Communicating and challenging ourselves better are key for the future of horse sport – but we also need a collective dose of humility.

These were among the messages from the 2026 World Horse Welfare survey of public perception of the involvement of horses in sport, which the charity has been commissioning annually since 2022.

The 2026 World Horse Welfare survey found that more of the public see horses as pets (65%) or leisure animals (64.9%) rather than working animals (56.1%), livestock (54.3%) or sport animals (49.4%). Most (70.5%) believe horses’ welfare should “always take priority, regardless of the effect on performance” (70.3%), and that short-term pain or discomfort to improve performance is not very or not at all acceptable (77.3%).

World Horse Welfare CEO Roly Owers said it is clear that equine welfare has a key role in the future sustainability of the global equestrian sector, citing the major strides made in this area.

“But we also hear criticism,” he said.”For some, welfare standards in sport are already so high, they do not need to change, and any attempt at improvement is only to appease the antis. That by talking about welfare, sport is only damaging its own reputation.

“Others say welfare initiatives launched to maintain social licence are all talk and no action. But concerns about welfare will not go away, and you can only address an issue if you face up to it. World Horse Welfare has always been clear that improving equine welfare is pivotal, not primarily because that’s what the public expects but because that’s exactly what it means to put the horse first.

“There is growing evidence that we can do better, and if we know better, we must do better. Doing right by our horses, putting a horse’s wellbeing at the centre of everyone’s decision-making, has to be the fundamental goal for every sport. Yes, this is what the public expects and it will enable the sport to thrive. As David Yellen summed up so well at last year’s event, the best form of PR is to do the right thing.”

The 2026 World Horse Welfare survey trends

Mr Owers said the 2026 World Horse Welfare survey results do not show a positive trend. This year, it was shown that the percentage of those who support horse sport only if welfare improves is about the same as in 2022, at just under 40%. But there has been a slight increase in the number who do not support involvement of horses in sport in any circumstances, from 19.5% to 24.4%.

Mr Owers said this increase may be “within the margin of error”, and not too much of a red flag, but it is “certainly one to continue to watch”.

A panel of experts considered the results and what they may mean. One key issue is that the majority of the public have no regular contact with horses and may never even have seen one.

“A fundamental underlying threat to all equestrianism, sports and non-sports, is that most people in the UK have never had any contact with a horse at all,” said British Equine Veterinary Association CEO David Mountford. “That creates a real problem that we need to get across, and that’s more than just snazzy videos or a social media presence.”

Racing broadcaster and journalist Lydia Hislop pointed out that with the increasing urbanisation of society comes a lack of understanding, citing for example the lack of mainstream coverage of Ros Canter’s Badminton win so soon after she had her second child.

“I think that’s what’s lacking, being able to give people the understanding to be able to watch something like that and see why it was good,” she said. “I think that’s a key form of communication needed to reach people, for further understanding.

“All horse sports have to work out how we can reach out, broaden people’s understanding, explain to people why they should be interested in this. I think that’s the key; communication in an instant, efficient way that grabs people’s attention. We’re all working in an attention economy, and that’s what I think everybody’s communications focus needs to work on.”

2026 World Horse Welfare survey debate: communicating is key

She added that if we look back at our increased understanding, “the idea that we wouldn’t bring new technology, new understanding to make things better is just an absurd position to hold. It’s a way of gently challenging ourselves, so we inside the sport, can look inside it and challenge ourselves to do better, then we’re also better armed with that understanding to communicate outside the sports.”

Former top eventer David O’Connor, chief of sport at US Equestrian (USEF) and chair of the FEI eventing committee, spoke of measures brought in by USEF to improve welfare, such as extending its jurisdiction to cover incidents outside affiliated competition. He also covered the strides made in improving eventing safety internationally; using data and, for example, frangible technology to reduce horse falls.

Asked about recent issues in dressage, and whether other disciplines are behind eventing, he said: “I think eventing is more comfortable with it because they’ve been in it longer.

“They’ve been doing this for 25 years and the other sports are starting to realise this is an important part of the equation. Racing is doing it, dressage is doing it; in the showjumping world, use of the whip that has been adjusted. I think other sports are realising how important this conversation is and that it is not going away.

“So how do we remain proactive? Through education, rules, telling the stories, which is a huge thing. Multiple pieces of the puzzle have to be worked on together; there’s not one thing that will fix it, and using data and science, such as on how animals think, it gives you a way to be able to measure whether you’re actually making a difference.”

Exceptional performance

Minette Batters, chair of British racing’s Horse Welfare Board, also mentioned Ros’s win, describing it as “probably the most exceptional performance I have ever seen”, from horse and rider, and that the sport must learn from it.

“These stories – you want people who want to be Ros Canter, work for Ros Canter, to be stable staff, climb the ladder, be champion jockey,” she said. “That’s the wonderful thing about horses, you can come from anywhere in life and rise to the stars, and that’s the story people want to hear, but you’ve got to be pulling that.

“There’s a lot to be learned from what happened with Ros, because we tend to follow influencers, celebrities, people with huge Instagram accounts, and it’s not all about that, that’s wrong for every part of horse sport.”

Baroness Batters said the welfare board is planning “welfare champions” on every yard in racing, and that another key is for the horse world to open its doors, invite people in, “bring them in and take them with us”.

David O’Connor agreed, adding that warm-up areas, as well as yards, need to be open to all eyes.

“We have an expression in the United States: if you can’t train in the middle of Central Park and explain it and have people like it, probably you’re doing it wrong,” he said.

“And dressage is looking at it, looking at the change. You’ll see things come out this year about judging. In the end I think openness and being willing to be open, whether it’s yards, training, warm-ups, competition, that’s going to permeate all the way through the decision-making.”

Humility needed

Sharing his views on the 2026 World Horse Welfare survey, Mr Mountford said he thinks progress is being made; good work is being done, awareness and engagement are high and the momentum needs to be maintained.

“But it shouldn’t be seen that we’ll get to a point and we can stop,” he said. “What needs to continue to improve is consistency and transparency, and making sure what’s written into codes and aspirations of groups like the Horse Welfare Board actually is reality and are communicated as being real.

“I think also what’s true in horse sports, racing, is that we don’t have much humility. How you achieve it, I don’t know, but we need to bring a big box of humility to the table. We can all learn every week, from a colleague, from someone with decades of experience or from the latest research on how horses learn.

“Riders at the very top will be having weekly lessons and people throughout the industry should be, on riding, but also on what’s going on with science, how they can improve, how we can learn.”

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout the year, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You may also enjoy reading: 

Showing the public – and ourselves – that horses can enjoy their sport

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Leading pony producer Gill Thompson has her say on good behaviour and schedule changes for this season

We made our season debut at North of England Spring Show recently, and I was very pleased to see strong classes with generally good entries across the board – especially in the native sections – despite the rising fuel costs. Let’s hope this continues throughout the season.

I’ve read several columnists in Horse & Hound recently refer to our social licence as equestrians, particularly with regard to welfare, and I was disappointed to discover first hand at the show why this is clearly something that needs to be high on the showing community’s agenda.

Conduct on a showground and, in particular, in the show ring itself reflects on all of us, and it’s disheartening to learn that not everyone takes that responsibility seriously, nor pays as much attention to their horses or ponies’ welfare as they should.

I feel very strongly that any handling or riding of horses in a way that compromises their welfare or deliberately causes discomfort is not acceptable, however frustrated we might be at the time. If a horse doesn’t perform as we wish, we have to look at our own groundwork and training at home, and do better.

What truly worries me is that if people believe that rough handling is acceptable at a show, what do they think they can get away with at home?

I really hope that the relevant societies take action in such cases, and feel sure that they will in this instance.

Going forward, I would urge everyone to be mindful of their behaviour at all times, not only for fellow competitors, but for spectators, too, and most importantly, for the horses.

HOYS mixed height show pony qualifiers

Going into this season, I am disappointed that Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) didn’t revise the decision to run the mixed height show pony qualifiers.

Last season, I expressed concerns that these classes would be dominated by 148cm ponies, and my fears were proven correct. Every one of last year’s mixed qualifiers was won by a 148cm pony, meaning that the finals were quite unbalanced.

It takes a really special 128cm pair to hold their own against 148cm combinations, where at the top end, riders can have left school and drive a car.

I have a 148cm this season, so I could be tempted into the class, but I would have to be pretty sure of my little rider’s ability really to hold their own before entering one with a smaller pony.

An excellent stepping stone class

On a more positive note, I have to congratulate the British Show Pony Society and the Royal International (RIHS) on the introduction of the first ridden of hunter type class. Unfortunately, I don’t have a combination for this class this year, but I wish I did!

As a concept, I think it provides an excellent stepping stone for those children coming out of the lead-rein hunter type as the leap into the open 123cm class is significant, and too much for many of them.

Some ponies also can’t make the step up, as they don’t quite meet the mark as a type in the open classes. This new class gives those ponies a second string to their bow, and means that children can stay on that pony a little longer, which has to be a bonus for parents in this current financial climate.

Anyone who has dealt with young children new to first ridden will know that you really have to work at getting them to use the whole ring. On a practical level, requiring that the children negotiate the obstacles in the ring independently teaches them to use the arena without necessarily realising it.

It also gives them a good grounding should they go down the workers route and into cradle stakes, and requiring that they only canter on one rein is just enough for them to manage.

From speaking with fellow producers who do have these ponies this season, the children are loving this class, and get excited even walking the course. Irrespective of all the other benefits, this alone has to make the class a success.

● How can the showing community respond more effectively when welfare concerns arise? We’d love to hear from you at hhletters@futurenet.com, including your name, nearest town and county, for the chance to have your thoughts published in a future issue of Horse & Hound magazine

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major events, as well as exclusive insights from top names, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You might also enjoy reading:

‘Why are we reluctant to speak up and voice our concerns to showing societies?’ asks H&H’s Bethan Simons

Gill Cowell reveals what she’ll be looking for as judge an in-hand championship

A competitor’s guide to the 2026 HOYS showing qualifiers

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Olympic medal-winning dressage rider Laura Tomlinson issues a plea to her fellow riders to hold themselves to new standards to ensure the sport’s future

My column this week is a bit of a plea. I know we’re all bored of hearing about social licence and the sport’s image, but after another recent barrage in the media, including the big newspapers, if we don’t change our ways, our children won’t have a sport to enjoy.

I never condone social media abuse of any sort, but putting our heads in the sand in response isn’t working. Many may argue that the critics simply don’t understand the nuances of our sport, but whether they are right or wrong in all the different scenarios is irrelevant because if members of the public don’t like what they see, they have the power to shut us down, starting with the Olympics.

Horses being squashed together with immense leg and hand pressure for minutes on end must be a thing of the past. We must hold ourselves to new standards.

The World Class Programme and our own federation have shown they’re there to protect their top riders, but should they now do more to protect the horses and the sport?

Strictness on horses’ soundness and how they are ridden needs to come from riders. When riding, we need to think of children watching and ride to inspire.

Horse welfare should come first. We hear this said all the time, but who really means it in the heat of the moment when fighting for that bit more expression for those extra marks? We need to show that we are riding and training a better way.

If a horse is being spooky or stressed in the warm-up, respond with sympathy. If a horse needs quickening, use lots of transitions rather than instantly resorting to pressure to get the result faster. Find ways to work at home that build strength to create more expression over time, rather than resorting to quick fixes.

Get those extra marks through accuracy; we need to shape the sport and the judges by offering them something better. Empty words on “harmony” are not good enough. I don’t wish to stick the knife in, and I know this column will be unpopular and risky for me as a rider who’s aspiring for a team place, but I cannot be silent on this matter any longer.

My father always said, “Horses cannot advocate for themselves; you must always stand up for them and admit when you get something wrong.” I don’t see enough of that at the moment, so here I am, not trying to act saintly but just wanting to shake everyone up.

Don’t push for those extra marks if they cost you in harmony; ride in a way that you can explain to a young aspiring kid or a complete layman. Ride with the values we all had when we started as children, in love with the idea of partnership with another animal.

The welfare rules are clear. If we get something wrong in the heat of the moment, we must acknowledge our error and pledge to do better. We need to be the sport that we are selling.

Doping tests

On another “horse welfare” note, at my last international competition, straight after the freestyle – and hours before Full Moon had to travel home – he was pulled into doping control. That’s no problem. But when they have to go into an isolated stable in a separate block, for many horses, that’s a huge stress.

Moony always goes straight back into his stable for a wee after work, here he had to go into a random stable with no horses anywhere near him, with a stranger holding a long stick with a cup attached.

He was very stressed, so of course he didn’t pee in the given time and then had his blood taken. By the time he was back in his stable, he had been holding his wee in for an hour since competing.

This wasn’t the way I wanted to reward him for his amazing efforts in his first grand prix freestyle. I wish we’d make rules like this more horse-friendly. Why can’t he pee in his own stable, that he has been in all show, next to his buddies? What difference would that make?

The doping agents don’t let them out of their sight anyway. Some rules seem so absurd and not at all in the interest of the horse.

● Do you agree that change needs to come from within – and what would you like to see riders do differently? We’d love to hear from you at hhletters@futurenet.com, including your name, nearest town and county, for the chance to have your views published in a future issue of Horse & Hound magazine

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major events, as well as exclusive insights from top names, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You might also enjoy reading:

Dressage needs to answer harder questions than just ‘who did what in the warm-up’ to secure its future

Anna Ross: ‘Everyone’s watching now, and willingness to question ourselves has to be part of the deal’

Dressage horses’ stress behaviours increase with competition levels – but scores unaffected

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Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Former Olympic team gold medallist, four-time Badminton winner and top cross-country course designer Mark Phillips says 2026 will be a balancing act to keep horse sport thriving

After a long wet winter, spring seems to have come in the nick of time for a positive start to the 2026 eventing season.

It appears British Eventing (BE) has halted the decline of recent years in membership and horse registrations, even if numbers have not gone up. Early events have run with good numbers and without the spate of cancellations due to weather that have caused the cost of abandonment insurance to spiral.

We must not be complacent – the cancellation of Maryland five-star in October this year is a stark reminder of the sport’s fragility and our reliance on organisers, venues, funding and continued public confidence.

I’m sad about Maryland but not totally surprised. The site layout was expensive, not user-friendly for spectators and the event was over-reliant on state funding.

There have never been enough five-star horses to go round when World Championships, Burghley and Pau all run in the same year. Also, many thought that when the US Equestrian Federation put on a $200,000 (£150,550) CCI4*-L the weekend before, it would be the final nail in the coffin for Maryland.

The Fair Hill Foundation plans to continue to run the CCI3*-L this year but I wonder if it will be as popular without the five-star trappings.

International moves

The FEI has appointed a new director of eventing and driving, Molly Day, to replace Frédérique Reffet Plantier who was dismissed by the FEI at the end of last year. She has made a positive start, seeking the thoughts of many of the sport’s most influential players.

I haven’t spoken to her but I hear good reports about discussions on the Olympic format and introducing modern sport technology to eventing. It remains to be seen what Molly can achieve within the corridors of power in Lausanne.

All in equestrian sport should be worried about the way video evidence was edited to portray riders’ warm-up at the recent Amsterdam CDI. I know sport horses are among the most pampered animals in the world, but that’s not how an increasing number of people see it. Dressage may have the target on its back today but it’s only a matter of time before the target shifts.

In this country we say all the right things, but have fallen short of introducing measures to show that we mean what we say about horse welfare. We still have time to lead the way!

“It’s a shame if progress is held back”

I was part of a strategy task group last autumn to review some of the challenges facing BE, in particular the rising popularity of unaffiliated competitions at the expense of BE membership.

The group developed a concept – first mooted some years ago by Mike Etherington-Smith, Stuart Buntine, Helen West and me when we were then the BE Advisory Group – called BE Lite, to embrace the unaffiliated market and help unite different parts of the sport.

The plan was to roll out this more affordable model at BE80, BE90 and BE100 levels this spring to create a clearer, more attractive pathway into full BE.

However, the extensive consultations with many of the sport’s stakeholders became a painfully long process. Worse, unfortunately the BE office has encountered a hurdle due to issues raised by one high-profile organiser. I know these days everyone has to have their say, but it’s a shame if the progress and development of the BE model is held back in this way.

This weekend more than 30 four-star horses and 20 three-star horses crossed the Channel to compete at Kronenberg in the Netherlands, an event with increasing popularity. With all the wonderful venues in this country, it’s sad that we were not able to find a slot in our fixtures calendar to cater for this early season need.

This year will be a delicate balance to keep the sport thriving for horses, riders, organisers and owners – and acceptable for the public at large. Let’s hope the weather stays on our side!

● How can we keep horse sport healthy? Write to us at hhletters@futurenet.com, including your name, nearest town and county, for the chance to have your views published in a future issue of Horse & Hound magazine

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major events, as well as exclusive insights from top names, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You might also enjoy reading:

Hopes for future return of Maryland 5 Star, with supporting three-star set to run in 2026

‘What could equestrian sport learn from the Winter Olympics?’ asks H&H’s Pippa Roome

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H&H’s dressage editor Oscar Williams considers the challenges facing elite dressage, why similar issues are being raised time after time, and what needs to happen to achieve real and lasting change

Footage of Charlotte Dujardin warming up in Amsterdam, circulated online in recent weeks, has produced a now-familiar sequence: a short video goes viral, experts comment, outrage builds, and the sport finds itself, once again, performing concern.

A recent article in The Times followed that pattern. A World Horse Welfare spokesperson said the video was “a hard watch”, with “clear signs of tension and conflict behaviour”.

That assessment matters, of course. But what matters more – and what rarely follows – is clarity about what should actually change.

Charlotte makes for convenient headlines. But several riders were filmed riding a horse forward into a restricting rein in the same warm-up.

And that isn’t uncommon. Variations of this can be seen across disciplines and levels of competition.

That’s not to excuse, but to illustrate, that to treat this as a story about individual conduct is rather reductive – and avoids much harder questions.

Charlotte wasn’t deemed to have broken any rules. But when The Times put a series of direct questions to the British Equestrian Federation – whether her riding met their standards, whether it represented a good example of welfare, whether they would be happy for pupils to be taught this way – none of those questions were answered.

The explanation offered was that four minutes of footage from a 45-minute warm-up made an accurate assessment impossible. That might be technically true. It doesn’t read as confidence in the sport’s own standards though.

Part of the difficulty is that the rules themselves create room for evasion. The FEI General Regulations prohibit the use of spurs “excessively” or “persistently” – but in practice, this is left to the interpretation of individual stewards.

But the deeper problem is structural. Riders ride the way judges reward. They’re responding rationally to what wins.

So, if we deem the riding seen in Amsterdam as genuinely contrary to the principles of the sport, then the question is not only why riders were doing it, but why the incentives that produce it have been left unchanged.

Focusing on Charlotte allows the sport to treat this as a problem of individual conduct rather than a problem of incentives.

And if we do that, the story fades – as it always does. The next video surfaces – as it always does. And nothing changes.

Is dressage at risk?

The comments section under The Times piece contained a familiar refrain: calls for dressage to be banned.

It’s worth addressing briefly – not because I believe the argument is strong, but because it tends to set the emotional temperature of these debates before the more useful conversation can begin.

I don’t believe a ban will happen. The threshold for prohibition in equine sport has never been a welfare concern alone – if it were, racing would already be under existential threat.

Horseracing generates £4.1 billion annually and employs hundreds of thousands of people, yet has not been banned despite a significantly higher horse fatality rate. That tells you something about how these decisions are actually made – on economic, cultural, and political grounds as much as welfare ones.

It extends beyond Britain too. Across Europe, the horse sector generates more than €100 billion in annual economic impact and supports around 400,000 jobs.

There’s also a deeper irony in the framing of elite dressage horses as unregulated victims. FEI horses are subject to rigorous passport requirements, mandatory vaccination protocols, prohibited substance testing, and international disease surveillance.

Compared to the average horse, they’re among the most closely monitored horses in existence.

A more credible risk than abolition is increased oversight. When a sport’s own regulatory framework leaves visible gaps, it tends to invite others to fill them.

This is starting to happen in parts of Europe. Danish MEP Niels Fuglsang has been a persistent voice pushing for tougher EU-level oversight of horse welfare.

And yet, for now, the political priority is elsewhere. In President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen’s, mission letters to both the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food and the Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare, horses aren’t mentioned once; the Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare has been explicitly tasked with modernising EU animal welfare rules – but the mandate focuses on farm animals, exotic imports, and food safety.

The infrastructure for EU-level intervention exists; the political will to apply it to equestrian sport doesn’t yet. When the MEP Horse Group met with von der Leyen this month, the headline policy discussion centred on simplifying the Single Market for equine mobility and trade – welfare reform wasn’t the focus.

The picture, then, is of a sector large enough to attract political attention, but not yet facing the kind of sustained legislative pressure that would force the sport’s hand. That window may not stay open indefinitely.

But welfare reform doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Every viral video is also a relevance problem – it makes dressage harder to sell to new audiences, sponsors, and broadcasters at exactly the moment the sport needs to be attracting them.

The governance reality

I’ve spoken to enough people within the FEI to know that genuine will to reform exists. But their structure for rule changes inhibits these intentions.

Changing the rules of international equestrian sport is a slow and structured process by design. Proposals must be submitted by national federations, reviewed by technical committees, circulated for feedback, redrafted, and ultimately voted on at the FEI General Assembly – often many months after the issue that prompted them has already faded from public attention.

Even when a proposal passes, new rules typically only come into force the following year.

The voting structure compounds this. Each national federation carries equal weight, meaning that for dressage purposes, Germany, which won every Olympic team gold medal between 1984 and 2008, has the same vote as countries without a single FEI dressage rider.

Consensus across that breadth of membership is difficult to build quickly, and radical change is harder still.

More significantly, the core dressage rulebook is only subject to full revision on a four-year cycle – the most recent being this year.

Outside that window, amendments are generally limited to urgent welfare concerns, technical corrections, or unintended consequences in existing rules – which means the sport’s capacity to respond to a fast-moving public debate is structurally constrained even when the will is there.

Also, the rules that do emerge from urgent welfare concerns aren’t always as robust as they appear. A regulation introduced in July 2025 prohibiting substances used to induce foaming around a horse’s mouth is a case in point: the welfare intention is clear, but the enforceability is not.

If an athlete challenged such a ruling at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, the burden of proof on the FEI would be considerable. One imagines the steward’s report making for interesting reading – at what point does conscientious welfare oversight become a taste test?

Good intentions written into vague rules have a habit of being tested – and failing.

