.
• Disease tracing. If an infection shows up, officials can quickly find which horses were exposed.

2. Vaccination for registered horses

The program includes free vaccination for the registered working horses. Egyptian press reports in September said the horses were being vaccinated against equine herpesvirus and equine influenza, and on October 9 the veterinary authority said that vaccination was complete. It also reported collecting 160 samples from the horses as part of its preventive checks.

Vaccines matter more where many horses gather daily, share water points and come and go. Protecting each horse also lowers the risk for every horse it stands next to.

3. Free full veterinary exams

Every registered horse also gets a full veterinary exam at no cost to its owner. The stated goal is to make these checks periodic, so problems are caught early instead of after a horse is already struggling.

Controlling unregistered horses

Registration only works if it's enforced. Egyptian reports on the August launch described limits on moving unregistered horses in and out of the tourist area, so horses on the plateau can be identified and checked.

Brooke's role and what Sameh El Dahan said

Brooke is an international charity that works with working horses, donkeys and mules. Coverage of the program names Brooke as a partner alongside the Egyptian Equestrian Federation and national authorities. The published reports don't break down exactly which tasks Brooke handles.

Sameh El Dahan, one of Egypt's best-known showjumpers and one of the riders named for the Cairo event, welcomed the measures in Horse & Hound as a positive step.

The fair reading is that this is a start, not a solution. As coverage of the program notes, its long-term impact will depend on how consistently the measures are applied after the competition ends and the cameras leave.

That's the fair test. One week of free exams helps. A working register, repeat checks and enforcement, year after year, is what changes lives for working horses.

Is it ethical to ride horses at the Pyramids?

There's no single yes or no. It depends on the individual animal, how it's kept and how hard it works that day.

Some welfare groups, including PETA, want animal rides at the site ended altogether. Others, like Brooke, work with owners to improve conditions, because many families depend on these animals for their income.

If you choose to ride, your choices send a signal. Picking a well-kept horse, paying a fair price and walking away from a poor one rewards the handlers who invest in care.

How to choose an ethical horse or camel ride anywhere

This checklist works at the Pyramids, on a beach in Mexico, in Petra or on a Greek island. It draws on Brooke's "Happy Horse" holiday code.

Before you get on

• Body condition. The animal should look well covered, not bony. You shouldn't see sharp hips, a ridge of backbone or every rib. Our body condition score guide shows what healthy looks like.
• Hooves and legs. Look at all four feet. Avoid animals with cracked or badly misshapen hooves, or that limp or stand unevenly.
• Sores from tack. Check where the saddle, girth, bridle or harness rubs: mouth corners, shoulders, spine and belly. It's fine to ask the handler to lift the saddle pad.
• Attitude. A comfortable horse usually has bright eyes, ears that move and pay attention, and a relaxed head carriage.
• Shade and water. Is there shade where the animals wait? Can you see water nearby? In desert heat, both are essential.
• Working hours. Ask how long the animal has worked today and when it rests. A horse that looks exhausted in the afternoon needs a break, not another rider.

During the ride

• One rider per horse. For carriages, one passenger per wheel.
• Match your size to the animal. A small horse or donkey isn't built for a large adult.
• Keep it at a walk on hard ground or in heat. Don't ask for gallops for photos.
• Get off if the animal stumbles, staggers or seems to struggle.

New to horses? Our safety basics cover how to approach and mount calmly.

Paying and speaking up

• Pay a fair price. Pushing handlers to undercut each other leaves less money for feed and vet care.
• Praise good care. Tell a handler why you picked their horse. It encourages more of the same.
• Walk away from poor care and politely say why.
• Report serious concerns to your tour operator, the tourist police or local authorities. Note the location, time and what you saw. Don't confront anyone or post identifying photos of individual handlers.

What to watch next

• October 22-24: the LGCT Cairo show itself. Watch whether organizers and the federation give updates on the welfare program during the event.
• After the show: whether free periodic exams actually continue, and whether movement controls on unregistered horses are enforced.
• Numbers: how many horses are registered and vaccinated. No official total has been published yet.
• Next season: the LGCT announced a five-year agreement for its Cairo event, which gives everyone a yearly checkpoint.

The same welfare debate is playing out with city carriage horses. See how New York's Romanch's Law and Kolkata's e-carriage plan handle it, and learn more about the Global Champions Tour. For everyday care basics, start with our care guide.