This context matters for understanding why the same debates recur without resolution. Riders, owners, and administrators who want change may find themselves working within a system that processes reform in years rather than months.

What real change might look like

Despite the structural difficulties, change is not impossible – and some of it doesn’t require waiting for the FEI’s four-year cycle.

Minimum standards for turnout, licensing requirements for riding centres and instructors, and checks on unregulated breeding would establish a welfare baseline that currently doesn’t exist – the kind of oversight applied to livestock, but largely absent for horses kept outside agricultural contexts.

That will not be cost-free, and poorly designed regulation could make an already inaccessible sport more so. But horse sport’s accessibility problem predates any proposed regulation.

Done well, a licensing framework could actually stabilise the riding centres on which grassroots participation depends – and any serious regulatory agenda would need to be paired with investment, grants, and pathways that treat participation as a public good rather than a private privilege.

None of this is imminent. But regulation has always been one of the most effective drivers of cultural shift – seatbelt laws changed not just behaviour but attitudes to road safety; smoking legislation did the same.

Minimum standards for how horses are kept, handled, and bred would, over time, reshape what people consider normal and acceptable, long before anyone reaches a competition arena.

Within the sport itself, the most meaningful changes would target incentives directly.

Judging criteria that explicitly reward visible relaxation and softness – rather than simply penalising obvious resistance – would begin to shift what riders train for. In the longer term, introducing coefficients that weight marks against observable conflict behaviour during a test would make welfare a structural part of how dressage is scored.

Stronger steward authority in warm-up arenas, with agreed behavioural indicators triggering intervention rather than individual discretion, would close the gap between the rules as written and the rules as applied.

And a mandatory welfare education requirement for riders returning from sanctions, as Richard Davison argued in his most recent H&H column, would signal that rehabilitation is taken seriously rather than managed as a reputational inconvenience.

These aren’t radical propositions. Other sports have made harder changes under less pressure.

The honesty problem

Dressage has always sold itself on a particular image. The horse is willing. The aids are invisible. The partnership is harmonious. That image is part of what makes the sport appealing – and part of what makes these moments so damaging when they surface.

Writing in Grandprix in response to the Amsterdam footage, Timothée Peugnot and Lucas Tracol make an important point about the narratives the sport constructs around itself.

After a crisis, the next up-and-coming star is always positioned as a saviour, like Charlotte once was – presented as proof that the sport’s values are intact.

The problem is that this places impossible expectations on individuals and sets them up to fail the moment they fall short. It also lets the sport avoid the harder conversation about why the crisis happened in the first place.

But elite sport is physically demanding, mentally pressurised, and full of competitive incentive. Pretending otherwise doesn’t protect the sport’s reputation – it undermines it.

When the gap between the image and the reality becomes visible, the damage is worse precisely because the image was so carefully maintained.

As Anna Ross has written, the sport is frequently unwilling to look critically at itself – and too much of the content produced around it retreats into safe, uncritical celebration rather than honest engagement.

What does good welfare actually mean?

Every governing body will tell you that horse welfare is their number one priority. But it’s worth asking what that actually means – because good welfare and elite sport exist in a tension that nobody in the industry likes to acknowledge directly.

A horse in perfect welfare is, by most definitions, an animal that is calm, free from pain, able to express natural behaviour, and not subject to significant stress.

A horse competing at the top level is asked to perform movements of considerable physical and mental demand, in an environment of noise and pressure, under a rider responding to competitive incentive.

Those two descriptions aren’t straightforwardly compatible.

That doesn’t mean elite equestrian sport is inherently abusive. But it does mean that the question “what is good welfare?” cannot be answered without first acknowledging that sport and welfare exist on a spectrum.

My own view is that good welfare and horse sport aren’t inherently incompatible, even if they are in tension. Horses can be asked to do things they wouldn’t choose to do, and may not particularly enjoy, without that constituting poor welfare – provided it causes no lasting harm and their overall quality of life is good.

But that isn’t a condition we can assume is always met. The burden of demonstrating it sits entirely with the humans involved, which is precisely why clearer standards, rather than individual discretion, matters.

It’s also why the sport needs to engage seriously with the growing body of equine stress research, rather than waiting for the science to become undeniable.

What level of physical demand on a horse is tolerable? What does pressure look like when it crosses a line?

Until the sport is willing to engage with that honestly – not defensively, not with reassuring language about harmony and partnership, but with genuine precision about what it asks of horses and why – it’ll keep having the same argument.

For me, pressure isn’t the same as suffering. A horse that is tense in a warm-up, above the bit, showing conflict behaviour, isn’t necessarily being abused. The threshold sits somewhere around this: riding that produces sustained, unresolved conflict behaviour – where the horse’s signals are consistently overridden rather than addressed – has crossed a line.

The question stewards, judges, and federations need to ask then is not “is this horse tense?” but “is this tension being listened to?” – and, critically, how do we assess that in practice.

That isn’t a rhetorical question. It requires agreed behavioural indicators, trained officials, and the institutional will to act on what they observe. The tools exist. The framework does not.

The people inhibiting change are not indifferent to horses – most of them have dedicated their lives to these animals, which is precisely what makes this hard.

But what the sport owes them – and itself – is the honesty to keep asking these questions as a matter of ongoing habit, not in response to a video, not in a carefully worded statement.

Whether it’s capable of that is, genuinely, unclear.

We’d love to hear your thoughts. Where do you think the line sits between acceptable training pressure and poor welfare – and do you think the sport is currently on the right side of it? Write in and share your views at hhletters@futurenet.com, including your name, nearest town and county, for the chance to have your response published in a future issue of Horse & Hound.

• To stay up to date with all the breaking equestrian news throughout the year, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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British grand prix dressage rider and trainer Anna Ross on dressage being under public scrutiny and the potential for AI to support judging in the future

Dressage is back in the spotlight and, while the FEI has issued its penalties and attempted to move on, the court of public opinion is rather less forgiving.

The Times in particular seems to have developed a keen interest in dressage, which isn’t something the sport is used to. Recently their chief sports writer, Owen Slot, wrote a piece questioning footage from the warm-up at the World Cup qualifier in Amsterdam. The videos have sparked renewed debate about training practices in the sport. The question the public is asking is simple: is what’s shown in these videos normal training? If it is, should it be?

As Richard Davison said in his recent column, everyone has a different idea of where the welfare line sits. One person may eat meat but refuse factory-farmed meat or battery eggs. A vegetarian might find the idea of eating meat unacceptable, while for a vegan, the consumption of eggs and dairy is equally wrong. All believe they are acting with good intentions, but who is “right”?

The same question applies to training. How much pressure is too much, and how do we measure it? These are uncomfortable conversations that, historically, our sport has not been particularly fond of. Yet we’re not short of expertise to guide us. The UK alone has many respected researchers working in equine welfare and performance. The knowledge is there if we choose to listen.

It’d be disingenuous to pretend to the public that we train horses without pressure. From the moment we handle a foal, pressure and release form the basis of communication. A hand on the chest asks the foal to step away. The foal yields, we release, and so the lifelong conversation begins.

Horses organise their societies in a similar way. Life within a herd isn’t always harmonious; it’s normal for horses to test the leader. But when criticism comes, the immediate response from stakeholders is often to point out how well the horses are cared for.

At the top level, an international horse may travel with more entourage than a Formula One team: vet, farrier, physio, saddle-fitter, nutritionist, trainer… But what has long been considered “good care” is not always the same as what is best for the horse. Would the spotless horse quite like to be muddy for a while? Might the heavily rugged horse be happier with less? And might the much-loved good-doer be healthier a little leaner?

Love and good intentions matter, but they aren’t always enough. If we are serious about our partnership with horses, then education and a willingness to question ourselves have to be part of the deal.

I don’t claim to have all the answers, but after a lifetime with horses it often comes back to that all-important quality: feel. Watching how the horse responds and making decisions from there.

Judging under pressure

To the untrained eye, dressage judging can look almost zen-like. Judges murmur to their writers as the test flows past (although riders seem only ever to hear “six” as we strain our ears going by).

In reality, it’s more like a mental triathlon at speed, with the wrath of the internet waiting to pounce. In the grand prix alone, there’s an extraordinary amount of counting: tempi changes, pirouette steps, piaffe transitions. All of this while judges are also expected to assess rhythm, balance, straightness and

harmony. It’s impossible to judge everything perfectly.

The critics often forget that judges are evaluating in real time, without the benefit of slow-motion replays or a second look. While someone online may have watched the same moment 100 times on a large screen, the judge saw it once, in a fraction of a second.

Perhaps this is where technology could help. Artificial intelligence (AI) could handle the mechanical elements: counting strides, verifying the number of changes, flagging any “misses”, and checking whether pirouettes or piaffe stayed within the correct parameters. In other words, AI could deal with the mathematics while human judges focus on what humans are actually good at: evaluating quality.

Used well, technology might make the sport fairer while freeing judges to concentrate on the nuances that really define great riding: harmony, subtlety and feel. There will, of course, be naysayers. But if AI could also take on winter yard duties – say, pushing wheelbarrows over frozen ground or breaking the ice on water buckets – I suspect even the most sceptical horse people might be tempted to sign up.

• What role, if any, should technology play in the future of dressage judging? Write to us at hhletters@futurenet.com, including your name, nearest town and county, for the chance to have your views published in a future issue of Horse & Hound magazine

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Sport horses may need to be ridden and competed to enjoy their best lives – but how do we show the public and ourselves that our horses enjoy what they’re doing?

These were some issues raised during a “moral maze” session at the 2025 British Equine Veterinary Association Congress (11–13 September).

Panellists considered whether involving horses in sport is to their benefit or detriment. The main themes were welfare and longevity and whether horses are able not just to perform but “to live well throughout their whole athletic lives and beyond”. The others were public acceptance and scrutiny, the influence of money and economics on horse sport and welfare, and governance, “whether equestrian sport is structured to generally protect horses”.

Professor of veterinary ethics Madeleine Campbell said public focus on involvement of animals in sport has become “quite incoherent”. And the view seems to be that there is an ethical difference between that and any other human-animal interaction, “because it’s trivial”.

“I don’t accept that,” she said. “My view is that every human use of non-human animals, apart from in medical science, is essentially trivial. We don’t need to eat meat or keep them as companions… there’s nothing ethically distinct about using animals in sport.”

Prof Campbell said she thinks animals’ involvement in sport has been classed with their use in entertainment, such as circuses, which she does not accept, as knowledge about horses and dogs is now so advanced, we can meet their welfare needs, unlike circus animals’.

“The fact that we know what their welfare needs are makes their use in sport ethically acceptable, ethically justifiable, providing we do indeed meet their welfare needs,” she said.

“I think we have to speak calmly and sensibly in the public space and to try to explain all this.”

Ethics and acceptance

She added that ethics and welfare and public acceptance are separate.

“Ethics is whether we ought to do something, and part of our decision-making process relies on welfare science; what we know about the welfare impacts on the horse,” she said.

“They’re part of this conversation around social licence to use animals in sport. But there’s a risk when we talk about social licence a lot that it sounds as if we’re concerned about simply maintaining it, whereas I genuinely believe what we as professionals are concerned about is welfare and health of horses. Essentially, providing we get that right, social licence will be maintained.”

Speakers agreed that if horse sport waits for the public to act, it will be too late. A huge amount of work is being done, but we must make that clear to combat the vocal nature of those opposed to equestrianism.

Performance horse consultant and top vet Peter “Spike” Milligan said if people are happy for horses to be domesticated and ridden, involving them for sport is the next step.

“I think we’d all be aware there are horses suffering from potentially limited welfare within a pleasure horse setting, dependent on the knowledge and training abilities of the rider,” he said.

“But due to the domestication of horses, and largely because of how amenable they are to human interaction, we have a population of horses that, due to their breeding and genetics, really require sport and training to be fulfilled, happy and enriched – and that’s something I feel very strongly about.”

Welfare linchpins

Mr Milligan says he sees vets as the “linchpin” of maintaining good welfare.

“I think we have a huge level of responsibility for that,” he said. “Yes, the structures from the FEI and other jurisdictions can take an oversight role, but our own inherent morals and values – we need to make sure that we are ultimately the bastions for welfare, for our sports horses.”

Mr Milligan said ridden horses benefit from being engaged and enriched by training, that everyday training is the “baseline” of each horse’s welfare, and that he has concerns about unregulated unaffiliated competition. But, he added, we should be aware of concerns about elite sport.

“It only takes the odd snippet of video to end up on social media. To be judged on some of your worst moments is tough, but these high-level professionals do need to be accountable,” he said. “And I believe the accountability needs to be more public. To be seen to care, the response should not be ‘I got caught,’ but ‘I need to reflect on this.’”

A good life

The final speaker, World Horse Welfare CEO Roly Owers, said a real challenge is ensuring horses have a good life, from their perspective rather than ours, and then demonstrating to the public – and ourselves – that horses enjoy sport.

“This is now a global issue. I think if the sector can work together better globally and ensure they do invest in research, it’s that evidence that will help us make sure we’re doing the right things with our horses. And that’s obviously a very good and clear justification to the public about why it can be ethically acceptable to involve horses in sport,” he said.

“But we’re not here to make ourselves look good. That is a secondary issue. It’s about doing what is right for our horses, and that should be at the centre of our thinking, always.”

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout 2025, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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Equestrian sport needs not only a truly horse-centric approach but an independent body to ensure this is the case, a study has found.

Leading animal welfare science researcher Mette Uldahl and welfare science professor David Mellor’s commentary paper, published in Animals, was written to “help secure a future for equestrianism by evaluating contemporary standards, identifying areas where the culture and structure of horse sport require modernisation and suggesting solutions”.

The researchers analysed scientific papers and presentations, regulatory texts, discussions at the FEI Sports Forum and more validated sources to provide evidence for the debate.

“Having worked in the horse sport industry for many years, it’s like the debate is fragmented, sometimes even unhinged,” Dr Uldahl told H&H. “For years, I’ve felt we need to see the overall picture, that this is a pattern, part of a culture and a structural problem, but also that many of the different issues we discuss are actually connected.”

Dr Uldahl said that many issues, such as noseband tightness and mouth lesions, for example, are all related to the effect of competition on human nature. She noted that even trends that are common, such as wearing ear bonnets, can be a concern, as many are tight enough to stop the horses’ ears moving fully, but also indicative of a culture of camouflage, and limiting horses’ ability to answer us.

The study noted that some research may not consider as full a picture as it could, and that results are often interpreted in an inaccurate, out-of-context or misleading way. The authors say this “underscores the need for comprehensive literature reviews conducted by independent and qualified professionals… to prevent misrepresentation or selective use of findings and when findings are inadequate, to resolve specific horse welfare concerns so that erroneous interpretations are not used by horse sports organisations to shape policy or influence public opinion”.

The research calls for governing bodies to “adopt clear, science-based welfare standards, involve independent experts and put the horse’s experience at the centre of all decisions”, and Dr Uldahl said independence is the key.

“Do I think change is possible? I think the elite part of sport cannot do it on its own,” she said. “Part of the process for the whole sport is to understand that they need independent advisory groups. Sometimes the sport talks about independent groups, but if this advisory group is appointed by the sport, it’s by definition, not independent.

“My best advice for the whole sport is to create some sort of levy board, to fund an independent structure of professionals knowledgeable not in traditional horse-sport practices. They could be there as well, but balanced with professionals in horse welfare and behaviour, to get real independent input, which it needs as a lever to transform.”

Dr Uldahl said she is a huge supporter of equestrian sport; hence her calls for it to change so it is acceptable to the public, as well as genuinely putting the horses first. And she added, as found in the study, that the rules and governance have to change so the comfortable, happy equine athletes are the winners.

The study also found a challenge is that knowledge is passed down through generations, learnt when welfare science was not advanced, and changing minds is then difficult.

“I think everyone at this point realises we can’t go back, because things were wrong in the past as well,” she said. “But we have to look at how it is and say, ‘Where can we do better with the knowledge we have now?’ That means taking some practices and traditions and realising others do not do good to horses. So we should abstain from them.”

World Horse Welfare chief executive Roly Owers told H&H the charity welcomes “the ongoing dialogue around how equestrian sport should respond to both new scientific findings and the changing attitudes of the public and equestrians”.

“It is imperative that sound scientific research informs welfare policy and practice, as is ensuring that all research findings are interpreted and communicated in a responsible way,” he said. “This is where having independent input into sport’s decision-making should play a key role.”

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout 2025, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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Mandatory qualifications to own horses could be one key to welfare and maintaining public acceptance – but all actions should be taken to benefit horses, not for PR.

These were suggestions made at a briefing on the results of World Horse Welfare’s fourth annual survey of the public’s attitudes to involvement of horses in sport, on 3 June.

This year’s study covered perception of sport horses’ quality of life, which many people think could be better.

“At last year’s event, we noted significant initiatives by equestrian sport and racing, and looked forward to the Olympics and Paralympics to provide even greater visibility for equestrianism, and that it did,” said World Horse Welfare CEO Roly Owers as he opened the briefing.

“Every single member of Team GB and Paralympics GB brought home a medal, Japan won their first eventing medal, all in the stunning setting of Versailles. But training practices were also sharply brought into the spotlight. The results last year showed that what riders and those involved with horses say and do has a significant influence on public opinion. What we in the horse world see as normal can sometimes be totally unacceptable to the public.

“So to maintain public acceptance, we must step outside our horse-world bubble to see what the public sees. We also need to be even more transparent and open with the public, which can be daunting and very difficult, but it is essential.”

Mr Owers also cited the charity’s research into what drives trust in equestrianism, which was in mind for this study.

“So what would increase their trust that sport horses really do live good lives?” Mr Owers asked. “The top three answers were allowing unannounced inspections of equestrian training facilities, making equine welfare education mandatory for all those who work with sport horses and publishing the results of welfare assessments.”

These were among the ideas discussed by a panel comprising British Equestrian eventing performance director Dickie Waygood, chair of the FEI vet committee Jenny Hall, vet Brad Hill and David Yelland, former editor of The Sun and PR expert.

Mr Yelland, speaking as “very much an outsider” to the horse world, said he has worked with many organisations that have lost their reputations.

“I don’t see that here,” he said. “I see actually people who care and are doing their best to try to avert problems.”

Changing perception

Mr Yelland cited the Army as just one organisation that has turned public perception from very negative to positive.

“You do that by working very hard, which I think this sport is generally doing, and by not going into denial,” he said. “And I really see you not doing that. Some of the problems I’ve just seen flagged, I don’t think necessarily are problems yet, or ever.

“But someone I’ve worked with longest is Lord Browne, who used to run BP, who was forced to come out in the 1990s. He says homophobia comes back, and you have to win that argument every 10 years with new generations in different parts of the world.

“This is the thing you will have to do; just because you won the argument now doesn’t mean you won’t lose it; you might lose it in five or 10 years. It’s a campaign, but I don’t walk into this room and see a crisis. I see people asking themselves how they would cope if a crisis happened.”

Dickie said it is very positive to see someone outside the industry recognising that we are “on the front foot”.

But he said there should be more education and sharing best practice, and that public perception can mean things are taken out of our hands.

“In Denmark, it went to government level, the use of a double bridle, for example,” he said. “I believe they’ve come up with a really good solution; you have to have a certificate and pass an exam to ride in a double bridle. I think the three million horse owners in this country should have a certificate or a licence and do an exam to own a horse in the first place, which does happen in some countries.”

Dickie said the challenge with this idea, and yard visits, is policing, but that if riders have to pay for the exam and registration, this could fund such a scheme. He added that the biggest influencers, on riders at all levels, are coaches and trainers, and “ educating coaches is one of the biggest ways we can influence, sell the story and subject and improve welfare and wellbeing”.

Dickie also supported mandatory registration and continuing professional development (CPD) for coaches, such as education on updated whip use protocol, and warned that use of language is key; horse sport often uses old-fashioned terms that may not convey the true picture.

Mr Hill added that he believes all owners have affection for their horses, and that no one likes punishing or hitting them.

A different answer

“I think in the moment, they don’t know any other answer to the question,” he said. “They might be presented with a situation and don’t know what to do with the horse, so think, ‘I’m going to give it a smack.’ I think they don’t get satisfaction [from this]; horse people love their horses. I think it’s about showing them an alternative method of training.”

Mr Yelland said the focus should probably be on “pinch points” such as the Grand National or emergence of negative videos, and agreed one suggestion, that coaches should have to undergo CPD to be insured, could be a good idea.

“But if your PR is leading your agenda, it’s never a good thing,” he said. “Don’t do things just for PR reasons; if you ban the whip, for example, that would be wonderful, it might be front page of the Mail, but the next day, there would be a huge focus on ‘What next?’ on areas you don’t necessarily want focused on. Doing things gradually, without announcements, without fuss, which seems to be generally what you are doing, is the best way.”

In closing, Mr Owers said how important it is we all “walk the talk”, improve education and show that this is the case, as the public “has a pretty good understanding of what good welfare looks like”.

“The question for the sector is, how much do we want to self-regulate, and how much do we want to be imposed on by governments?” he said. “And that is not an easy question to answer; we need to walk that line really carefully.

“How are we actually ethically ensuring that the lifetime of the horses we involve in sport is really cared for? I think each of the panelists has come up with a gem today, but possibly the best came from David; that the best PR in the world is to do the right thing.”

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout 2025, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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What the public thinks of whips and spurs – and whether sport horses have good lives

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Less than a third of the public believes most sport horses live good lives, it has been found, so there is “plenty of work” the equestrian world can do to build widespread trust.

World Horse Welfare’s fourth annual survey of public acceptance of horse sport focused on the perception of equines’ quality of life within sport, and the acceptability of common training methods.

The results of the poll, of 4,600 UK adults, 2% of whom “regularly interact with horses” show little change in overall attitude since the first survey in 2022; 22% do not support involvement of horses in sport at all, 42% support it only if welfare improves and 58% want increased safety and welfare measures. But they “underscore the common sense of the UK public regarding what horses need for a good life”, a World Horse Welfare spokesperson said.

The survey found that 27% of the public believe that most sport horses live good lives, compared to 49% of people who interact with horses. Only 5% believe “all sport horses live good lives”, and 8% of equestrians.

The majority of the public (62%) believe it is important sport horses have contact with other equines and rest after competitions (64%). Nearly half (45%) recognise the importance of spending time turned out.

“Those who regularly interact with horses were more likely than the general public to believe that it was important to a sport horse to go to competitions (17% vs 8%), win competitions (12% vs 6%) and be ridden (35% vs 21%),” the spokesperson said. “This could be due to equestrians believing that their horses enjoy their work and competing, though there is not yet any concrete evidence that they do.”

Whip and spur use

There was very little support among the public for light use of a whip (21%), spurs (11%) or strong leg or rein pressure (7%). Only 3% of the public think using a whip with force is acceptable, or using fear or pain to train horses.

“When asked what training methods were acceptable, the public again appear to have good instincts about the importance of rewards, use of a soft voice, light pressure on the reins or horse’s side, but they do not seem to like the use of the whip, even for light tapping,” said World Horse Welfare CEO Roly Owers at a briefing to reveal the findings.

“Horse people were more likely to understand the use of light pressure to train a horse, but somewhat worryingly, a notable proportion were also more complacent about using a loud voice, using a whip with force and using pain or fear to train a horse. These practices, of course, are unethical and not supported by the public.”

In terms of building trust that sport horses do live good lives, over half of the public (53%) cited unannounced welfare inspections of equestrian training facilities and mandatory welfare education for all involved with sport horses (51%).

“The UK public has an instinctive common sense about what horses need to have a good life, including having contact with other horses and the ability to make choices for themselves,” Mr Owers said. “But the vast majority do not believe that all sport horses live good lives, so there is plenty the horse world can do to build that trust. We hope today’s event sheds light on where opinions between the public and the horse world differ and what we can do to bridge that gap.”

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout 2025, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You may also be interested in:

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Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Richard Davison, a four-time dressage Olympian and former British World Class performance manager, who has been at the forefront of international dressage for more than 30 years, on the latest FEI developments and a chance for the sport to recalibrate

Lottie Fry’s World Cup triumph is not only another huge personal accolade for her and Glamourdale’s owners, Gertjan and Anne van Olst, it also signals Britain’s continued strength at the top of the sport.

Despite the incredibly high degree of difficulty, Lottie’s freestyle matched every beat of her British-themed music. The judges rewarded her with strong technical marks, particularly for harmony between horse and rider. Given the heightened scrutiny riders like Lottie Fry are under, this was especially good news.

I’ll be interested to see what findings emerge from R-Haltenswert, the German-based welfare group invited by the organising committee to observe the warm-up arenas and monitor FEI stewarding protocols.

Good governance is needed

I attended the FEI Sports Forum (31 March–1 April) in Lausanne held immediately prior to the World Cup Final.

The agenda reflected the high volume of representations the FEI has received following last year’s high-profile equine abuse cases. Top of the list when it comes to calls for reform was the issue of dressage judging.

The implication is that either judges are failing to recognise and penalise signs of discomfort or that there is a lack of consensus on how to score these observations. In my view, it is the latter and it has been perpetuated due to the FEI’s delay in implementing a coherent and agile code of points.

In response, the FEI has established several advisory and strategic working groups, including a strategic action planning group specifically for dressage. The group includes well-respected experts such Kyra Kyrklund, Danish vet Lise Berg and our own Gareth Hughes.

While the group seems to be in the early stages of its discussions, blue-sky thinking is a positive start. The challenge, of course, will be to convert these ideas into clear and enforceable rules.

It was repeatedly stated that those rules, which are to be designed to enhance the wellbeing of our horses, must be either evidence- or knowledge-based. Therefore, I was particularly dismayed at the lack of rationality in the suggestion that the reintroduction of collective marks could help resolve matters concerning judging and assessment.

The evidence is clear: studies show that collective marks in technical tests often enable bias and result in vague, inconsistent scores. Far from helping, they risk undermining the credibility of judges and the sport itself.

Thankfully, I was reassured by Kyra and Lise, who pointed to the robust scientific evidence already at the FEI’s disposal. This was a reminder that good intentions must still be backed by solid data.

Tack, equipment and protocols

Several submissions around tack, equipment and competition protocols have also reached parliamentary level in various national governments. Voters hold the power, and while hard evidence matters, we cannot underestimate the impact of public perception.

We must be prepared to view our sport through the eyes of those less invested than ourselves. In this, the FEI equine welfare advisory group could play a crucial role. Comprising eminent researchers, academics and independent experts, this group provides a much-needed external perspective.

Many of this group already have access to the corridors of parliamentary power. We will need to be much more comfortable with compromise if we want others to endorse our cause.

I have a sense that matters are now moving at pace and the FEI may need to accelerate the timeline it has set for the working group developing the action plan for dressage.

Looking ahead to Royal Windsor

Finally, for those keen to understand what goes into creating, training and riding an Olympic freestyle, you won’t want to miss this year’s Royal Windsor.

On Thursday, 15 May, I’ll be joined there by fellow Olympians Carl Hester, Dinja van Liere and Becky Moody for a special showcase. Set against the backdrop of Windsor Castle, it promises to be a spectacular and enjoyable event for all equestrian enthusiasts.

● Are dressage judging and welfare standards moving in the right direction? Let us know your thoughts at hhletters@futurenet.com, including your name, nearest town and county, for the chance for your letter to appear in a forthcoming issue of the magazine

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major events throughout 2025, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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An ethical training method is one that minimises negative equine welfare effects and maximises positive, and results in self-carriage without physical force.

This is the proposed FEI definition, as work continues on the equine welfare strategy action plan announced at last year’s general assembly (news, 21 November). Training is one of six focus areas of the plan, and was a key topic during a session on welfare at the 2025 FEI Sports Forum (31 March–1 April).

Work is ongoing towards the creation of an ethical training framework for horses in all FEI disciplines, to be delivered before the 2025 general assembly in November.

“The objective of our project is to formulate a globally applicable framework, and our main goal is to define ethical training and its principles, but also to identify acceptable practices that are supported by both science and expert consensus, which is super-important,” said Swedish researcher Malin Axel-Nilsson, a member of the newly appointed FEI Equine Advisory Welfare Group (FEAWG). This is overseeing the implementation of the action plan and working with the FEI’s ethical training methods expert consultative group.

“We have to collaborate and make our arguments understandable for all parties,” said Dr Axel-Nilsson.

FEAWG chair Jenny Hall delivered an update on another of the action plan’s focus areas, “fitness to compete”. Work has included an expert forum held at Jumping Amsterdam in January, at which topics included equine physical, medical and mental fitness before, during and after competition, travel and horse inspections.

Dr Hall said the forum concluded that horse inspections are “fit for purpose”. But although people can agree on an inspection when a horse is not fit to compete owing to lameness, a working group is to be formed to develop guidance for assessing when a horse is not fit for competition from a “behaviour and mental state” point of view.

Work is also ongoing towards standardisation of trot-up surfaces, and the equine prohibited substances list is under review to ensure it aligns with advancements in medicine.

Dr Hall said it was about ensuring that there is not a “blanket ‘no’ to things that could be beneficial to horse welfare, but making sure that our response is nuanced enough to have the benefits of modern techniques without being in any way adverse for the horse”.

FEI veterinary director Göran Åkerström shared a research update and said the roll out of the protocol for inspection of oral lesions, announced at the 2024 general assembly, is due either late 2025 or early 2026.

“We learnt that in order to make this a successful project for the sake of the horses, but also for social licence, we need to involve riders, grooms and all the stakeholders very closely,” he said.

“Therefore, when we roll this out, we will focus on engaging athletes and grooms, education and data collection, and initially it will be voluntary participation with very much a strong advisory focus.”

Dr Axel-Nilsson said another area of the action plan is the development of a framework to assess and evaluate equine welfare. A project is ongoing to define how the five domains horse welfare model is relevant to each discipline, and this will be delivered to each discipline in different formats and implemented in different ways.

During a press briefing, FEI secretary general Sabrina Ibáñez was asked whether progress around equestrian’s social licence to operate is being made fast enough.

“In-house, there are probably weekly meetings on the different action plan actions we need to establish, so I don’t think we can go faster than that. In addition, we need to do our regular work, so I think we’re doing the best we can with what we have,” she said, adding that updates will be shared at the general assembly.

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A trial of making the double bridle optional up to CDI3* level, observing horses before they enter at A, and giving judges buttons to alert each other of potential issues are among proposals being discussed in dressage.

A session at the FEI Sports Forum (31 March–1 April) was dedicated to reviewing the work of the FEI’s dressage strategic action planning working group, formed this year.

The group, chaired by former US Dressage Federation president George Williams and including six-time Olympian and trainer Kyra Kyrklund, German team coach Monica Theodorescu and British medallist Gareth Hughes, has been tasked with reviewing the sport and developing a plan. This will be put to the FEI dressage technical committee and coincide with the full dressage rules revision next year.

FEI director for dressage, para dressage and vaulting Ronan Murphy moderated the session and gave an overview of the sport’s current position.

“We all know that we’ve been under this very intense spotlight. It’s important to highlight the areas of criticism; there’s the general sentiment that the sport is not in a trustworthy place and we have lost confidence,” he said.

These areas under scrutiny are training methods, judging and scoring, and “specific high-profile incidents often including some of our top athletes” – and that there have been calls for “much more decisive action to be taken” to address the concerns.

Mr Murphy said there has been a suggestion that horses competing at the top level of dressage are younger than has previously been the case, but that this is not correct. He said that of the approximately 5,000 FEI-registered horses and ponies, the percentage of eight-year-olds competing at grand prix level is “incredibly small”, and last year this was 12 horses.

Eight focus areas are being “prioritised” by the working group including judging, tack and equipment, horse health and wellbeing, and the warm-up area and stewards. Mr Murphy presented a summary of suggestions across these areas, gathered from various stakeholder meetings, to be considered by the group.

In judging, these include adding a rideability score to reward good riding, making the judges’ comments public, introducing a button for judges to alert one another when concerns arise over the competency of the combination, and observing combinations before they enter at A – an “an area where horses can become tense before starting the test”.

Other ideas included minimising horse stress levels and reducing noise such as clapping during the test, holding a trial period for giving riders a choice over the use of the double bridle up to and including CDI3* grand prix level, standardising the noseband across all grand prix classes regardless of choice of double or snaffle bridle, and cleaning foam from the horse’s mouth before entering the arena or during the warm-up if requested by the FEI official.

“Many of these initiatives are to protect our athletes because the criticism that’s received at the moment sometimes doesn’t truly reflect what is happening, and it’s important to be completely transparent,” said Mr Murphy.

Mr Williams added that the group’s discussions have been “very varied” and at this stage no conclusions have been made.

The members of the working group, except Gareth who was unable to attend, took part in a panel discussion on questions around topics including judging, public perception, training and stewarding.

When asked about double bridles and the potential for the suggested trial, Mr Williams said it was important to say “we are not making recommendations as a group, we each have our own opinions”.

Ms Theodorescu said “we don’t want to promote the snaffle to be used just for the purpose of getting higher marks” and that problems could arise such as horses being ridden more strongly at home in the snaffle.

“This could lead to other problems that we don’t want to see. We have to be careful with implementing something that might look good to the outside, and we might get positive press for a moment,” she said.

In a follow-up press briefing, FEI secretary general Sabrina Ibáñez said it is hoped “concrete proposals” will be established by the FEI General Assembly in November.

The dressage European Championships take place in August and when asked whether anything new could be implemented by then to help with the sport’s image, Sabrina said if there are any “best practices” that do not necessarily affect rules and regulations, these will be announced.

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Native pony specialist Rebecca Penny on HOYS changes and social responsibility in showing

As the summer season nears, many of us are busy making the necessary preparations to get ourselves and our ponies ring-ready. With every new season comes change, some well received, some met with groans, but all inevitable. This year is no exception, and I must say, a few updates to the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) rulebook have been long overdue.

One change I personally welcomed was the removal of the mandatory Joint Measurement Board (JMB) certificate for ponies from the three native breeds with no upper height limit – Welsh section D, Exmoor, and Dales – unless, of course, they have qualified in the mountain and moorland (M&M) working hunter pony ranks.

This was an unnecessary cost burden for those showing these breeds in their respective finals, and its elimination is a small but significant win for competitors.

Another welcome change is the split of the HOYS M&M lead-rein class into separate Welsh and non-Welsh classes. At last, those of us in those classes no longer need to play the world’s longest games of “I Spy” to keep young jockeys entertained while waiting for 50 tiny combinations to take their turn in a single class.

I remain on the fence on the introduction of six mixed height children’s riding pony classes at the expense of six qualifiers run with the traditional height splits.

From now on, only 12 of the 18 qualifiers will run as usual. I do worry about the impact on younger children making the leap from first ridden to 128cm classes. Competing against much older riders on 148cm ponies could be daunting, and I wonder whether this will further deter participation in plaited classes.

On the other hand, perhaps this change will encourage riders to raise their game, pushing them to improve rather than shy away. We already see children holding their own against adults in M&M classes, so maybe this is the perfect platform to nurture resilience and skill. Those with the drive to win will always find a way to rise to the occasion.

The influence of social licence

Beyond rule changes, another undeniable force shaping our sport is the rise of social licence, the informal but powerful approval we receive from the wider public based on our ethical practices.

Both societies and competitors are under increasing scrutiny, and with that comes the need for more transparent and responsible horse care, the use of ethical training methods and improved competition conditions.

This has led to regulations tightening across the board, aligning showing with other governing bodies in equestrian sport and, crucially, with the public’s expectations.

As competitors, we have a duty of care not only to our horses but to the industry itself. The way we conduct ourselves, both in and out of the ring, has a ripple effect. Posting images and videos on social media comes with great responsibility, as our sport is more exposed than ever.

What might seem normal to seasoned competitors can appear shocking to outsiders unfamiliar with the nuances of equestrian life. A misplaced whip movement, a stressed pony or misuse of a training aid can, rightly, spark outrage. Ultimately, it is our responsibility to set the standard.

As expectations in equestrian sport continue to evolve, those who lead by example will not only contribute to its growth but also attract greater support from sponsors who value integrity.

● What can we do as an industry to ensure we maintain our social licence to go showing? Write to us at hhletters@futurenet.com, including your name, nearest town and country, for the chance for your letter to appear in a forthcoming issue of the magazine

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major events throughout 2025, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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One of Denmark’s most influential dressage studs, Blue Hors, has announced it is withdrawing its horses from competition while the country works to establish a new framework for horse welfare in sport.

“Danish dressage is in a time of change, when horse welfare, training methods and animal ethics are up for debate,” a spokesperson from the stud said.

“These developments are taking place against a deeply serious background, and are decisive for the future of the sport. The debate has started a long-awaited effort to make clearer guidelines for the ethical correct use of horses in sport.

“The initiative is part of the Danish Equestrian Federation’s (DRF) new strategy ‘Together for Horse Welfare’, which also focuses on better education and changes to competition judging.

“We support the work of the association, so that together we can create a better and clearer framework for the future – for the sake of horses, riders and the sport.

“As long as there is so much ambiguity as to what the correct ethical use of horses is, we have temporarily chosen to pause Blue Hors’ participation in dressage events. Initially for three months, after which we will assess whether a greater common understanding of horse ethics and sporting guidelines has been achieved, or whether we should extend the break from the event further.”

The reference to competition judging is notable. At last week’s CDI in Herning, there was more than a 7% difference in scores for Nanna Skodborg Merrald’s winning CDI3* performance on Blue Hors Znickers. Danish judge Hans-Christian Matthiesen, who has said he believes the sport needs to change, awarded the lowest score of 65.11%, while Britain’s Richard Baldwin gave the highest at 72.61%.

While variations in scoring between judges are not uncommon, this follows a recent Level 4 Judges Meeting in Bern, Switzerland (4-5 February) where, according to FEI documents, open and collaborative discussions were held on solutions to ensure “the wellbeing of dressage horses is prioritised”. Topics included “mouth and contact issues” and reforms to the judges’ educational programme.

Blue Hors’ temporary withdrawal from sport highlights these broader concerns and uncertainties about competition standards, and the role of judging in horse welfare.

Blue Hors’ legacy in Danish dressage

Owned by Danish billionaire Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen – president and CEO of The Lego Group from 1979 to 2004 – Blue Hors has helped launch the careers of some of Denmark’s most successful dressage riders, including Andreas Helgstrand and Daniel Bachmann Andersen – as well as Nanna.

Though the stud downsized in 2023 – moving from its expansive Randboel facilities to Stutteri ASK – their horses have remained prominent on the international competition circuit.

Riding Blue Hors Zepter, Nanna was part of the Danish silver-medal winning team at last summer’s Paris Olympics and she has also been a regular on this season’s World Cup circuit on Blue Hors Znickers, Blue Hors St. Schufro and Blue Hors Don Olymbrio.

Blue Hors has also been at the forefront of progressive change in equestrian sport. In 2018, it became one of the first European studs to publicly disclose its testing results for Warmblood Fragile Foal Syndrome (WFFS) – a transparency move that set a precedent for other breeding programmes.

Denmark’s tipping point on horse welfare

This latest step comes at a critical time for equestrian sport in Denmark. In December, The Danish Council on Animal Ethics published a series of recommendations regarding new “legislative initiatives” for the involvement of horses in sport in Denmark, which included a proposed ban on double bridles and riding behind the vertical.

The council has no legislative power itself, but the Danish minister of food, agriculture and fisheries, Jacob Jensen – with whom the decision ultimately rests – told Horse & Hound that: “The well-being of animals is extremely important to me; and that includes horses.

“Therefore, I have had multiple meetings with stakeholders from Danish equestrian sports, as I do in general on most subjects. Here I have underlined the importance of the industry taking responsibility for ensuring proper care of horses in equestrian sports.

“At the same time, I have emphasised that I am willing, if deemed necessary, to issue legislation regarding this subject. Animals must be treated properly. It is that simple.”

A spokesperson added: “The Ministry, aided by the Danish Veterinary and Food Agency, is currently in a process of reviewing all of the recommendations from The Danish Animal Ethics Council and uncovering the possibilities within this subject.”

The DRF has now initiated work on updating the guidelines for the professional and ethically correct use of horses in sport.

“The update of the professional basis for the correct use of horses in sport will be based on recommendations from researchers as well as veterinary and riding experts,” a spokesperson said.

“The DRF will draw on knowledge and experience from a broad composition of experts and professionals, ensuring both research expertise within the current areas as well as veterinary and riding technical understanding.

“In the first phase, we will focus on, among other things, head-neck position as well as behavioral and conflict markers. The external experts will work independently and without interference from the equestrian federation.”

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout 2025, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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A group of leading veterinary researchers has raised “considerable welfare concerns” related to double bridle use, submitting evidence they say suggests “winning performances in dressage subject horses to significant pain”.

The group, comprising professors and other experts from universities in Australia, New Zealand and Finland, and photographer Crispin Parelius Johannessen, has submitted photographs of seven horses at two World Cup dressage events in Europe this year. The riders referenced include Lottie Fry, Isabell Werth, Ingrid Klimke and Patrik Kittel.

In a letter signed by all the group, the researchers say they are preparing a report on welfare in competition horses but “in the interest of transparency and ensuring that evidence of potential horse abuse is provided expeditiously, and in the expectation that you would wish act on this evidence promptly, we have made it available as evidentiary photographs, with metadata to confirm that they are temporally linked and not simply ‘moments in time’”.

PhD student Cristina Wilkins of the University of New England, who sent the document to the FEI, told H&H her PhD is on “one welfare” outcomes from human-horse interactions.

“We were reviewing evidence including pictures taken by Crispin of dressage horses, and are very concerned about the details these photos reveal,” she said. “We wanted to make sure the FEI had this evidence, as the detail in the photos may not always be visible to the naked eye.”

Mrs Wilkins, who has evented internationally and has experience in training and coaching said she first saw some of Crispin’s pictures last spring and was “shocked by the degree of compression of the tongues” shown.

“The conversation started with blue tongues and has moved on to open mouths. But what concerns us the most is the compression of the tongue, and the duration of that,” she said.

She added: “We’re all welfare scientists, our work is about making improvements and when we see signs of harm or are suspicious there could be harm caused to animals, we want to report it to the authorities.”

The pictures appear to show discoloured tongues, and in many the horses’ mouths are open.

“These images reveal considerable welfare concerns related to the use of double bridles in dressage events, that we understand would have been approved for use by the stewards,” the letter states.

“The images clearly demonstrate the competitors’ bits causing prolonged deformation of the tongue, as well as marked compression of the tongue, the periosteum of the bars, and distortion of the lips. Such compression, as documented by Mellor (2020), is extremely painful due to the high tactile sensitivity of oral structures.

“In many of the images, the compression is so severe that it appears to substantially reduce or halt blood flow… potentially resulting in ischaemic pain – an intensely noxious condition.”

High scores

The horses pictured scored highly in their tests.

“The temporally linked series of images that we have reviewed alongside video footage available via the FEI’s subscription TV channel suggest that winning performances in dressage subject horses to significant pain,” the letter states. “We are concerned that practices that harm the oral structures are not only going unnoticed but are being rewarded.”

Mr Johannessen, a rider and fine art photographer, told H&H his camera is so powerful, it can capture, from the stands at shows, details that are not obvious to the naked eye.

“My purpose is to show the details of the horses’ faces and present them for welfare assessment,” he said.

Mr Johannessen said the usual response to his photographs, some of which showing alleged blue tongues surfaced last spring, is that they are “a moment in time”, not the full picture. But he gave the example of one test covered by this letter; in eight minutes, he took 9,124 pictures, an average of 18 per second.

“So they’re extremely long sequences, and by doing that, we can really see,” he said. “There’s so much information; how long the mouth is open, what the tongue looks like. People say it’s misrepresentation – but those moments are there. And because I’m in the stands, I’m aware of what I can see, and what I can see through the camera. These issues are hiding in plain sight.”

Mr Johannessen said he has been accused of manipulating his pictures, but that they have been examined by an independent third party to confirm this is not the case. He added that another photographer captured blue tongues at the Paris Olympics, “which confirmed I wasn’t making it up”.

“The motivation isn’t to shame any riders,” he added. “This is vets and researchers thinking the pictures show reason to be concerned.”

Isabell Werth told H&H the images “do not mirror the complete picture”.

“In the freestyle especially, there were over-average performances and delighted spectators,” she said. “The photos do not show this, but show the exact moment when the hand has given a more or less half-halt rather than the moment when the hand gives the contact or probably in one or two cases just holds the contact.

“This is easily possible with today’s cameras, which can take 20–50 pictures per second. This is being used by the photographer to make it seem as if it was a constant state of affairs.”

Isabell said her ride Quantaz was at times putting downward pressure on the bits, which made him open his mouth. She said horses are “not always totally relaxed, supple and on the aids”, and not machines, and that they behave differently in large arenas in front of crowds.

“Is it really such a big problem when, as in this case with Quantaz, he is not fully relaxed and accepting the bit for a moment?” she said. “It is correct that the movements where he shows an open mouth should be marked down. However, I do not believe that Quantaz suffered any pain from the bits in this test. On the contrary, he is a strong, proud, self-confident and non-submissive horse.”

Isabell said riders have to use half-halts more when a horse is not “ideally on the aids”, and that every horse will react differently, in a snaffle or double, and in all disciplines.

“The bridle is a tool to educate and control a horse in a proper way,” she said. “Our goal and challenge is and has to be a light contact independent of the bit or bits. However, this is a goal we can’t always reach. I know I could always do something better but it can’t be right our performances are made to appear to be of poor standard because of bad or unflattering pictures made by a man on a mission.”

Double bridle debate

Lottie Fry and Patrik Kittel were unavailable for comment but Ingrid told H&H the pictures “highlighted and intensified the current debate regarding equine welfare in grand prix dressage, particularly concerning the role of the double bridle”.

“Within scientific circles, concerns have been raised that the double bridle configuration required by international regulations may potentially compromise the horse’s mouth,” she said. “Simultaneously, there are worries that practices which could harm the horse might go unnoticed or even be inadvertently rewarded by current judging standards.

“As a professional rider, I hold our sport in the highest regard and adhere to the classical principles of equitation I inherited from my father. I am aware our sport is under critical scrutiny and support every constructive discussion and dialogue about equine welfare.

“At the same time, I must emphasise that the images are snapshots. They do not represent a constant state, but a fraction of a second within a complex sequence. The challenge for every grand prix rider is to align the principles of classical equitation with the current demands of elite sport – a balancing act that cannot be perfectly maintained at every moment.

“Horses are not machines, and riders are only human. Naturally, my goal is to present my horses in perfect self-carriage according to classical principles, with the poll as the highest point and the nose slightly in front of the vertical – something I don’t always achieve.”

Ingrid said the debate over double bridles’ being mandatory in top international dressage – a rule the FEI has been under pressure to change – needs objective consideration.

“Is the double bridle requirement purely a matter of sporting convention, or does it substantively affect equine welfare?” she said.

“Should scientific evidence conclusively indicate that the action of the double bridle, compared to alternatives such as the snaffle, adversely affects equine welfare, an open debate should be held about mandatory double bridles. We all know moments, especially in competition, that require stronger contact, whether to show a movement in perfection or simply to ensure the safety of horse and rider, will probably never be completely avoidable.

“I am committed to the development of our sport in harmony with equine welfare. I invite all interested parties to form their own informed opinions through open dialogue and transparent training methods that demonstrate that the welfare of the horse always comes first. I fully support objective, fair and evidence-based discourse regarding scientific findings that can both enhance our sport and ensure its long-term sustainability.”

Investigating

The German equestrian federation (FN), to which the letter was also sent, said it is taking it seriously and investigating.

“Photos are always snapshots,” said FN chair Dennis Peiler. “Photos alone are therefore not enough to make a complete assessment. For this reason, we will also view available video material to be able to assess and classify the situations in the overall context.”

The FEI confirmed it had received the letter and images.

“As always, the FEI will review and examine the material provided to assess whether any rule violations occurred,” a spokesperson told H&H. “It would not be appropriate for the FEI to comment publicly while this review is ongoing.

“The FEI is actively working to address equine welfare matters through the FEI equine welfare action plan, and has established a working group to develop a strategic action plan for dressage. Finally, the FEI has established clear channels for anyone who wants to report horse abuse via the FEI reporting hub.”

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout 2025, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You may also be interested in:

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Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Learning from gymnastics could be a key to equestrian sport’s thriving – as could asking every horse, “Are you OK?”

Experts spoke at World Horse Welfare’s virtual conference on 13 February, titled “Accountability for welfare in equestrianism: looking beyond the obvious”. It followed last year’s event, at which leaders from other industries spoke about how they had strengthened public acceptance (news, 8 February 2024).

“Today’s conference brings the conversation back to us,” said World Horse Welfare CEO Roly Owers in his introduction. “It considers the factors that may lead to unwanted practices in equestrian sport and offers innovative and progressive solutions to the challenges, which will surely help show the public we’re serious about improving the welfare of horses that provide us with so much enjoyment.”

British Gymnastics (BG) CEO Sarah Powell considered culture shifts in sport.

A review of British Gymnastics commissioned in 2020 said gymnasts’ wellbeing and welfare had “not been at the centre of British Gymnastics’ culture”, within its damning findings. Ms Powell, who took the job in 2021, said she had wondered what her sport and horse welfare had in common, “but the more I’ve listened and spoken to people, I can see real synergy within our journey of reform and the journey you’re taking”.

Ms Powell said although her sport was “in crisis”, there was denial; people seeing it as “a few bad apples”, or that issues such as long training hours were needed for success. But the Whyte review made key recommendations for change, which led to BG’s “Reform 25” strategy.

“That word is key,” she said. “If you’re truly going to reform, you need to change people’s attitudes and beliefs.”

She added: “At the outset, there was absolute acknowledgement and an ownership of the issues, not just an apology.”

Ms Powell said BG considered cultural norms, developing training and awareness rather than policing, addressing outdated coaching methods and encouraging people to talk about issues.

“Engaging with experts has been fundamental,” she said. “Previously, we had this information in policy documents; we’re shifting them to much more user-friendly information, so people know what’s right and wrong.”

Expertise, experience and consultation

BG used the Whyte position statements and “underpinned this with expertise, science, legislation, experience” and consultation, as “we need to bring people with us, because these are big shifts within our sport”. Ms Powell said policy can change practice very quickly.

“We are constantly reminding people that it is care of the individual that comes first, not performance,” she said. “We’ve taken forward a lot of actions and are starting to see the impact. We’re starting to see conversations changing, people coming forward to say, ‘I’m not sure we’re doing this right.’

“Those conversations weren’t happening before. We’re still challenging ourselves and getting lost a bit, but we’re far more self-aware. We’re curious to learn from others and I hope if we can keep our conviction, we will actually feel the bounty and make a difference for everybody.”

The second speaker was Mette Uldahl, an equine vet and chief consultant in horse and animal welfare for Animal Protection Denmark, who considered, “Why do good people do bad things?”

Dr Uldahl looked at how people’s integrity might be lost; the way someone who loves horses may treat them badly.

“If a rider has been educated to interact with the horse in a way where the horse understands intentions and the rider does not compromise or pressure the horse, then all is good,” she said. “If the rider has been taught since a child to whip, kick or put excessive pressure on the horse, or to interact in ways the horse does not understand, the horse’s welfare will be compromised.

“Many riders have been brutalised, while being told that certain practices are OK or even necessary to become a skilled rider. Over time, the rider experiences a loss of integrity.”

In one research project, Dr Uldahl spent time in riding schools and heard how people talk about horses’ behaviour; saying, “he refuses because he’s mad” or “he looks stupid when I tighten the girth”, rather than just stating the horse’s actions mean the speaker is “an honorable member of the department of deception”.

“How we see and if we choose to listen defines how and if we’re going to react when the horse tries to communicate,” she said. “A horse can’t shout, whimper or scream if we do not react when we recognise them talking to us.”

Changing behaviour

Dr Uldahl said riders, especially those feeling pressures of competition, can think they are doing right by their horses when they are not, and that changing attitudes and behaviour is always hard. So a strong governing body is needed to “hold their hands” and set markers to determine whether horses are physically comfortable.

“We have also started to look into the mental wellbeing of the horse, asking, ‘How are you?’” she said. “However, the main question asked in sport is still, ‘How does the horse perform in competition?’

“This question is related to all the things humans are impressed by; there’s a judgment, a prize handed to the rider,” she added. “Fitness of the horse is usually evaluated by officials; we have evidence that there’s no correlation, or very little, between looking at the horse’s objective behaviour.”

Dr Uldahl said horses do not choose to compete; we do, so we must safeguard their welfare – and the winners should be the happiest horses.

“Let’s focus on the rider’s ability to communicate with the horse, making it comfortable,” she said. “We can add a primary filter on all disciplines, objective evaluation of horse behaviour. If the horse is not OK, the rider can’t have a prize.

“A lot of people in horse sport support structures as they are. If these structures initiate people to do the wrong thing to become winners, we all help in producing bad actors in horse sport. Everyone who can learn more, listen more and communicate better with horses has a responsibility to do so.

“We all influence the outcome of horse welfare and horse sport. And we do that wrongfully, if we support traditions and culture that should be improved according to modern knowledge. Reluctance to admit the need for even minor changes to secure horse welfare and sport, in a modern context, is a problem.

“We only need to add one expert ingredient, to ask the horse, ‘Are you OK?’ The main reason good people do bad things is to recognise how difficult it is to change human nature; I would like to change the question and ask, ‘Who is the right winner?’”

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout 2025, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You may also be interested in:

What the public really thinks and how horse sport can gain trust

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‘Fix the roof while the sun shines’: how McDonald’s can help horse industry thrive

*Opinion* Not my sport: if horse abuse is happening, it is not ok

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Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Back in October I wrote that there is nothing so polarising as the double bridle debate, but things move fast in the world of social licence. Just a few days later, nosebands became the new hot topic, with the announcement of the approved FEI noseband tightness measuring tool to be used on horses at international shows and events across all the disciplines.

The noseband – or rather, the fitting of it – has become a pariah over the past decade or so. Some research suggests tight nosebands are harmful; other research has found that very loose or no nosebands create problems of their own by allowing the rest of the bridle and bit to move too easily out of place. But the general public is now worried about potentially abusive equipment – and this is prodding the FEI to introduce controls that previously researchers and vets have advocated for without success.

Mandatory tightness checks with the tool at international shows (under Art 1044.8 of the 2025 FEI Veterinary Regulations, see page 45) were meant to start on 1 January but have been postponed till 1 May, to give time to train officials and distribute the measuring tool around the world. This is a major logistical challenge though the FEI told H&H they are “on target”. The tool is being made by a major French supplier of plastic components, Groupe Plastivaloire.

Nonetheless the new rule has caught many by surprise, despite being approved by the FEI General Assembly at the end of 2023. Consultation documents show remarkably few objections were lodged at the time, only by the International Dressage Riders Club (IDRC) dressage officials and the German and Irish national equestrian federations – just two of the 136 member countries entitled to a view. GB was in support – and will also trial the tool at British Dressage shows this season.

Anyone failing the test can start their competition if the noseband is loosened to comply with the rules. But if the noseband is found to have been covertly re-tightened again on the field of play, there is non-appealable elimination plus a yellow warning card. In disciplinary terms, therefore, the FEI now regards tight nosebands as more serious than certain instances of blood on the horse (which may be allowed to continue following inspection) or “excessive” use of the whip in eventing and jumping (disqualification and warnings being at the ground jury’s discretion).

But only now, with just three months to go, is the FEI facing resistance from all sides – for different and seemingly incompatible reasons.

The FEI approved tool is a slim black plastic wedge passed under the noseband and (front) nasal bone from top to bottom, for a no-quibble pass or fail (see video below). Some riders don’t want the testing done at all. Others in both dressage and jumping accept the rule is in place but think elimination is too draconian, or don’t like the procedure. Officials are worried about this additional task, when they already have limited time for existing mandatory checks on horses that may be raring to go.

Meanwhile, welfare campaigners welcome mandatory testing in principle, as one would expect. But there is dismay that the FEI has not adopted the tapered tool developed by the International Society for Equitation Science (ISES), which demands a looser fitting noseband. ISES is a “who’s who” of global equine veterinary and research expertise and its noseband tool has been used in many peer-reviewed studies, including by the UK-based team at Centaur Biomechanics as part of the FEI tool development process.

The new rule is also dividing senior figures in the governance of global equestrianism (see more below). This week Theo Ploegmakers, president of the European Equestrian Federation (EEF) publicly warned riders to stop complaining, claiming there are “numerous reports of excessively tight nosebands”.

A look back at nosebands in history

Portraits and sculptures from the Middle Ages to classical times rarely show a horse with a noseband. There is some evidence of noseband use many thousands of years ago, fastened directly over the nostrils to control the horse by impeding its breathing.

In the early renaissance, when equitation developed as an art form, nosebands lined with chains or other sharp objects were used to help “collect” the horse before the curb bit had fully evolved.

For several hundred years the plain cavesson became universal, whatever the bit/s. It also had a useful halter/tying-up function. The standing martingale was invented to be attached to a cavesson, to stop horses throwing their heads too high – a popular solution for excitable horses in the hunting field. For others, the presence of a cavesson was simply cosmetic – riders became so used to it that a bare-faced horse somehow looked under-dressed.

There were no significant variations until the late 19th century when Ernst Seidler of the Spanish Riding School of Vienna invented the “dropped” noseband which had a more focussed action with the bit. In due course, the two-strap “flash” noseband combined both cavesson and drop.

Sometimes a noseband’s name describes its effect graphically; the crank noseband indeed has a levered type of fastening. Others are less obvious. The grakle is named after the strong-pulling 1931 Grand National winner, invented to stop him crossing his jaw. This figure of eight noseband gives a very concentrated pressure on the nasal bone; many reading this will have used a grakle routinely over the years for fast work, cross-country riding and/or showjumping. It is now also permissible in certain levels of dressage.

Around the world it became received wisdom that comfort should be checked by inserting two fingers – however slender or fat – between the noseband and the cheeks – a soft, more yielding part of the horse’s head than the nasal bone. Two fingers were first mentioned in The Pony Club Manual of Horsemanship in 1956.

The cavesson, increasingly supplied with wider and thicker dimensions, now comes under the suspicion of welfare lobbyists, especially in dressage. They cite the growing body of work that shows a tight cavesson can cause discomfort and increased stress levels in itself. Yet it continues to be fitted tight by some to stop the horse opening its mouth during the dressage test, deemed a sign of poor training and hence reduced scores.

Moreover by impeding mouth-opening, a tight noseband can conceal the very internal injuries such as oral lesions, soft tissue compression damage and blue tongues that it may have helped to cause in the first place.

Conversely, respected researchers such as Dr Rachel Murray have previously studied loose nosebands and found that more pressure has been created on a horse’s mouth, because greater rein tension was then needed to create the same desired outcome.

There is growing concern too that some horses strain so hard against a tight noseband that they sustain microfractures in the nasal bone. Another renowned researcher, Prof Paul McGreevy of the University of Sydney co-authored a study in 2020 involving 144 horses at the Mexican cavalry’s high performance competition centre, used for dressage and jumping. In the vicinity of the noseband, X-rays identified bone thinning in 37% of the study group. Bone deposition (where the bone re-generates to repair breakage or damage) was detected in 80% when each of the 144 horses was palpated separately two clinicians, neither of whom knew the purpose of the study. There was a smaller incidence of damage in the lower jaw.

Prof McGreevy said there were no direct causal connections. “But these findings are critical to the advance of ethical equitation that advocates a three-step process for equestrian stakeholders who seek to retain the social licence to operate. It demands that we identify the causes of distress in the horses we ride, that we mitigate these stressors as much as possible, and that we justify the retention of those that cannot be mitigated.”

Data from a new study into noseband-related microfractures is awaiting analysis, H&H understands.

Measuring tool trials and tribulations

Because of the variety of finger sizes, around 2012 ISES devised an objective measuring gauge based on two “average” adult fingers. The ISES tool is a green plastic elongated triangle, inserted from below between the noseband and the (front) nasal bone; to “pass” the lower ledge of the noseband must marry up with a marker point without force. The latest version incorporates templates for bit circumference.

But shortly after its release, the International Dressage Riders Club (IDRC) circulated a petition against measuring, saying there was already provision for stewards to consult the FEI vet over any concerns.

In 2016, one particularly large study led by Dr Orla Doherty of University College, Dublin, found that only 7% of the nosebands worn by 737 international dressage and jumping horses passed the two finger test, and 44% had no room to squeeze anything underneath. But the FEI avoided the issue of noseband testing until the escalating pressure of social licence and the more recent recommendations of its own ethics commission – chaired by Prof Natalie Waran, a founding member of ISES – made objective assessment of tightness unavoidable.

In previous position statements about nosebands, ISES has urged the FEI to adopt the precautionary principle: “where any doubts that may exist in any situation surrounding horse welfare, the outcome should favour the interests of the horse until such time that research reveals there to be no welfare risk”.

So far ISES has not commented on the FEI’s choice. However, one well respected ISES member Cristina Wilkins says it allows 23% less space than the ISES tool and 24% less than the average two adult fingers. “So much for tradition!” she added. “I wish stewards all the best using the pull-through tool. I hope horses don’t start anticipating the pressure increase as it goes through with a bit of a bump.”

A FEI spokesman said: “One of the key aspects was that [the FEI tool] be minimalistic in shape and colour, user-friendly and well tolerated by horses. It was specifically designed as a pass-through tool that is not extracted against the growth of the hair, and with no need for the additional visual check whether the tool has been inserted to the required stop mark.

“We did not want to incorporate additional features such as measurement of the bit size as it would impact the size of the tool.”

The FEI did not explain why the space allowed is smaller than the ISES tool. The rationale has though been set out by the researchers involved.

For obvious practical reasons, most noseband studies have been done while the horse is standing still, and there is still more to be understood about the effects of rein tension and any changes when the horse is moving.

Last year Centaur Biomechanics examined horses in trot, as well as standing and eating a treat, variously wearing cavesson, drop, flash and crank nosebands. Readings from pressure mats on the face found that reducing the “slack” under between noseband and (front) nasal bone from a two to 1.5 finger space “did not significantly increase pressure on the horse’s head and was not within a range at which pain or tissue damage would be expected to occur”.

Will one size fit all?

While dressage is the main subject of public scrutiny, nosebands will be measured in all FEI disciplines.

The official FEI video (shown above) shows a horse wearing a flash noseband. There are no publicly available guidelines about its efficacy with the multi-component or hybrid noseband/bit set-ups popular in the jumping disciplines.

Eventing riders and officials have less access to the FEI rules consultation process than the dressage and show jumping community, because no eventing stakeholder groups currently have a Memorandum of Understanding with the FEI.

Andy Griffiths, chairman of the International Eventing Officials Club, was supportive of any welfare initiative but worried about the additional burden on officials “who are, after all, volunteers”. He pointed out they are responsible for the smooth running of three different phases over a weekend and will have to find time to test horses in each phase as each horse may be using two or three different bridles during their competition.

Making a drama out of a crisis?

At the recent International Jumping Riders Club (IJRC) annual meeting, the FEI’s head of jumping Todd Hinde revealed that just three nosebands of 600 failed when tested with the new tool at a CSI in Belgium last summer. This caused IJRC president Francois Mathy jnr to caution the FEI against allowing the public to think tight nosebands are rife.

“I would like to trust a little bit more the horsemanship of the stewards, and then use the device if needed to settle a disagreement,” Mr Mathy said. “But if we test every horse in every class at every show, and make it into a drama, we send a message to the public that everyone must be tightening it too much.”

Former Olympic showjumping champion Ludger Beerbaum flagged up the need to educate and inform the public, rather than to demonise equipment or lay blame with one discipline, assuring the dressage riders that “we are in this together”. A well-fitted bridle stabilises the bit to ensure riders communicate aids “in the right doses”, he said.

“Now we are destroying this, only because a vet or horse welfare people are saying that we need this wide-open noseband, so the horses can play with the tongue, and the jaw is going left and right. Of course, we don’t want a super-tight noseband, but the goal of a noseband is to be productive.

“If we continue like this in five years time we will be talking about not riding with a bridle, and a rope around the neck. This is the beginning of the end, I am telling you.”

Opinions are sharply divided in the corridors of power, too.

Two influential figures, Stephan Ellenbruch and Klaus Roeser, have called for a re-think over the testing protocol.

Mr Ellenbruch is a FEI board member and chair of the FEI jumping committee. He has heard many concerns about the procedure from stewards, and wondered if the consultation process had been ushered through “a little too fast”.

He said: “We will not be able to delay this [noseband testing] significantly, and we will not be able to change the rule because it is a decision of the FEI General Assembly. But I really do think we should sit down with the jumping and dressage riders, to find a compromise about the procedure. This is the minimum we should try to achieve, and I know I won’t be popular within the FEI with this proposal.”

Mr Roeser is secretary general of the IDRC, chairman of the German national dressage committee, a board member at the EEF and member of the newly announced FEI dressage strategic group. In December he bluntly criticised the testing protocol and the alleged lack of information available last year from FEI HQ. He said it was a “joke” that stakeholders were given 8 January as a deadline to feedback on the tool when no-one could obtain a sample.

He thinks testing should be over the cheeks, using two fingers, not the gauge: “otherwise we have this stupid, loose noseband which in dressage is much more of a problem than for other disciplines.”

But EEF president Theo Ploegmakers says rider resistance to noseband testing “is shortsighted and poses a danger to horse welfare”.

He added: “Even experts can make mistakes: while top riders may have significant experience, they are not infallible. They can misjudge a situation, succumb to pressure to perform, or make decisions influenced by personal biases or emotions.

“Lack of oversight invites abuse. Without standardised rules, there is no mechanism to prevent or address mistreatment. The assumption that expertise guarantees ethical behaviour is risky, as not all riders may prioritise horse welfare above success or financial gain.”

Read more H&H exclusive news investigations from Pippa Cuckson

Why we are seeing blue tongues in dressage arenas – and what needs to be done about it

The history of hyperflexion in dressage training – and how the sport can move away from it

The double bridle debate – the facts, the opinions… and the politics

How horse abuse is penalised in sport – and the challenges of bringing a case before the FEI Tribunal

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Emphasising the value of horses in society, and engaging more people with them, will be key to equestrianism’s thriving in future, with equine welfare always at its heart.

The results of “groundbreaking” research into the UK public’s view of riding horses have been released. It’s the culmination of a cross-industry project, designed to “understand the current state of public sentiment towards equestrianism in the UK and the drivers behind public trust and acceptance of our activities”. The results show that we are on the right track – but that there is still much work to do on equine safety and welfare.

The study, facilitated by World Horse Welfare and conducted by engagement science specialists Voconiq last spring, involved questionnaires completed by 5,000 people representative of the UK public. It was backed by British Equestrian and some of its member bodies, racing and polo organisations and the British Equine Veterinary Association, in the “first major collaboration of the leading equestrian bodies and organisations working together to ensure a sustainable future for the equine sector”.

It investigated not only what people think of horse sport but why they think it, and that trust is the main influencer of acceptance.

The results showed that social importance of horses is the main driver of public trust, followed by procedural fairness – the extent to which the public feels as if horse sport listens to and respects their concerns – and transparency about horse welfare. Regulation is also key, as is distributional fairness – the extent to which people feel they get a fair share of the benefits that horse sport generates.

World Horse Welfare CEO Roly Owers said understanding these drivers of trust are key to being able to influence them.

“I think that’s a really exciting part; that there are actions to take but they’re interconnected,” he told H&H. “So if you work in one action, for example, around procedural fairness, if you’re listening to concerns from within and outside the sport more effectively, that’s going to improve that outcome, but improve other areas as well. The fact there is this solid framework on which to base activity, I think is really encouraging.”

On an acceptance scale of zero to five, the report rated equestrianism at three, a solid foundation but one that could be rocked.

“But headwinds will inevitably come down the track,” Mr Owers said. “You do need greater insurance for those risks. I think there’s a real call to action, but at the same time, there is confidence that actually you’re starting in a pretty good place.”

There are public concerns about euthanasia that should be addressed, as many struggle to see that this is often the best welfare option for horses. Other key findings are that horses’ mental wellbeing is as important as physical, and that making competitions safer for horses must be prioritised.

And the results show the “vital importance of equestrian organisations clearly showing competence, humanity and integrity, and that has to drive all decision-making,” Mr Owers said. “We know public trust is driven by actions, not words, and we’ve got an opportunity here and a clear pathway, a real willingness to go on that journey together, which is brilliant.

“The public needs to see those steps being taken and that’s the exciting opportunity.”

British Horse Society (BHS) CEO James Hick told H&H it is key the report sets out how the industry can work together towards a common goal.

“You remove the anecdotal sense and feeling that we all have our own drivers and beliefs, and this helps us to be very structured about how we can support public trust and acceptance,” he said. “Protecting horses in society is the number one thing in our three-year plan that the BHS will be focused on, but it’s the structured elements I think this report gives us – such good foundations to work on.

“And this is not purely how the public feels about welfare, which has been really useful in the past. Welfare is the stick of rock that runs through everything and we all get that. But this, for me, is so much more powerful, because it’s about trust and acceptance. And why do people feel the way they do and how will it influence how we work with horses?

“For me, the most important thing really is that anybody who comes into contact with horses is 50% more likely to advocate for horses. So if we do nothing else, focusing our attention on sharing the good and the great of horses with more people is going to safeguard horses for the future.

“If you remove all the complexity of the report and all the stats and all the methodology, it’s all about more people, more engagement with horses, and we’re going to be safeguarding horses forever.”

Mr Hick also emphasised the fact that this report will not just stand – there will be frequent following up of its recommendations, which include embracing welfare, highlighting horses’ social and economic value, increasing public engagement and addressing perceptions of elitism.

“We know what is important to society and people more broadly,” he said. “So now’s the time for us to be accountable for that. This allows us to move from the theory of reports into actionable outcomes, to change the way people are actually perceiving what we do.”

James Given, director of equine regulation, safety and welfare at the British Horseracing Authority and member of racing’s Horse Welfare Board, said: “There is real strength in coming together as a horse sports sector to share best practice and to address what matters most for the horse and to the public.

“This research shows that British racing is on the right track with the work it is undertaking, but there is always more to be done. Our investment in equine welfare will only increase as we move forward.”

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout 2025, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You may also be interested in:

Why horses’ relevance to the public is key to our sport’s survival

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Go back 10 years and had anyone mentioned the words “social licence” in relation to equestrianism, there would have been blank looks all round. Today, most of the industry has come or is starting to come round to the fact that this is an issue that isn’t going to go away.

So what is social licence to operate?

“Most societies regulate human activities using laws that state clearly what is, and is not, legally permissible,” Roly Owers, Madeleine Campbell and Janet Douglas state in their 2022 published study on the topic. “However, there is a second layer of permission that is granted – or revoked – by the public.”

This “second layer” is social licence, which, the authors explain, “represents an intangible, implicit agreement between the public and an industry or group”.

“The public may approve of an activity, in which case it can proceed with minimal formalised restrictions, or it may disapprove, and this may herald legal restrictions, or even an outright ban.”

If this seems an extreme or negative view, or scaremongering, think back less than two years, to the protests at the Grand National. Animal Rising, the group behind the demonstrations, wanted to highlight the “broken relationship” between humans and animals.

Protestors, people who want horse sport banned, are in the minority, but they are vocal and capable of influencing others. Three years running, World Horse Welfare has conducted research to find out what the public thinks of horse sport and the figures have stayed at roughly the same levels; about 20% do not support it in any circumstances, and another 40% would only support it if horse welfare is improved. If these 40% can be convinced that horse welfare is, as it should always be, the highest priority of all in the sport, we carry on.

So how to convince those people? How do we get more of the public on side?

Social relevance

Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) CEO Michael Bishop, an amateur event rider, believes horses’ social relevance is key. The more people who have horses in their lives, the more supporters equestrianism has.

“A core part of this is a societal connection with horses,” Michael told H&H. “We have to find ways of reaching out to people and engaging them with horses so they understand what we’re trying to do and how powerful that bond and relationship is.

“All of us can have a role in that, because all of us might be able to contribute something to the local RDA group, riding school, BHS centre, whatever endeavour that connects people to horses. We have a duty and responsibility, I think, to make sure there’s a social relevance connection that brings horses to the attention and positive interest of wider society.”

Michael does not believe this can be done by sitting in our ivory tower – or tack room – and showing the wider world what we do and how good it is.

“We have to do it by saying ‘Here are the challenges that society faces’,” he said. “Be that loneliness, or access to physical exercise for disabled people; here’s a way where horses are well placed and equipped to support those challenges. Everyone who’s engaged in horses understands some of those societal challenges, because we’re all facing them. Exploring the role of hosting that and supporting the groups, of course like RDA, who deliver on that, I think is paramount.”

So this is something everyone can do; if every horse owner has an opportunity to engage a non-horsey member of the public, perhaps this is not a duty, but an opportunity, to bring someone new on board.

Michael mentioned Park Lane RDA in Teddington, London, which has a stable with a window overlooking the street. Whichever horse is in there can look over the “cuddle door”, allowing city passers-by a quick glimpse into the equestrian world.

“You watch kids going to school, people on their way to work, taking a diversion down this unassuming suburban street to pat the pony,” Michael said. “It’s a really good example of a small bit of practice change that is engaging more people with horses, and I think it’s a really powerful story. It’s made a horse relevant.”

Everyone in the industry has connections with people outside it, and so all of us are advocates; we have a responsibility, Michael believes, to share the power of horses in a way that’s relevant to others. If each of us can convince one person, the cumulative effect would be huge.

Changing minds

Equestrianism is far from the first industry to experience the pressure of public opinion, and many others have turned things round.

Charlie Arnot, who grew up in agriculture, founded Look East as he had realised that “attacking those who attacked us wasn’t effective”, and he wanted to help agriculture businesses build public trust.

He told H&H one of the most important things any industry can do to secure support is to be transparent.

“Generally, people like the concept, but then they quickly are concerned about reckless oversharing and decide to do nothing because they’re not sure what to share and with whom,” he said. “So it’s a matter of going through a structured process to say ‘Here are the stakeholders that are important to our sector. What’s important to them? What do they want to know, and how do we engage with them in a way that will meet their information needs? It’s not sharing everything with everyone, it’s identifying who are the stakeholders who are interested.”

The second key is to welcome criticism and scepticism as an opportunity to engage.

“Often, when people say ‘I don’t like what you’re doing, I don’t like the way you treat those horses, I don’t think they should be used in competition’, our first response tends to be defensive, as opposed to listening and finding a place where we can make a connection,” Charlie said.

But when the connection is made, both people become “someone like me”. Look East’s shared values communication training has been taken up by thousands of people.

“Generally, when someone raises a concern about what’s happening in the equestrian world, what they’re saying is, ‘I care about animals. I’m not sure you do’,” Charlie said. “That’s the fundamental claim. So rather than becoming defensive in providing data on why this is the ‘right thing to do’, we can embrace that concern, and say ‘I really appreciate you raising that concern; I can tell you care a great deal about animals and horses. I respect that because I care a great deal about horses as well. What specific questions do you have and how can I provide information that’s important to you?’ Rather than doing a data dump to say ‘I’m right and you’re stupid’, we invite the conversation. ‘We have something in common, we both care about horses, so I welcome the conversation to better understand your concerns’.”

Once people feel acknowledged, Charlie said, they allow you to give them the information. But people have to listen, listen and listen; appreciate concerns, ask more about them and the questioner’s experiences that have shaped their opinion, understand, make the connection and then share their thoughts.

“That’s something everyone in the equestrian world can do,” he said. “Whatever your role, you have the opportunity to lean in.”

People have to resist the temptation to be defensive; a natural reaction if someone is attacking something that is so much a part of all of us.

“Most people want permission to believe these elegant animals are being well cared for,” Charlie said. “If you can give them enough information to give them permission to believe that, you’ve accomplished what you need. That won’t happen with a data dump, it’s by engaging them because you want them to trust you.”

Another key, Charlie says, is that if someone in the industry shows practices that are not acceptable, to the public or insiders, this has to be condemned – the action, not the person.

“You can say ‘What happened is completely unacceptable. It’s unacceptable to you. It’s unacceptable to us. We look forward to working with this individual to help him or her come back into the standards that we’ve established for our industry and that we know you expect of us,” he said.

“You can condemn what happened without condemning the person. We’ve done that with a lot of other sectors; when there’s been an undercover video related to animal abuse on a farm, industry bodies now are much more comfortable coming forward to say it’s not acceptable. The retailers used to say they were going to ban that farm from their supply chain. Now they say: ‘We’re going to put that farm on suspension until we have assurance they’ve got their program back in place’.”

Other riders can take a similar approach in such instances; condemning the action but not the perpetrator, as not doing so could imply that the behaviour is accepted and widespread. But often, many of us do not know what to say to try to help in a sticky situation.

Be part of the solution

“This is something that, in my opinion, has been really neglected,” equestrian PR expert Rhea Freeman told H&H. “The thing that’s been terrifying, is this silence, which doesn’t give people any guidance about how to help.

“Then denial about there being a problem when there clearly is something amiss, but we all need to be part of the solution.”

Rhea said she has heard from top riders who are worried about posting on social media for fear of sharing the “wrong thing”, so as a result don’t share anything.

“But we need to be putting more stuff out, showing behind the scenes, the love and the affection we feel for our horses,” she said. “Them winning at a competition is great, but actually, that’s such a small amount of their day.

“Ros Canter and Carl Hester do some of that, horses in the field together, and I think that’s what we need more of. Not just the shiny bits, we need more of the real life, day-to-day, love, affection and care of these horses and the relationships. That’s why we traipse across the field, rain coming in sideways, hanging on to a torch, getting soaked to check they’re ok. No sane person is doing that. But you do it because you love them, it’s that relationship, isn’t it?”

One rider Rhea cited as being very good at boosting public acceptance is Paris dressage team bronze medallist Becky Moody, who shares blogs “written by” her medal-winning home-bred Jagerbomb on social media.

Conveying the love

“A lot of horses genuinely do love doing it, and I think that’s a really hard thing to get across,” Becky told H&H. “I think we have to look at how we can do that. We have a bit of an issue within the equestrian community to improve the image. At the moment it’s dressage, but my feeling is that although it is dressage at the moment, we all have to come together, because it’s not going to remain just dressage.”

Becky said she has been struggling with some of the negative attention to the sport and has been doing what she can to change this.

“We have to be more open,” she said. “We have to learn to be better communicators. We have to make other equestrian people realise that although we’re competitors and competitive, we love our horses so much, and they’re so important to us. And the fact horses love doing it.

“There are people who think horses love hacking, and being turned out in the field, and that’s about it; they shouldn’t be ‘made’ to do other things. But I think it’s so good for their bodies, and their minds, and we have to try to find a way of communicating that.”

Becky has sought advice on trying to change perceptions but has had no “particularly insightful” answers.

“So through my own social media, I try as much as possible to get across the love we have for our horses, how much they do enjoy doing it,” she said. “And when I’m writing Bomb’s blog, there’s maybe some literary licence there! But his reaction to atmospheres, to people, his excitement, it’s all genuine. That is what he feels.”

Jagerbomb is a public equine figure who is clearly happy in his work, but Becky pointed out that she has other horses trained and managed in the same way but who are not at the same level, and the picture they present is not perfect. And in those cases, she says, we have to show that we know it is not yet perfect, but we are trying our best to get there.

“We just need to be trying to do the right thing,” she said. “Our sport is in trouble, but unless we start working together, it’s going to really be in trouble. There is no other way to look at it. We have to be more open and we have to be more communicative.”

Listening and communicating

Communication is key, within and emanating from the industry, and those with concerns need to know they are being listened to. Gemma Pearson, an equine vet, behaviour specialist and racing fan, is the co-author of a study published after last year’s Grand National demonstrations, looking at what the industry said in response. The main findings from that were that although the protestors’ aim was to prevent equine fatalities, the replies from the industry were mainly about how well they are looked after off the course.

“Trust, as we know, is one of the cornerstones of social licence, and transparency comes from that,” Gemma told H&H. “So we shouldn’t try to downplay things. We shouldn’t try to normalise when there are problems. And the more we can be honest and say ‘Yes, this is not where we would want to be in the industry, but we are working hard to change it’, people will trust us far more than if we try to say either it doesn’t occur or ‘That’s just normal for horses, and it’s not something we need to worry about, let’s focus on the positives instead’.

“If someone challenges and says, ‘I think horse racing is cruel’, the worst thing you can do is say ‘They’re looked after like kings’. The best thing is to say, ‘Why do you think it’s cruel?’ Then if people say, because of the number of horses killed on race tracks, you can say, ‘We are aware that’s a problem, and there’s work being undertaken by the British Horseracing Authority, among many other organisations, and we’re showing a reduction in that over time. ‘We know we’re not where we need to be; we have to do a lot better, but we’re working towards that.”

Gemma backed much of what Charlie said about digging into and understanding people’s specific concerns. One issue raised is that it is “not natural” for horses to be ridden.

‘To that, you could say ‘That’s a fair point, horses were not designed for people to ride them, but at the same time, dogs didn’t evolve as a species to be owned as pets by people. That’s ok, providing the animal has a good experience.

“We’re not just looking for a life worth living, but a good life. I think you can make an argument that if a horse is looked after according to its basic needs; friends, forage and freedom, it is sound and comfortable when ridden, training can actually increase little spikes of dopamine in the brain, which is the motivation and reward neurotransmitter.

“So actually, we know we can produce happiness through training and riding horses. And I think you could argue that taking a horse for a hack has some similarities to taking a dog for a walk; they get the opportunity to have environmental enrichment and see more of the world that they wouldn’t do otherwise.”

And a “natural” life is not necessarily the best one for an animal, it is worth pointing out. If they lived natural, wild lives, horses would have no access to veterinary care if injured or ill, or optimal nutrients, and they would be at risk of being hunted by predators. But on the other hand, horses are not necessarily better off, and no one opposed to equestrian sport would be convinced otherwise, by trumpeting about the amount of money spent on stables or rugs.

The biggest thing of course, Gemma said, is that even if the majority of the public did support horse sport, and believe welfare is the top priority, this is no good if the trust is misplaced, with which World Horse Welfare CEO Roly firmly agrees.

The real focus

“This may sound a very odd thing to say, but as this journey evolves, and we are clearly on the journey, I would almost encourage people to stop thinking about social licence or public acceptance,” Roly told H&H. “Because if there’s any indication that we’re doing anything just for how it looks, that will certainly not benefit our horses. And equally, it will not benefit building public trust, which is a key driver for acceptance.”

So despite everything all of us can do to increase support and relevance of horses, the biggest, most important thing is for each of us to ensure we are doing our utmost to give our horses a good life at all times.

“What we can all do is reflect back on what we are doing in our own world, with our own horses, or whatever association we have with the equine world, and constantly challenge ourselves,” Roly said. “Are we truly putting the horses as the number one stakeholder?

“I think a good measure is to think of the decisions we are making about our horses through the horses’ eyes. We don’t live in a perfect world, and you can’t always do what you believe is best for the horse, but we can always, or in most situations, do what’s better.

“If we constantly challenge ourselves to really show ourselves that’s what we’re doing, putting the horse at the centre and doing what’s in their best interests, that will relate to a narrative, a story, that will build trust, and public acceptance. Although we, of course, are delighted people are talking about it because it is an issue, you’ve got to get the sequencing of it right. And there is a danger of putting the cart before the horse in this regard.”

Key is, Roly added, at all times weighing up the potential risks and benefits to horses of all actions, and if the former outweigh the latter, to consider whether it is the right thing to do. And if a welfare issue is spotted, take the official paths; submit the issue and the evidence for investigation and official sanction – “as the standard you walk past is the standard you accept,” Roly said – rather than plastering accusations online for social media to be judge, jury and executioner.

We must all constantly be questioning and challenging ourselves and the status quo, be open to learning from trusted sources and taking new scientific evidence on board. And if we are truly doing everything we can to do what is genuinely best for our horses, that will be evident to all.

“Like everything in life, you can be an optimist and you can be a pessimist,” Roly said.

“I’m an eternal optimist, but I do honestly think that this is an exciting journey to be on. And if people aren’t excited to be on that journey, you possibly question whether horse ownership is right for them now. You need to have a real appetite for that, for both you and your horse.”

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Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Graham Fletcher shares his thoughts on Stockholm International Horse Show, whip rules and ongoing Brexit issues

After a lifetime of going to shows around the world, it now takes something out of the ordinary to impress me. However, last month’s Stockholm International Horse Show did just that. Our son Olli was invited as one of the 18 riders to compete there, and what an experience it was.

The venue, the National Arena of Sweden, also known as the Strawberry Arena, is a fantastic modern stadium and they’d got the ground as good as any I’ve come across. It’s a big stadium to fill. But it was packed with enthusiastic spectators who understood the sport and really showed their appreciation, especially of their country’s superstars Henrik von Eckermann, Rolf-Göran Bengtsson, Peder Fredricson and the darling of the crowd, Malin Baryard-Johnsson.

In fact, such was the ovation Peder received for his classic jump-off round in the grand prix, a football crowd couldn’t have made more noise!

The show treated the riders really well. And I was pleased with Olli’s results as he more than held his own. It’s definitely on the top of his wish list to be invited again in 2025.

New whip approach

At the riders’ meeting before the classes started in Stockholm, the ambassador for the show, Malin Baryard-Johnsson, warned that Sweden’s national rules on the whip were more proscriptive than the FEI ones.

Their rule stipulates that you can’t take your hands off the rein to use the whip. Malin also emphasised that the Swedish public is so sensitive that any rider using the stick in a forceful manner would be asked to go home.

So, do I think the Swedes have got this one right? Yes, I definitely do. William Funnell (opinion, 28 November) was spot on when he said we shouldn’t have to apologise for the sport we love. But any overuse of the stick, and we’re on the back foot already.

I caught up with former National Hunt champion jockey John Francome about it recently. Many years ago, he advocated that a stick should be kept in the hands to keep a horse straight, but never used behind the saddle. He remains adamant about it.

John was one of the best jockeys of all time. Indeed, he was ahead of his time in both his riding position and thinking in the saddle – just as he was with his philosophy about using the stick.

John believes that if a “hands on the reins” whip rule was brought in now, the best horses and jockeys would win more. Meanwhile, he remains very critical of the people running racing who permit horses to be hit seven times in a jump race and six times on the Flat.

There’s currently a survey under way to gauge opinion, something for which John has the same amount of respect as I do. If Winston Churchill had done the same, we’d all be speaking German now.

If whip rules were changed, says John, people would quickly forget that the stick was ever used to try and bully half a tonne of horse. I think he’s right – and so are the Swedes.

We’re all cattle class now

I make no apology for bemoaning again the equine welfare issues – as well as increasing costs – of taking horses across the Channel since Brexit. Sadly, horses are still being forced to wait around on lorries for border checks, even when the paperwork is all correct and paid for.

It’s also a big problem for people flying. It took us a good hour-and-a-half to get through passport control for a British Airways flight to Stockholm, instead of what used to be 20 minutes. It was the same going to Brussels recently.

There’s nobody more impatient than me in a queue. In fact, the only thing that kept me sane was the thought of those MPs who campaigned for Brexit, and then lost their seats, having to travel cattle class and wait for hours like the rest of us. Now they know how the horses feel…

● What do you think about whip rules? Write to us at hhletters@futurenet.com, including your name, nearest town and country, for the chance for your letter to appear in a forthcoming issue of the magazine

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major events including London International, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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Successful British grand prix rider and trainer Anna Ross shares her views on rebuilding public trust and possible competition changes

Recent Horse & Hound columns from Carl Hester and William Funnell discussed social licence and highlighted the need to rebuild public trust.

In good news, an article in The Times by their chief sports writer Owen Slot – following his trip to the National Dressage Championships – concluded that there is clearly a great love for horses in our sport. It’s a start, but now we need to back it with actions and cultural changes that are visible to the outside world.

Action is being taken following the various meetings worldwide, with new initiatives trialled, some of which will inevitably trickle down to national sport and affect all. For example, at the recent Hanoverian stallion licensing I saw handlers being told to let side reins out so the horses were working in a more natural frame.

The risk of unintended consequences

The FEI dressage technical committee will support trials of special grand prix classes up to CDI3* for those who wish to use a snaffle bridle. Some stakeholders at recent meetings raised concerns, with one saying: “Every person who has ridden in a double bridle knows that used properly it can in fact be one of the mildest bits…

“If you put in an optional rule just because the public demands it, you will unintentionally create a different conflict. To the public, there will in future

be two groups in dressage – the ‘bad’ riders who continue to use the double bridle and the ‘good’ ones using the snaffle.”

The challenge with this approach is that it could give the impression that horses are viewed through a one-size-fits-all lens rather than as much-loved individuals – and that the committee is more committed to looking good rather than doing the right thing.

Let’s face it, any bit or bridle can be mild or harsh – it all comes down to who is holding the reins.

The public has lost faith in what happens when it’s left to the professionals so our systems need to stand up to scrutiny and have a scientific basis that is logical and understandable to all.

For instance, the new noseband tightness gauges will remove all ambiguity, which is a good thing. The current system of using two fingers is an unscientific approach – after all, whose fingers are being used?

Suggesting it will be upsetting for the horses sounds like a weak argument. If we can train horses to go into arenas and perform the grand prix or jump a 1.60m and accept wearing a bridle in the first place then it can be achieved.

Practical next steps

Of course, there are ways to create a more horse-friendly environment at the tack check. Small changes, such as those we saw at Aachen CDIO5* this year, like moving the steward’s tent away from the collecting ring, created a much more relaxed environment for the horses.

Some of our more experienced grand prix riders have also been discussing new ideas. Two-time Olympian Emile Faurie is thinking of a more joined-up approach, suggesting stewards should spend time with high-level dressage trainers alongside their technical steward training, to have a clearer and more detailed understanding of their methods.

This could also result in the trainers having a clearer idea of what the stewards are looking for, resulting in more harmony all-round.

International grand prix dressage rider Dan Watson has suggested moving young horse class requirements back a year – so the five-year-olds would do the four-year-old tests and so on. The young horse season spans only half the year, with championships concluding by September, which means training needs to start even earlier in the year. The UK already has a seven-year-old test at advanced medium level, but the FEI’s test for this age group is at prix st georges level, which is a bit far when held in March.

A very different perspective

The recent release of the Disney+ series Rivals certainly gives the public another perspective on the equestrian world. Making love, not war seems appropriate going into the festive season.

● What changes would you prioritise to rebuild public trust while ensuring horse welfare remains central? Write to us at hhletters@futurenet.com, including your name, nearest town and country, for the chance for your letter to appear in a forthcoming issue of the magazine

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major events including London International, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You might also be interested in:

Carl Hester: ‘We must be authentic, not aim to be perfect; confident but never arrogant’

William Funnell: ‘Good training produces happy horses who perform well’

Snaffle grand prix classes proposed as double bridle debate continues

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William Funnell shares his thought on how to ensure the sport – and way of life – we love remains socially acceptable

It’s been a tough year for those of us involved in equestrian sport with incidents including the footage of Charlotte Dujardin and recent fatalities at Cheltenham meaning we are being scrutinised more than ever. Social licence raises the question of whether it’s socially acceptable even to ride horses, but why should we apologise for something so natural?

If any good came out of the dressage furore, perhaps it was a wake-up call to take a hard look at our methods and ensure correct horsemanship is paramount. Good training produces happy horses who perform well and, with camera phones everywhere nowadays, the sport almost governs itself – do something wrong and you’ll be exposed.

Horses, when trained correctly – and that’s the key thing here – enjoy what they do. But it worries me that far fewer people are learning proper horsemanship and how to train a horse. A happy horse isn’t a spoiled horse – training should be fair and consistent. If you stick with the basic rules, you never need to be tough on them.

I became a horseman from role models such as John Whitaker, who I watched being soft and correct with his horses, rather than fighting them. Where are these role models for our young showjumpers when our Olympians only compete in the UK a few times a year?

Of course, some practices that were once acceptable no longer are and we have to respect that. A spur is an aid and if a horse is well trained off the leg, you’re only using it as a reminder, as is carrying a stick. Few people use a stick to tell a horse off in the ring nowadays, so perhaps individual sports need to look at its use and how best to govern it moving forwards.

The deaths at Cheltenham were unfortunate and tragic for all connections; they will have hit hard with anyone who loves horses. But, as equestrians, the message we all need to get across is just how much horses love what they are doing.

Cheltenham’s racecourse vet was interviewed on ITV Racing soon after the fatalities happened and clearly explained what had happened as best he could without a post-mortem – that transparency was excellent as it’s a subject we tend to hide away from in our sport.

But I don’t see why we feel we have to justify our way of life – like we’ve also seen farmers do on their march to London last week. Instead of apologising, it’s vital we get the message across – why do we compete, ride or watch horses compete? Because we love them.

A welfare concern

I worked out that to compete in Spain with some of our horses this autumn, it would cost me a whopping £700 per round. But having spoken to a couple of people from British Equestrian recently, there’s hope that the real welfare issue of transporting horses across the Channel might be eased.

Matthew Sampson rang me from Calais recently to say he’d been waiting four hours for a vet check that his horses had already passed before leaving England. It’s not OK for horses to be stuck on lorries for that long because of French bureaucracy.

I’m sure there was bad feeling between the Conservatives and France in the wake of Brexit but there are indications that Labour may be able to renegotiate a better deal – a common vet check that is valid on both sides of the crossing would be a great start. But we need to keep lobbying and pushing for it.

I can reassure Matthew Sampson I’m doing my best!

Christmas countdown

Excitement is building towards the London International. With the show running in such close proximity to Christmas Day this year, the format has been adjusted so the grand prix runs on Friday, with the show concluding on Sunday afternoon with the World Cup.

It means a day off for the top horses on Saturday, which I think will improve the quality of both the feature classes, and all the foreign riders can get home afterwards – I wish they’d run it this way every year!

After the success of last year’s Brilliance auction, Shane Breen and I are going bigger and better this year, having sourced 14 top-quality horses from the UK to go under the hammer at ExCeL on Saturday.

The more we do this, the more it will become a shop window for our best young horses and we’re very excited about the direction it’s going.

● What message should we be getting across to the wider public regarding horse sport? Let us know at hhletters@futurenet.com, including your name, nearest town and country, for the chance for your letter to appear in a forthcoming issue of the magazine

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major events including London International, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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In his exclusive H&H column, Carl Hester shares his thoughts on the sport’s future, public trust and the power of authenticity after attending two quite different industry events

I recently attended a meeting organised jointly by the International Dressage Trainers Club and International Riders Club. Delegates attended from the Dressage Organisers and Dressage Officials clubs and the International Jumping Riders Club, as well as three judges from the Olympics.

During this meeting, stakeholders from all these areas of our sport came together to speak freely and openly about many topics. This was no doubt facilitated by the Chatham House rule imposed by Richard Davison, who moderated proceedings. Everyone had their chance to contribute, including in breakaway groups.

The overriding subject was how to rebuild the public’s trust in dressage. Equine wellbeing was also the top priority when it came to regulations for tack and equipment, such as permitted bits. Other topics covered included how to address the lack of viability and sponsorship suffered by the organisers of CDIs.

FEI dressage director Ronan Murphy was also in attendance and the unprecedented support shown toward him reflected the sense of collective responsibility shared by all stakeholders.

Undoubtedly Ronan has one of the most difficult jobs going. The fact that he is approachable to everyone is reassuring. While support for Ronan was high, I felt – as did others – that having considered the current state of affairs, the pressure would have been alleviated if more representatives from the FEI had been present, especially as things can get a bit lost in translation through emails.

The overall takeaway was that we are all responsible for the direction of our sport and we must learn to move outside of our bubble and perceive it through the eyes of different sections of society.

A great business at Wellington

I also attended a two-day event, organised by the Equestrian Management Agency and hosted by former British Horse Society chairman David Sheerin, at Wellington Riding, entitled “The business of being a rider”. It proved a highly successful innovation.

Tom McEwen and I both did demos and the event featured numerous panel discussions covering a wide range of topics, which an engaged audience responded to with excellent questions.

There were more than 20 special guests and specialists, who used their incredible levels of expertise and knowledge to inform riders on building and managing their own businesses at all stages.

I was delighted to be part of the panel to discuss Olympic experiences with Tom McEwen, Stuart Denard from the British Olympic Association’s (BOA) fundraising team and dressage rider Valentina Pistner – a future Olympic hopeful for Germany.

Many people don’t realise the role of the BOA. Their focus, working alongside sports’ national governing bodies, is on the delivery of the Games – and work is already well underway to deliver for Los Angeles 2028.

Did you know that private donors also contribute a lot of funding to our Olympic goals? I did, as some have visited the yard and many went to watch the eventing in Paris and loved it!

Catching up with David Sheerin I was fascinated to hear about the sessions I missed, including those on sponsorship with Robert Lemieux and Saracen Horse Feeds, as well as sessions on contracts, law, insurance, handling media scrutiny and that thorny subject of social media.

The overriding message the audience took away was simply this: be authentic. Don’t try to be perfect. We must stand by what we do, be confident but never arrogant and not overreact to negativity. This theme of authenticity resonated throughout both of the events.

● What steps do you think are most important for building public trust in dressage? Write to us at hhletters@futurenet.com, including your name, nearest town and country, for the chance for your letter to appear in a forthcoming issue of the magazine

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major events including London International, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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Dressage stakeholders have reflected on the Paris Olympics, and how the sport can regain the public’s trust.

The International Dressage Riders Club (IDRC), International Dressage Trainers Club (IDTC), International Dressage Officials Club and Dressage Organisers held their annual meeting on 5-6 November, designed to “inform members about technical aspects of the sport, engage stakeholders in the current status of the discipline and its future direction, and provide an opportunity for stakeholders to focus and debate in a non-competition environment”.

The topics discussed included a review of Paris, the use of artificial intelligence in judging, an FEI update on its dressage strategy and challenges for CDI organisers. A spokesperson for the organisations said that “excellent collaboration” was shown at the meeting, with stakeholders “putting aside self-interest” and embracing “their responsibility for the long-term health of the sport”.

Media did not have access to the meeting – but a press conference was held afterwards with IDTC secretary general Linda Keenan and IDRC secretary general Klaus Roeser.

The representatives were asked how long they thought it would take to win back the “hearts and minds of people doubting the sport”, and how this will be communicated to the wider public when many people form opinions based on images and video clips.

Ms Keenan said that this was a key discussion during the meeting and that members “had a lot of good ideas about how to approach that”.

“Absolutely we want to make sure that our entry into the Olympics is protected. In terms of public opinion we really need a bit more data, but from what we’re seeing the general opinions about dressage are still quite strong and positive. What we have is a relatively small group trolling us,” she said.

“Although we’ve had a couple of high-profile instances, the actual abuse is very, very small.”

Ms Keenan said there had been “two or three [cases] over the past several years”.

“In comparison to other disciplines it’s insignificant,” she said. “We need to do something, it’s not to say that we don’t have a problem, and that we haven’t done things that probably contribute to the problem, but we’re working on it.

“People want to believe in dressage and the sport, except for the really die-hard activists that don’t want you to ride a horse. I think for the reasonable sceptic, it’s possible to gain back their trust.”

Mrs Keenan said the clubs will be doing “specific things to gain more trust” but was unable to give details until the FEI dressage strategy is released. There is not a date for this yet.

Mr Roeser added that “we are under pressure, but we have to solve the problem”. He said there are “big problems”, but that “the last cases happened at private barns”.

“There have been a lot of changes if you look to the last big events, and from our point of view it’s really getting better, and this was underlined [in the meeting] by Ronan Murphy [FEI dressage director] and Jacques van Daele [chief steward],” he said.

He continued that there are limitations on what can be done in cases “behind closed doors” – but said the clubs would like to work with the media to “point out that things have changed in hopefully what we see in the right direction”.

“If we always publish bad news, then people are more and more thinking that everybody is bad, and that’s not true,” said Mr Roeser.

Ms Keenan said the clubs have an opportunity to work harder so positive stories attract more attention – and can “counterbalance anything that comes up”. But she said “a lot of things are being portrayed as abuse or welfare issues that are not”.

“If a horse is hanging on the bridle and not in self-carriage, that horse should not get a good score in a test. Clearly that’s not the objective – but that’s not a welfare issue. That’s just a question of the person, horse or combination, not being good enough at that moment,” she said.

“Some of those things; bad riding, inexperienced riding or whatever you want to call it, not fulfilling the goals to get a good high score is being conflated to be a welfare issue and it’s not. We have to be a little careful about not just jumping that whenever somebody isn’t perfect that they’re abusing their horse – it’s not the same thing.”

Horses ridden behind the vertical in warm-ups was discussed. Mr Roeser said looking at “one picture” does not make sense, and that horses need to be looked at as a whole.

“Limited knowledge will come to limited answers by people who have no real understanding to look at the horse as a whole; at what is warm-up, what is stretching, what is ‘easy’ riding and what is aggressive riding,” he said. “To say ‘the horse is behind the vertical that’s bad’, is totally stupid.”

Cases of horses’ blue tongues at the Paris Olympics, which were reported by the mainstream media, were tackled and one photographer said she took images of “top riders’” horses displaying blue tongues during the competition.

Ms Keenan said she saw no blue tongues at Paris, but that she was not in the warm-up. On blue tongues in general, Mr Roeser said that “we don’t want to say there are not any problems”, but more research is needed.

H&H asked about a review of the Paris Games that was discussed during the meeting, and what any concerns were.

Mr Roeser said: “That’s quite easy. From the riders, stewards and judges, Paris was the best advertisement for our sport. Fabulous riding, super atmosphere, unbelievable arena, great pictures. That is the way we would like to see it more often at all kinds of shows.

“There were no concerns. Ronan told us that the freestyle had the highest social media figures ever, so people really enjoyed it.”

Asked if this response contradicted claims of blue tongues pictured at Paris and the public perception of this, Ms Keenan said: “The blue tongue issue is still up in the [air] in terms of what is the issue, and is it an issue”.

Another journalist asked about riders who were given FEI warnings as their horses were pictured with blue tongues in Paris – as reported after the Games by Swedish media following an interview with FEI veterinary director Goran Akerstrom.

Ms Keenan said “I don’t know anything about it because I wasn’t in the warm-up”.

Mr Roeser added: “As Ronan said [in the meeting] there were no big issues”.

The journalist referred to Mr Akerstrom’s interview with the Swedish media, and pointed out the warnings related to issues in competition – not the warm-up.

Mr Roeser confirmed this topic was not discussed during the meeting, “because we were not really aware of it”. He said Mr Akerstrom was invited to the meeting but unable to attend, and for further explanation on these warnings to ask Mr Akerstrom “what he’s talking about”.

The FEI has announced that a dressage action group will “review the discipline comprehensively” and propose a “strategic action plan”.

Olympic dressage rider Richard Davison moderated the meeting on behalf of the riders’ and trainers’ clubs.

He told H&H that he has chaired many stakeholder meetings but “this one stands out”.

“The top riders and trainers from around the globe attended and were fully engaged,” he said. “They unanimously acknowledged the seriousness of the reputational harm which dressage has suffered in recent times.”

He added: “Reviewing practices and regulations with the aim of improving equine wellbeing was the overriding focus of the two-day meeting. Topics such as regulations governing tack and equipment, young horse physiology and judging were also discussed through the lens of horse welfare. In addition to the focus on horse welfare, human safeguarding protocols also came under review ”

“We conducted ourselves under Chatham House rules so everyone felt they could be frank and talk freely. The degree of collaboration between stakeholders was refreshing, so too was the positive support for the work of the FEI dressage director. Aside from the formal presentations breakaway groups produced valuable proposals and the meeting agreed on the next steps to help develop these.”

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In this exclusive article for H&H subscribers, equestrian journalist Pippa Cuckson attempts to unravel the disciplinary procedures that apply to horse abuse in equestrian sport and answer some of the most common questions that fans ask

Why was Charlotte Dujardin promptly suspended for the lunge-whipping video when other riders under investigation for horse abuse continue to compete? Why do some riders merely receive a yellow warning card when others are banned for years? Why does the international equestrian federation (FEI) appear to do nothing when people send in complaints? These questions appear on social media – and in journalists’ mailboxes – with increasing frequency as the challenge to equestrianism’s social licence grows.

The handling of horse abuse by equestrian regulatory bodies is complex; even media who follow the tribunal system closely find it baffling. In this article we attempt to unravel the disciplinary procedures that apply to horse abuse in sport.

FEI General Regulations (GRs) apply to all FEI-regulated sports. Each has bespoke rules but must follow GR Article 142, which defines horse abuse as “an action or omission which causes or is likely to cause pain or unnecessary discomfort to a Horse.

“This includes, but is not limited to any of the following: To whip or beat a Horse excessively; To subject a Horse to any kind of electric shock device; To use spurs excessively or persistently; To jab the Horse in the mouth with the bit or any other device; To compete using an exhausted, lame or injured Horse; To rap a Horse; To abnormally sensitise or desensitise any part of a Horse; To leave a Horse without adequate food, drink or exercise; To use any device or equipment which causes excessive pain to the Horse upon knocking down an obstacle.”

The absence of hyperflexion

Rollkür, aka hyperflexion, (to be discussed in a future H&H subscriber feature), is not mentioned in Article 142, and so far is unsanctioned in FEI dressage, despite being a banned technique and one of the sport’s hottest topics.

Yellow cards for hyperflexion have been handed down twice in two months in eventing dressage warm-ups, including at the Paris Olympic Games where the FEI said British-based Brazilian Carlos Parro caused his horse “unnecessary discomfort.”

Does “unnecessary discomfort” imply that some discomfort is “necessary”? A FEI spokesperson said Article 142 may be re-worded next year. It is also worth noting that the FEI Tribunal has previously decided that pain need not be proved in order for abuse to have occured.

How international riders can be penalised

The FEI encourages national federations to handle their own riders’ abuse cases where they have adequate powers, especially when language is an issue. Any resulting rider suspension is mirrored by the FEI.

There are three main ways that abuse is penalised in FEI sport.

At a competition – usually referred to in legal documents as the “field of play” – the ground jury and other officials can give a yellow warning card as a minimum, most commonly due to excessive use of the whip or spurs in the jumping disciplines. In FEI endurance, a yellow card for abuse is coupled with automatic disqualification. In all other disciplines, a yellow-carded rider may remain in the competition. Two yellow cards for any reason in 12 months trigger an automatic two-month suspension.

A yellow card cannot be refused because the judges’ decision is final, even if later found to be wrong. The inviolability of the ground jury is a key principle of sport law, upheld many times by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) – the court of last resort.

How yellow cards are used in different horse sports

FEI sports have varying approaches to warning cards, which can add to the confusion.

Eventing, for instance, regards some but not all instances of blood as abuse and will give riders yellow cards accordingly. It hands down more yellow cards and the lower category recorded warnings than all other FEI sports combined – partly to address incidents such as “dangerous riding”, which is not penalised through the scoring system. In simple terms, the lengthier athletic effort of eventing and permission to carry whips creates more opportunities for incidents to escalate into abuse. Eventing also has a bespoke, automatic two-month ban for any rider receiving three warnings in 24 months.

Dressage, at the other extreme, has issued only six yellow cards in 12 months – two for non-specified abuse. But unlike eventing and jumping, dressage does not list its other warned riders on a public platform. FEI chief vet Goran Akerstrom has informally confirmed that several were warned over “blue tongues” at Paris, but they remain un-named.

There is no hint that a one-size-fits-all policy will be introduced any time soon.

When stronger punishment is deemed necessary

The second method of penalising riders is the Administrative Disciplinary Procedure (ADP), mostly used when a FEI ground jury think a stronger punishment is required. The ADP is a type of fixed-penalty, handled by the FEI legal department in Lausanne, Switzerland, with fines up to 2,000 Swiss francs and/or a suspension of three months. This past year there have been eight ADP abuse cases – all from show jumping and endurance, which the FEI attributes to those sports having the most participants.

In anti-doping cases, the FEI is making increasing use of the “Consent Award”, a plea-bargain system offering a reduced suspension for prompt admission. This has yet to be utilised for horse abuse.

Which cases go to a tribunal?

The third tried and tested method is for the most egregious abuse, or when the rider wishes to be heard – referral to the FEI’s independent tribunal.

The tribunal is an elected panel of equestrians with distinguished legal backgrounds. Past and present members have included Christopher Hodson KC, former FEI vice president and Judge Advocate General of the New Zealand Armed Forces; and the dressage judge Cesar Torrente, a veteran arbitration lawyer in Colombia.

In the past two decades, tribunal has handled 20 serious horse abuse cases. Sometimes it decides via extensive written representations. When a rider requests an in-person hearing, it is conducted like a trial.

But the tribunal is where things get time-consuming. While a ground jury can yellow-card a rider on the spot, at the tribunal the process turns on its head and the “burden of proof” falls on the accuser.

What happens at tribunal?

When the FEI legal department prosecutes at tribunal, it must first conduct an investigation – limited in scope, because the FEI is not the police.

A spokesperson explained: “Horse abuse cases tend to be rather complex and usually involve the FEI in undertaking an initial investigation. In the absence of clear video/photographic evidence that confirms absolutely the abuse, witness evidence is important. Contacting witnesses, securing their agreement to come forward and obtaining witness statements can be a lengthy process for both the FEI and the defendant.”

The rider’s lawyers can also employ delaying tactics – although the FEI said it was not in its interests to give examples.

This “burden of proof” also falls on members of the public who protest abuse to the FEI. Even if a “whistleblower” does not fear reprisals, the paperwork and evidence-gathering involved can be a deterrent. I have undertaken a few past protests myself; while the FEI legal department gives support, it is a big “ask” to prepare evidence and even cross-examine a lawyered-up rider when you have no legal training.

Not surprisingly, only half a dozen individuals have attempted this in the past decade, though all “won”, with the accused riders suspended for up to two-and-a-half years.

Why so few cases go to tribunal

Though video clips of alleged abuse are shared online frequently, both the FEI and the British Equestrian Federation (BEF) receive considerably fewer complaints than those on social media platforms tend to assume. A BEF spokesperson said progress can be handicapped by “insufficient evidence, no clear video/photographs, insufficient witness statements and inability to build a strong case as a result, and complainants unwilling to go ‘on the record.’

“Sometimes it’s down to the reach of our member bodies’ jurisdiction. We have limited investigative powers outside of competition, and even more so where the parties are not members of any member body.”

It could also be said that the FEI is not great at communicating with protestors. The prominent anti-hyperflexion campaigner Dr Eva van Avermaet submitted several protests to the FEI for alleged abuse during the Paris Olympics, but received no acknowledgement for a month – and then only after Swedish newspaper Idraetsmonitor intervened. H&H is also in touch with the key witness in another case under long-term FEI investigation – she has not heard from the FEI since July.

Pauline van Drumpt of Clean Endurance is the only non-lawyer to have defended a rider’s appeal against suspension for horse abuse at CAS. She thinks the FEI could do more to encourage and assist complainants. She noted one solid case from an endurance race in France that was disregarded because the protestor’s initial presentation was insufficient.

“If the FEI came up with even a one-page instruction manual for submitting an abuse protest, people would have some framework to work with – it could include confirmation of the rider’s identity, [competitor] numbers, photographs, a clear description of what happened and names and contact details of any witnesses.

“For the average person, even if they know the rules, it’s very difficult to write a proper abuse protest. Ideally, people could contact the legal department with pictures and witness statements and the FEI would write it up for them. Horse abuse will be a bigger part of FEI activity – it’s time for them to step up.”

Which governing bodies can sanction what and where?

Abuse is the one thing the FEI can sanction out of competition – if the accused was registered with the FEI or a member national federation at the time. An allegation against an Olympian was once dismissed because he had recently retired from competing and, while still working in the industry, had not renewed his FEI credentials.

Very few national federations have out-of-competition powers, though the FEI is encouraging them where feasible and developing “model rules”.

Denmark already has them, so is handling the Carina Cassøe Krüth whipping case itself. The Cesar Parra allegations prompted the US Equestrian Federation to adopt them, from 1 December. These new provisions still rely on whistleblowers to report abuse, and stop short of allowing USEF officials to enter private premises unannounced. They also cannot be applied retroactively – so Parra and the more recent allegations against US eventer Andrew McConnon had to be referred to the FEI.

The BEF is keenly watching the US initiative. A spokesperson said: “We have a Code of Conduct and rules that apply where riders are registered to compete under the FEI. But the concept of ‘out of competition’ activity is not simple. The BEF is currently working on introducing a steering group to look at this key area and wider welfare and ethics considerations; we hope to release details very soon.”

What is a provisional suspension?

Charlotte Dujardin owned-up to an “error of judgement” in her public statement on 23 July, and agreed to an immediate “provisional suspension”. Contrary to popular belief, this is not Dujardin’s formal punishment – a provisional suspension means standing down a rider while the legal process takes its course. It can be credited as “time served” against any “period of ineligibility” – also confusingly known colloquially as a suspension – that Dujardin may receive when her sanction is finally decided.

But while the FEI prefers to impose immediate provisional suspensions upon receiving very serious abuse complaints, it is risky when the initial evidence is sketchy. Unlike Dujardin, other accused riders usually deny the abuse; two successfully appealed to CAS and got their provisional suspensions lifted while the process lumbers on.

Indeed, back in 2009 Tribunal found against the FEI, deciding that provisional suspensions did not exist within the legal framework for abuse. The FEI had sought a three-week provisional ban on German showjumper Marco Kutscher while he was investigated over the medication of Cornet Obolensky during the team competition at the 2008 Olympic Games. The horse was reported to have collapsed against his stable wall, after which Kutscher jumped him in the second round.

Why a rider might not be suspended pending investigation

Charles Trolliet, a veterinarian and former president of the Swiss Equestrian Federation, retains reservations over the validity of provisional suspensions. In 2017, the Swiss Olympian Paul Estermann was accused of violently whipping a horse at home. This dragged slowly through the Swiss courts before Estermann was finally convicted of animal cruelty in December 2022, after which the Swiss federation banned him for seven years.

“All the while, we were asked why we hadn’t suspended him,” said Dr Trolliet. “The answer was clear: if we suspended him, it would mean we had judged without evidence and, for a professional rider, that would be tantamount to a ban on practising his profession. And if, in the end, he was found not guilty he could claim damages. Given that the legal proceedings lasted four-and-a-half years, you can imagine how much that could be!

“As he was finally found guilty and sentenced by the courts, our national federation was able to take internal measures and suspend him – but only after the final criminal judgement.”

Like the Swiss, the FEI will pause a case if criminal or civil courts become involved. A FEI spokesperson added: “The fact that a criminal proceeding does not result in a case/conviction does not necessarily mean the FEI would not go ahead with its own case. The standard of proof in criminal cases (beyond reasonable doubt) is higher than under the FEI’s rules (comfortable satisfaction). The conduct might not have breached any criminal law but might still be a breach of a FEI rule.”

How does the FEI Tribunal decide how long a rider will be suspended?

Punishment for horse abuse can vary widely, depending on the Tribunal’s assessment of severity, whether it was a “one-off”, and whether to make an example of a role model. Historically, Tribunal has been unimpressed by whistleblower-shaming, absence of remorse, and bizarre excuses – in 2021 it admonished Leandro da Silva who said he manhandled his daughter’s tiny pony because it bit her.

The FEI legal team will recommend sanctions, but the Tribunal need not comply. FEI legal initially suggested a three-year ban for US showjumper Andrew Kocher, who used electric shock spurs on several horses over at least two seasons. However, Tribunal gave him 10 years – upheld on appeal by CAS.

The longest ever ban was 18 years, to an endurance rider. He said he was giving up anyway, but then appealed to CAS who overturned the entire decision, a huge setback for the FEI. This case centred on alleged desensitisation, but failed evidentially and because CAS decided the horse’s fatal fracture during the race was unforseeable, underlining the necessity for a watertight case.

For guidance, the FEI has a range of sanctions from “low end” to “maximum,” the latter allowing for a life ban – as yet never handed down. Pauline van Drumpt finds this wording clumsy and wishes the FEI would revisit. “From a marketing and communications perspective, you can’t talk about low level abuse,” she said. “Horse abuse is horse abuse.”

What happens when an allegation is “historic?”

Horse abuse is the only offence not time-limited under FEI rules, as provided in GRs Article 157. The oldest evidence accepted to date by Tribunal went back three years. This could make Dujardin’s case, from 2020, the most “historic” to date.

Another unusual facet is that Dujardin’s legal counsel, Dutch equine lawyer Luc Schelstraete, and Stephan Wensing for the whistleblower have already floated strategies in public.

Mr Schelstraete points to the contradiction to FEI GR 157 – abuse must be reported “without delay” under Article 161.

“When the complaining client finds animal welfare so important, it is incomprehensible why they wait so long to file complaints. Moreover, they are also required to promptly report alleged cases of Horse Abuse,” he said.

“This obligation to file a protest ‘without delay’ is precisely aimed at preventing animal suffering. Failure by the complaining client to comply …. in a timely manner may result in the alleged complaint of horse abuse against Charlotte Dujardin being declared inadmissible or the sanctions to be imposed remaining limited.”

Previously, Tribunal has interpreted “without delay” as meaning the moment the whistleblower became aware of the alleged abuse – not necessarily the date it occurred. However, Mr Wensing has already briefed media that his client held the incriminating video for some while before reporting it on the eve of Paris, feeling it inappropriate Dujardin could win more medals.

The Tribunal’s reaction to those statements may affect any future whistleblower’s decision to hoard evidence. The FEI legal department, not surprisingly, declined to comment on these aspects while the Dujardin case is ongoing.

Why context of videos is key

H&H columnist Richard Davison is equine adviser to several law firms and currently studying for a Masters in sport law and practice. As a Trustee of World Horse Welfare, if asked he will offer basic advice to riders accused of abuse, but then directs them to a lawyer.

He told H&H: “Contrary to what people believe, it is not always an advantage to have an aggressive advocate. We have all read those Tribunal decisions where a lawyer has run a highly implausible defense and that probably has not helped when it comes to the Disciplinary Panel’s choice of sanctions.

“Where a rider’s conduct is genuinely out of character, it is important to explore genuine mitigations which could have accounted for their action and to not rush into making a public personal statement.”

He has a solid grasp of the disconnect between what critics believe regulators should do, and what regulators can do.

“It is probably time for more transparency and clarity as to what determines abuse,” he said. “For example, I saw some videos alleging rider abuse during two transitions from canter to walk during a jumping session. In the first the horse clearly overreacted and it was too abrupt; the second was better. But no other parts of the training session were provided on video, so it’s impossible to know how it progressed and the causality of the first abrupt transition.

“That’s why disciplinary procedures involve evidence gathering and statements from witnesses of fact. There are some prima facie cases of abuse that stand on their own. But there is an ever-increasing amount of finger-pointing, which is not supported by evidence and would not meet the FEI’s standard of proof of reaching the threshold of the comfortable satisfaction of the Tribunal.”

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Interacting with horses is a “lifeline” to young people, research has found – not only highlighting the strength of the horse-human bond but helping secure our sport’s future.

The British Horse Society (BHS) has published the results of a study it carried out with the University of Buckingham to analyse the effectiveness of equestrian-led educational schemes such as the BHS’s Changing Lives through Horses (CLtH).

Considering available research and CLtH, including interviewing programme participants, it looked at six key skill areas: communication, confidence, teamwork, responsibility, perseverance and relationship-building.

“It found that there has been a statistically significant improvement across the six areas and that equine interactions have proven to strengthen participants’ transferable skills, enhance social and emotional development, and create a positive shift in their behaviour,” a BHS spokesperson said.

“Research also discovered that horse-led activities have helped people with autism improve social functioning, goal attainment and empathy, and help decrease behaviours such as irritability and hyperactivity.”

The CLtH programme aims to improve the lives of young people who need additional support, are disengaged or disadvantaged, or at risk of becoming excluded from education. The programme, run at BHS-approved centres, is an alternative to education and has helped thousands of people.

BHS chief operating officer Sarah Phillips told H&H a “great strength” of CLtH is that it allows the charity to work with people from all backgrounds and of all abilities.

“This scheme is more than just learning to ride; it’s about helping young people find a place in the world, through the magic of horses,” she said. “We all know how special that bond is; the connection is truly unlike anything else and the findings of this study are true testament to that.

“It’s so important to us that as many people as possible have the opportunity to experience this bond and access high-quality, equine-led alternative education to support their individual needs. We want to be able to empower every individual, so they can thrive.”

Ms Phillips said reinforcing horses’ ability to connect with people will help “share a positive narrative”.

H&H reported that new Riding for the Disabled Association CEO Michael Bishop believes that the more people to whom horses are relevant, the more likely riding horses will retain public support, and Ms Phillips agrees.

“When it comes to social licence, it is about being relevant,” she said.

“A great proportion of participants on our CLtH programme had never seen a horse in person. Many thought it wouldn’t have been possible. But after just one day, you can see they have fallen in love with the horses. We’ve spoken to parents whose children have been so excited to return. It’s clear these experiences have truly changed their lives.

“These families, who may have never even given a second thought to horses, now play very important roles as key advocates for the powerful horse-human bond. There are so many brilliant, positive initiatives and interactions at our riding centres, and we want to put these experiences at the forefront of the conversation.

“Many of those who take part in the CLtH initiative are enthusiastic to share these stories. These, with the study, will be very important as we evidence just how essential that unique horse-human relationship is for future generations.”

Becky, a non-horsey mother of twin daughters with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism, is keen to help promote CLtH “so more children can benefit”.

She told H&H her daughters, now 13, were referred soon after they joined their mainstream secondary school, by the school itself, as the transition had been very tough for them.

“They started with one day a week at the stables, then it was increased to two, and I’ve had some lovely reports from the owner,” she said.

Becky said her daughters have grown in confidence, and that both now want to work with horses.

“They’ve really benefited from it,” she said. “They struggled with friendships at school, and that happened for a few months at the stables but then it stopped, as they were able to express themselves and be calm around the horses. It’s hard to put into words the difference it’s made.”

Becky cited the space, the lack of pressure, the absence of a classroom environment, the supportive staff – and the horses.

“They’re so in tune with emotions and they just seem to know what the person needs,” she said. “The girls talk about the horses as friends.”

Becky hopes her daughters will secure the nationally recognised qualifications available via the scheme, which will benefit their employment prospects.

“Before, they didn’t have a clue what they wanted to do when they’re older; now they do,” she said. “We adopted them aged three; they had a rough start so to have something like this to focus on, it’s more than I could have thought possible for them.”

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You may also be interested in:

Why horses’ relevance to the public is key to our sport’s survival

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The FEI is hosting a meeting of “in-depth discussions on addressing the challenges currently impacting the discipline of dressage”.

Stakeholders including riders, officials, trainers, organisers and veterinary experts, as well as national federations, will be invited to the meeting on 1 October. The FEI said the event “marks the beginning of a broader strategy to develop a comprehensive long-term strategy for dressage, to ensure the sustainability and growth of the discipline”.

H&H reported that a dressage forum would be held to tackle concerns in the sport. The FEI confirmed this after the Swedish equestrian federation’s horse welfare council and Gothenburg Horse Show co-hosted a meeting at the show (21–25 February) on horse welfare and social licence, at which the FEI was represented.

After the meeting, the Swedish, Danish, Norwegian and Finnish federations wrote to the FEI asking for a dressage forum to be set up, adding: “After several notable cases where unacceptable training methods have been revealed recently, it is obvious that we need to act on an international level. Despite all efforts so far, there is still much work that must be done to secure horse welfare at all times and to secure the sport’s social licence on an international, as well as national level.”

The FEI said at the time that it was “in complete agreement that it is our collective responsibility to ensure the welfare and integrity of our sport, both within and outside the arena”, and that the forum would be held after the Paris Games.

Confirming the meeting, FEI president Ingmar de Vos said: “Our goal now is to collaborate closely with all our stakeholders to address the challenges facing dressage. While many in our community recognise the urgency of the situation, others may not yet fully grasp the critical juncture at which equestrian sport currently stands.

“While the FEI is committed to seeking collective solutions and fostering consensus wherever possible, the safety and wellbeing of our horses remain our top priority. Our ultimate goal is to ensure that dressage is a discipline where the sport is conducted in a manner that focuses on the horse’s comfort.”

Mr de Vos said the FEI is prepared to take decisions to ensure it is “living up to our promise to ‘Be a Guardian’ for our equine partners, and to improve the standards of safety and care in our sport”.

“We have shown in recent months that the FEI is ready to step in and take decisive action when the need arises,” he said.

“As the sport evolves, we must adapt and find effective solutions to current challenges. Our success depends on the community’s willingness to approach these issues with an open mind and work together toward common ground.”

British Dressage (BD) CEO Jason Brautigam told H&H he intends to be at the meeting. A British Equestrian (BEF) spokesperson said it is also expecting an invitation.

“We’ll take every opportunity afforded to us, BD and the sport of dressage to be involved to help drive positive change,” a BEF spokesperson said.

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You might also be interested in:

‘A grave error to think this is just a dressage problem’: new forum agreed to help tackle welfare concerns

Why horses’ relevance to the public is key to our sport’s survival

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The new chief executive of the Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) believes horses’ social relevance is as key to the industry’s future as social licence.

Michael Bishop, who took on the job in April, said he is passionate about ensuring equestrianism is accessible, and about sharing the stories of how horses change human lives.

Mr Bishop told H&H a major thread he took from his previous job, director of corporate strategy and business improvement at Historic England, was the way to take a vehicle – in that case heritage – make it relevant to people and use it to improve their lives.

“The chance to connect those two things at RDA was an opportunity I couldn’t at least try throwing my hat in the ring for,” he said.

Michael, an amateur eventer, is a trustee of the British Racing School; what got him involved there was the ability of such an institution to “open up horses and equestrian sport to more people”.

“I’d seen the RDA as this incredible vehicle to tell a narrative about the connection horses have with people’s lives and how that can address some of society’s major challenges and the challenges people face,” he said.

Mr Bishop said his starting point is that the RDA is not a charity focused on equine care or welfare; these are of course very important but “first and foremost, we’re a health and wellbeing charity interested in improving the lives of disabled people in the UK”.

While finding his feet over the past four months, he said, he has been struck by the diversity of the 400 or so RDA groups, and the need to tell the stories of their work, from supporting riders and drivers with physical disabilities to, for example, the non-ridden work supporting people experiencing mental health crises.

“I really want to emphasise and share the incredible work RDA groups are doing because I think that can be undersold, or at least not well enough represented for the scale of impact,” he said. “RDA, by the number of volunteers, and participants we reach, is a major national charity, and I don’t think we’re good enough at telling that story and therefore seeking the support we critically need. I’d like us to have more data to be able to support that story and so be able to focus our resources and attention on supporting those people who are most in need of our support, and I hope that’s something data will help us achieve.”

The social relevance of horses

Another of Mr Bishop’s key focuses is one that affects the whole industry.

“Clearly the social licence conversation is of critical importance, and I don’t think anyone involved in horses can underestimate the scale of that challenge,” he said. “But I think there’s an even bigger conversation we ought to be having, about the social relevance of horses. And I really want to use the RDA stories; there are lots of others too, to demonstrate how socially relevant horses can be to all of our lives.”

He explained that many of the public may not engage in a welfare-led or social licence debate but that the industry must show those people that horses are relevant and accessible to them.

“One thing I was struck by was people who wrote to me and said, ‘Fantastic you’re doing this. Here’s a picture of a niece or nephew who’s been to six sessions with their local RDA group, and here they are with confidence; one colleague sent me a picture of her niece now doing ballet, having gained the confidence through an RDA group.

“And why is that relevant to this conversation? Because there’s a family who had no previous connection with horses, and this message was, ‘I now get why you’re interested in this horse thing; I thought this was a bit odd, but, but now it’s relevant to me’. Those people can be passionate advocates for an active use of horses in our society, and without that connection, it just wouldn’t have been something that was on their radar.”

Mr Bishop said he believes the sector, including racing, has “a common responsibility to maintain that social relevance, while we have the really important conversation about social licence”.

“If we don’t look after relevance, how do we speak to different communities? How do we encourage them to engage with horses?” he said. “How do we demonstrate that horses are relevant to their lives? There’s a worse thing than losing licence, which is just becoming irrelevant.”

Mr Bishop said that of course the need for horse welfare to be at the forefront is crucial, but without social relevance, there will not be the opportunity to attract people into the industry.

He added that owing to a broken foot, he has not had as much time at the yard lately as he would like.

“I miss the bit at the end of the day, when there’s contented munching and all the jobs are done; that’s always the moment I come back to as my ‘this is the power of horses’,” he said. “That’s when I feel most settled in my life and content.

“That feeling has stayed with me from a kid in riding schools and that might be something we all take for granted, but that connection is something that we all have a responsibility to maintain.”

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news throughout the Paralympic Games, Burghley, Horse of the Year Show and more, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You might also be interested in:

Anna Ross: ‘Let’s move forward with pride in our past and the humility to improve sport’

H&H Olympic reporter’s blog: a wonderful Olympics – but welfare questions will continue

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Anna Ross on being proud of our British youth and senior riders, but recognising the need for dressage to evolve

We have so much to be proud of in these past few weeks. We should be inspired by our youth riders’ fantastic medals and outstanding performances, as well as the Paris Olympics, which were a feast for the eyes – team and individual bronze medals, eight to 18-year-old horses, and riders in their 20s to nearly 70 years old.

While no one would have chosen the circumstances behind her selection, it was inspiring to see a new face in Becky Moody excel on the world’s biggest stage. Carl Hester’s exemplary harmonious freestyle, the power and majesty of Glamourdale in front of the palace, young riders chasing Isabell Werth, new talents from Poland and Ecuador, and the drama of close team competition – with many believing Denmark deserved the gold – all showcased what we love about the sport.

However, despite the Games being a welcome distraction, there’s an elephant in the room that overshadowed us, and a sense of unease now it’s over. British Dressage’s (BD) members and supporters have experienced a rollercoaster of emotions that will take time to process. But as CEO Jason Brautigam said in his email to members – we’re all in this together.

The world is watching us and the next few years will be imperative to the future of the sport. Those who underestimated the importance of social licence will now be “getting it”.

It’s up to all of us to build the image of the sport to outsiders, to welcome newcomers and to be authentic and confident in our approach.

No amount of bareback videos or riding in headcollars on TikTok will convince the public that what we do is recreating movements natural to the horse unless we are transparent. I’m sure we can all reflect and resolve to do better for the horses and the future of the sport.

As the wise man Ernest Dillon FBHS wrote: “It is up to all of us – the lady or gentleman on the cob hacking at weekends or the showjumper, event rider, or dressage rider at the Olympics and everyone in between – to support our sport and make it clear to everybody who will listen how much love goes into owning and riding horses.”

As riders and trainers, we know that power with relaxation is what the judges want, but some of that comes from the horse’s innate ability and character. As Olympic commentator Nicky Pasco noted, it’s important to breed a world-class athlete if we want to do world-class sport.

Many people seek a “forward-going but safe” horse but those “safe” horses tend to be less reactive – including to the rider’s aids. As trainers, it’s up to us to know when to push both parties and when it’s enough. Dressage has inspired even Snoop Dogg – we can do this!

Pride and humility

Intentional cruelty is a clear non-negotiable, but we must also look at issues such as welfare in transporting horses and the emotive topic of riders being suitably mounted for their size.

Should first riding lessons be on a simulator, and on a live horse only once the rider finds their balance? Should BD request dental and saddle checks along with a record of vaccinations? Perhaps we should have approved stewards and vets spot check with randomised trot-ups and mouth examinations at shows?

How about a charter for FEI riders to allow spot checks into their premises, as the British Horse Society does for riding schools?

We also need to prioritise basic stable management. Perhaps a system where you can’t go up a level until you’ve demonstrated a basic understanding level

of management required?

Education is key – when we know better, we should do better. And there are things we can do, and BD could help bear the expense as part of their commitment to welfare and education.

We love horses for their bravery and nobility, and their ability to forgive our shortcomings. We should take our inspiration from them.

Let us open our hearts to the modern world and move forward with pride in our past and the humility to improve our sport. We’ve been trapped in tradition for too long – let evolution, not ego, show the way forward.

● How can dressage retain its social licence? Share your thoughts with us at hhletters@futurenet.com, including your name, nearest town and country, for the chance for your letter to appear in a forthcoming issue of the magazine

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news throughout the Olympic Games, Burghley, HOYS and more, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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‘It’s so much fun to ride to!’ Becky Moody wows with Sex Bomb Olympic freestyle with a story behind it

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‘Why should I not retire after that?’: Carl Hester and Fame deliver spectacular Olympic dressage freestyle performance

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Nine days of sport down, two to go. Two and a half disciplines completed, a half to go. The Paris 2024 Olympic equestrian action is drawing towards its conclusion, with just the showjumping individual competition still to take place.

And so, we take stock.

For the Brits, it’s been a superb Games on the sporting side – our first time winning team medals in all three disciplines since the glorious days of London 2012. Two team golds. Five total medals with the possibility of more to come.

It’s also, of course, been a very difficult Games for horse sport in general and the Brits in particular, in the wake of the release of the Charlotte Dujardin video less than a week before the Olympics.

Paris Olympics – horse welfare in the spotlight

Mainstream journalists always descend on equestrianism – and presumably every sport – on medal days at the Olympics; this time at the Paris Olympics they also had the horse welfare beat to cover. It’s occasionally led to some angsty moments in terms of what the different media outlets need from riders and who takes priority for interviews, but we all have our own jobs and we’ve all gathered what we need, one way or another.

Every rider competing obviously knew they could be asked about welfare and the Charlotte video in their post-ride interviews in the mixed zone and had prepared for the question. And I’ve been so impressed by their answers – yes, there have been some stock phrases, but plenty have found individual, touching, intelligent ways to explain what their horses mean to them and how they are treated.

I’ve also seen mainstream journalists impressed by our riders, the care our horses receive and becoming genuinely curious about the sport. I haven’t had time to read a lot of coverage, but I’ve seen a few positive articles – and some less so.

“This isn’t going to go away,” said one journalist to me yesterday – and she’s right. The Dujardin affair has accelerated the social licence issues that have been rumbling around our sport for some years and equestrianism will be under a brighter spotlight than previously going forwards.

One of the writers asked a rider, “How can you reassure us the harmony we see in the arena is a reflection of how you train at home?” That was a brilliant way to phrase the question and gets to the crux of the issue.

As a sport, we must grapple too with the difficult balance of being necessarily tough on welfare infringements – and being seen to be so – and in doing so, drawing more attention to them. While I understand the need for no grey areas, should a horse that has knocked into itself and has a tiny nick on a white sock be eliminated?

The days immediately after the Charlotte video release were the first when I’ve started to take seriously the possibility that welfare concerns, rather than formats or expense, could lead to horse sports being drummed out of the Olympics.

I’ve felt more hopeful over the past week or so as we’ve seen great sport, huge crowds, a wonderful atmosphere and fantastic pictures – horses against the backdrop of Versailles should be among the lasting images of these Games, just as the pictures from Greenwich have become a resounding memory of London 2012.

But, as my fellow mixed zone hack said yesterday, this isn’t going to go away – I am sure the repercussions of this Games and the coverage for equestrianism in the few days leading up to it will reverberate for decades. The key question is how we find a way forward from here, continuing to restore public confidence that we can involve horses in sport responsibly and without compromising their welfare.

• To stay up-to-date with all the breaking news throughout the Olympic Games, Burghley, Horse of the Year Show and more, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You might also be interested in:

‘I am deeply ashamed’: Charlotte Dujardin withdraws from British Olympic team after ‘error of judgement’

‘We’ve got to put the horses first’: Carl Hester on the sport’s challenges – and the Charlotte Dujardin video

Inside the complaint against Charlotte Dujardin – Dutch lawyer clarifies key points

How to watch dressage at the Paris Olympics live from around the world

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With days to go before the 2024 Olympics, the FEI wants to “display our sport’s beauty”, as it calls on equestrians to commit to their duty as guardians of horses.

The renaming of humans’ role, in the new FEI “Be a Guardian” initiative, “marks an evolution in the FEI’s narrative of the horse-human partnership”, an FEI spokesperson said, and was chosen “to better represent the human role in caring for horses and to underscore each individual’s responsibility for ensuring horse welfare”.

“This shift in terminology is not merely symbolic; it signifies a fundamental change in our approach to equine welfare,” said FEI president Ingmar De Vos.

“Guardianship precedes partnership, and meeting the horse’s natural needs – such as sufficient eating time, social interaction, and exercise – cultivates trust, enabling a thriving relationship between horse and human. A partnership emerges when this trust and mutual understanding pave the way for sporting excellence.

“Through the concept of guardianship, our focus shifts to what is best for the horses, recognising them as unique and valuable beings deserving of human protection, trust, and respect. This evolution redefines the human role as that of a ‘caretaker’ with a responsibility to ensure a good life for horses.

“How we frame the issue shapes how we solve it. By embracing the role of guardians for horses, we commit to acknowledging their needs, treating them with respect, compassion and care, reinforcing our duty to these magnificent animals we live, work, and compete with.”

“Be a guardian” is also the message that “unites the community” on the action plan the FEI has developed from the recommendations made by the independent Equine Ethics and Wellbeing Commission.

The FEI said the Paris Olympics and Paralympics “represent a significant opportunity for the equestrian community to further develop a culture of enhanced respect and ethical treatment within the sport”.

“With a comprehensive approach to equine welfare, which includes aspects like transport, accommodation, veterinary care and post-event support, Paris 2024 is clear about what is required to put horse welfare at the core of the sport,” the FEI spokesperson said.

For the first time at the Games, there will be an equine welfare coordinator. Richard Corde, president of the French League for the Protection of the Horse, will “offer advisory oversight on animal welfare throughout the Olympic and Paralympic Games, ensuring all stakeholders adhere strictly to FEI regulations”.

Measures taken in Paris to benefit horse welfare include air-conditioned stables, plentiful outdoor space and high-quality footing in arenas and on the cross-country course, the spokesperson said, adding that special attention has been paid to the conditions in which horses are transported to and from Versailles.

“Stringent health monitoring protocols will be enforced before, during, and after competitions to assess the horses’ fitness and maintain their physical and mental health throughout the Olympic Games,” he added. “A dedicated team of qualified veterinarians and support staff will conduct regular health assessments, promptly addressing any issues that may arise with immediate veterinary care.”

Post-event care protocols including rest periods will be strictly observed.

“We cannot prevent every issue, but if we follow these rules and encourage everyone to take responsibility based on our shared values, we can work hard to further improve excellent standards of horse welfare,” Mr de Vos said.

“As we prepare for the Olympic Games, we are eager to display our sport’s beauty and our dedication to caring for horses responsibly. Together, we are committed to ensuring that every horse at Paris 2024 receives the care and respect they deserve.”

You might also be interested in:

Calls for equestrians to be their horses’ guardians – not just their partners

Cameras in warm-up arenas and yard inspections – calls to be brave for the future of horse sport

Calls for tougher whip rules – as the double bridle debate returns

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Whip use in showjumping, horse abuse sanctions and the use of hoof boots during trot-ups are among the issues covered in proposed changes to FEI rules – as the double bridle debate in dressage continues.

The first draft of proposed rule changes has been published with suggestions across the disciplines.

The Swedish federation has called for a tightening of whip rules in showjumping and proposed, “as guidance only”, the rider may use the whip twice maximum, before and during the ride, by “gently tapping with the whip on the shoulder or behind the saddle”.

The federation also wants to expand the excessive use definition to state that “all other means of using the whip is considered excessive”. The current rules state that the whip should not be used more than three times in a row, and that using a whip on a horse’s head is always considered excessive.

The federation said the current rule is “clearly not in line with social licence”, and “as a minimum, the rules should be acceptable to the public and all stakeholders”, adding that Sweden had successfully introduced the proposal nationally in 2023.

The FEI jumping committee agreed to “discuss the use of equipment currently available”, but said that these changes will be discussed with all stakeholders as part of showjumping’s full rules revision planned for 2025.

The FEI has put forward changes to some sanctions, including expanding the list of offences to “catch all wrongdoings”. An increase to horse abuse sanctions was suggested, “especially taking into account social licence” and the Equine and Ethics Wellbeing

Committee’s action plan, published in April at the FEI Sports Forum (news, 9 May).

Under new proposals “top-end” cases could carry double the maximum suspension: 10 years. Less serious cases would carry a potential suspension of up to six months, and mid-range issues six months to three years. But there is a potential softening to the maximum sentence for the worst offences, with proposed bans of “up to” life – instead of life.

Hoof boots at trot-ups are also in the spotlight, with the FEI aiming to “harmonise horse inspections”. The FEI said horses should be “presented in the manner in which they are to compete”, and is proposing that barefoot horses who compete without hoof boots will not be allowed to wear them during trot-ups.

Horses who compete in hoof boots must wear these at the inspection, but they must be removed if requested by the panel to evaluate the horse’s hooves.

The double bridle is back on the agenda – the Dutch and Swedish federations are asking the FEI to “re-evaluate its decision” on this being mandatory in dressage at CDI3* level and upwards.

“We think it is in the best interest for the sport to allow riders to use a snaffle if they deem this in their best interest as a combination,” the federations agreed.

The FEI stood by its previous comments on use of the double bridle, “that the use of a double bridle is a sport matter and not a matter of wellbeing/welfare”, but said that the dressage technical committee is willing to be part of a round table to discuss “correct fitting and possible modernising of the double bridle”.

National federations have until 21 August to give feedback on the proposals. A final draft will be published in October, and this will be put to the vote at the FEI general assembly on 13 November.

You might also be interested in:

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Cameras in warm-up and stable areas and unannounced yard inspections were among ideas suggested to boost public confidence in equestrianism – as all in the sport are urged to be brave.

Experts discussed public acceptance of involvement of horses in sport, at a conference hosted by World Horse welfare on 12 June. The aim was to share the results of the charity’s most recent survey of perception of the industry.

H&H has reported on previous independent surveys commissioned by World Horse Welfare, in 2022 and 2023. This year’s results showed that public opinion has not changed significantly: 20% still do not support involvement of horses in sport under any circumstances, 41% only support it if horses’ welfare improves and 56% said there should be more safety and welfare measures. But there were positives.

“Public confidence is slowly growing, based on what people see and hear in the media,” World Horse Welfare CEO Roly Owers said. “It’s a small change over three years – from 10% to 14% to 17% – but it appears to be growing steadily.”

But, Mr Owers added, “as we know it can take a long time to build up a reputation, and a very short time to lose it”.

The survey looked at where people get information on horse sport from, and who influences them. It found that television and newspapers are the most common sources, and that there is a clear appetite for more information about horse welfare in sport.

Most of the public who answered the question on who influences them in this area said it is animal welfare organisations, then vets and animal health professionals, followed by people they know who are involved with horses.

“And what influences trust in horse sport to protect welfare?” Mr Owers asked. “It’s not so much what regulators say and do, but what riders and those involved in the sport say and do.

This is given most weight, followed by the media, other people who are involved with horses but not in sport, and lastly, sport regulators.”

He added: “And horse people, as we’ve seen before, can be in a bit of a bubble. We can be more supportive of the status quo than the general public, and we do get a lot of our information from the potential echo chambers of equestrian and social media.

“But we must remember that what we see is not necessarily what the general public sees. So it’s vitally important that we step outside of ourselves and our horse world and, when we think about welfare, seek and trust independent perspectives.”

Initiatives

Mr Owers had looked at initiatives taken in the past year that may have increased public confidence in welfare, such as the British Equestrian charter for the horse, and British racing’s HorsePwr campaign.

In the panel discussion that followed, leading racing journalist Nick Luck said he believed the HorsePwr campaign has been effective.

“It’s much more positive to show every aspect of the horse, as it is,” he said. “To give as much access as possible behind the scenes. A lot of people don’t think it’s right to talk about welfare all the time, that it draws attention to the ills of the sport, but I reject that.”

Equine vet and behaviour specialist Gemma Pearson said public opinion is changing, as people accept that horses are sentient beings who feel a range of emotions.

“And ultimately, welfare is how an animal feels,” she said. But she added that the fact people in the survey cited vets as sources of information may be because they felt this was the “right answer”, and that anecdotal evidence shows how much people are influenced by social media and other people.

“So it’s everyone’s responsibility to be influencing opinions,” she said.

Swedish equestrian federation secretary general Johan Fyrberg explained the popularity of horse sport in Sweden – the federation has 155,000 members – and said that horse welfare has been the subject of education programmes there for decades.

“We have a very intense debate about welfare and I agree we have to discuss it and address and be open about any bad cases we have,” he said. “On this survey [result] I think we have to bring young people in.”

Mr Fyrberg said the Swedish federation involves young people in decision-making at all levels, which he thinks would be positive globally, adding that education is key.

“We have had some bad cases and are looking into them; we need to learn how sport and business combine,” he said. “Welfare is reasonably good but when it comes to private business, we need to drive forward and look into how we can be more involved; visiting yards.”

Mr Fyrberg said he believes it would be helpful to have the right for welfare organisations or federations to access yards. Mr Luck said this is a very interesting point, and that he believes there is most confidence in racehorses’ wellbeing when they are at licensed yards, as these are assessed and can be visited at any time.

“Beyond the time they’re at those yards, yes, we’re getting better but that’s where you worry,” he said. “But possibly in other horse sports you worry less when they finish their sporting life as that period is probably shorter and there’s greater likelihood that the person enjoying that horse for sport has that horse till the end of its life. Where you’re licensed and regulated, you feel more confident those horses are safer.”

Dr Pearson, who is also a racecourse vet, agreed that the authorities’ right to access yards at any time is key.

“That’s transparency, which is a major aspect of social licence,” she said. “The public trust you, and you can say at any point, someone can come and see what we’re doing.

“I think it would be nice to be proactive and say any national rider is open to someone from a national federation coming to see how the horses are, how they’re trained. And I think we could take this further.”

Behind the scenes

Dr Pearson said there is mistrust about what happens behind closed doors and suggested cameras in warm-ups so anyone can watch and any concerns could be seen in detail rather than pictures being shared of a brief moment that does not look good, but does not reflect the reality.

“The more transparent we can be, the better,” she said. “Everyone has a high-quality camera on them these days so we should always be riding and interacting with horses in a way that we’d be happy to be filmed and go out in public.”

Tina Cook, who was on the panel with her eventer daughter Isabelle, thought unannounced yard visits were a very good idea, and that if horses are mistreated, there should be stronger penalties.

A key topic was “the other 23 hours” when horses are not in competition, and Mr Luck said this is where “social media can come to the fore”, citing trainers who share visuals of happy racehorses at home.

“It’s so easy to communicate that,” he said. “You’d never see pictures of a horse the day after the Derby but Aidan O’Brien took some of City Of Troy having a roll this year, happy as Larry. That’s so powerful and I don’t think federations necessarily understand the power of access.”

Mr Luck said there had been a “fight” for access to the stable areas of racecourses, in which the public would be interested, and which would help show transparency. He added that it is unlikely there will be more horse sport on mainstream television , but “we’ve got to keep pushing” for it.

“The more access we can give people who might be suspicious of it, the greater success we’ll have,” he said. “We’ve got to keep trying.”

Mr Fyrberg said another key is to involve riders more; some top athletes can be “scared” to share what they do daily, as a picture taken at the wrong angle might have a negative reaction, but “I really believe we need to involve our riders and make them brave”, he said. “And really use social media and show the 23 hours outside sport. They’re the ambassadors; we need to support them to use social media and be brave.”

“It seems to be a top-to-bottom thing,” panel chair Lucy Higginson said. “Everyone has an impact.”

Dr Pearson agreed, that everyone from hackers to Olympians has the responsibility to showcase the best of our sport at all times.”

Dancing horses

She mentioned her non-horsey father, saying in 2012 that the “dancing horses” at the Olympics were “just amazing”.

“It was that harmony that shone,” she said. “People who knew nothing about horses were suddenly engaged because they saw that. The public and riders aren’t welfare scientists but intuitively, we’re pretty good at picking up on what a happy athlete is, and when we see that that’s more attractive to people. We won’t compete against football but there’s something there we can improve.”

And Mr Fyrberg added: “Horse welfare isn’t a problem, it’s a solution.”

In his summing up, Mr Owers said the horse world has to be “outside its bubble”, and that transparency is key.

“We need to make sure we’re not totally directed by what other people think, but aware of it,” he said. “I love the word ‘harmony’; that’s the end product, and when we talk about the horse-human partnership it’s the harmony of that.”

Mr Owers reaffirmed the importance of the “other 23 hours, and traceability of horses throughout their lives, as well as being open about telling the stories of our relationship with horses.

“And it’s about being brave,” he said. “We don’t live in a perfect world, but we do have to sometimes be brave. It’s not about walking on eggshells; our job is to reduce the harms and maximise benefits and when we’re telling those stories we have to be brave and people should be supported in that. We can’t retreat and only give the positive side of our sports.

“If we learn from the challenges and tell the story, we’ll build the trust and what we know is that the central tenet of social licence is trust. If we have that, we’ll have a very strong social licence going forward. We look forward to ongoing discussion and a very strong future for the horse sector and horse sport.”

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Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Nina Barbour, the former three-star event rider turned showjumper and organiser of international events at Bolesworth, shares her thoughts on perception and social licence in a fast-changing world

Since 2020, life has been a rollercoaster in lots of ways for many people in our industry. Covid, Brexit, devastating war, climate change and recession all lead to an underlying feeling of losing control of our destiny in multiple ways.

The halo effect of Covid support created a false sense of security, and in the past 12 months, reality has hit. The inevitable recession has also landed, affecting costs across the board.

I don’t think that many people realised how affected the equestrian world in the UK would be by Brexit. We all thought that deals would be done and we would quickly return to a pre- Brexit world, where horse movement between the UK, Ireland and France would once again be cheap and easy.

This just hasn’t happened and we are seeing more outward migration of top professionals to Europe than there has ever been before.

On a positive note, we are delighted at the uptake for our first two-week international tour at Bolesworth kicking off today (Thursday 6 June). We are looking forward to welcoming so many Olympic-focused combinations, including notably the UAE team supported by our partners Al Shira’aa, and helped to success by trainers Will Funnell and Duncan Inglis.

It has been fantastic to be so close to their journey over the past few years, resulting in the huge achievement of qualifying for the Paris Olympics this year. It is so encouraging to see these results after years of hard work and investment from HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Hazza Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and her team.

“Battle to survive”

One of the core values that we at Bolesworth share with Al Shira’aa is love of the horse. We live in a world where there is a rising movement of unrest around the social licence to ride horses. Let’s be clear, this isn’t about whipping them or using spurs – this is a movement that believes that we shouldn’t be riding them at all.

Hunting ultimately failed in a battle to survive despite being a tradition that contributed significantly to local economies up and down the country – why? A certain amount of arrogance that just didn’t believe that the institution could be brought down, pitched against a gritty and well-thought-out campaign by the opposition to bring it down.

We have to be ahead of the game and take a step back for a moment. In 20 years’ time, will whips be acceptable? Maybe we need to start imagining this world and what needs adapting now to take fuel out of the argument.

We all know that the majority of performance horses are treated like superstars. However, that argument doesn’t wash when it is undermined to the nth degree – when images of a racehorse trainer sitting on a dead horse or videos of a horse being rapped to jump higher are exposed because a small minority don’t share the same values as the rest of us.

The industry needs to act fast in order to get ahead, especially at a time when riding is probably less accessible than ever before to the general population, with so many riding schools being forced to shut due to rising costs and compliance.

That being said, we are looking forward to a celebration of our sport at Bolesworth and can’t wait to welcome riders, owners, partners and spectators. We would like to wish all the combinations in every equestrian discipline the very best of luck in their campaign for success in Paris.

● Do you agree with Nina? How does the sport need to adapt? Let us know at hhletters@futurenet.com, including your name, nearest town and country, for the chance for your letter to appear in a forthcoming issue of the magazine

• This exclusive column will also be available to read in Horse & Hound magazine, on sale Thursday 6 June

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

The FEI has set out its much-anticipated action plan to ensure “a good life” for equines – but questions remain on whether “the voice of the horse” is being heard.

The first session of the 2024 FEI Sports Forum (29-30 April) was dedicated to discussing the final report of the Equine Ethics and Wellbeing Commission (EEWC), “A good life for horses: a vision for ensuring the future involvement of horses in sport”, presented at the general assembly in November (news, 30 November), and the FEI’s proposed strategy.

FEI president Ingmar de Vos described the session as “the most critical topic” of the forum, and stressed the importance of the industry working together to tackle welfare concerns.

“There will be quick wins, but there will also be things that will take more time for which we will have to undertake scientific research,” he said, adding that instead of writing to the FEI with concerns, stakeholders should “look at what you can do yourself”.

“It’s a shared responsibility and it’s time for action, at every level. A year ago some top athletes told me that the problem is at the lower level, but the cases we have had recently show very clearly it’s not only the lower level. We are as strong as the weakest link, it takes a year to build up a reputation and a minute to destroy it.”

FEI veterinary director Göran Äkerström said the strategy is about “acknowledging and respecting the natural needs of horses within the context of international equestrian sport” – and added that we should no longer be referring to horses as “partners”.

“Partners indicate equal standing, which is not really true. We are their guardians,” he said.

The FEI presented its proposed action plan, a 62-point welfare strategy based on the five domains model, aimed at targeting the EEWCs six priority areas: training and riding and tack and equipment; recognising physical and emotional stress; accountability, enforcement and knowledge; the other 23 hours; competitive drive; and masking health problems. The strategy sets out actions already in place, future ideas, and ways the FEI can collaborate with national federations (NFs) and stakeholders.

Among the many topics tackled was training at home, and the FEI acknowledged that rules and guidelines on acceptable training methods are missing. It was proposed introducing FEI registration for trainers in Olympic disciplines, as is in place in endurance.

“We can train and ensure these people understand their responsibility, and if there are wrongdoings it gives the FEI jurisdiction to potentially open disciplinary proceedings,” FEI legal director Mikael Rentsch.

Hyperflexion (rollkur) came under the spotlight. Mr Äkerström said there are guidelines currently in steward manuals, but more research is needed because it is a complex area, and “there is a lot of division in the community about this”.

“We will resume the work by engaging in discussion with riders, trainers, officials, and scientists, and this will lead to rules, regulations, and education so this becomes more clear,” he said.

The FEI discussed providing NFs with “model rules”, following concerns that the FEI had had to step in on recent horse abuse cases because NF rules “were not solid enough”.

“We want NFs to have a key role in helping us prosecute cases. The other important thing is that there is no statute of limitation – if a case happened five years ago and we only discover it now, we are able to prosecute,” said Mr Rentsch, adding that some NFs have limitations where they cannot take action after a certain period of time.

“It doesn’t look good when a scandal arises if you are not able to act because your rules don’t allow you to. If we provide model rules it will give the right tools to implement them at national level.”

Other proposals included strengthening the FEI equine welfare code of conduct, with collaboration from World Horse Welfare, and ensuring more industry stakeholders commit to the Equestrian Charter, created by the EEWC last year. NFs and stakeholders have until 15 May to provide feedback on the proposals set out so far, ahead of a further action plan being presented at the general assembly in November.

The EEWC was largely “pleased” with the strategy, particularly the integration of the five domains, and the recognition that horses are not equal partners in sport – but concerns were raised that “that sense of welfare” was missing.

“Explicit in the commission’s recommendations was the need for the FEI’s commitment to ensuring horse welfare as a priority,” said EEWC chair Natalie Waran, adding this needed an “overt internal voice for the horse”, and an ongoing independent review via the establishment of a permanent equine ethics and welfare advisory committee.

“As yet this doesn’t appear in the plan. We understand that there will be further discussion regarding those of the 30 recommendations in the final report that have not yet been addressed and we look forward to hearing about further actions, and offer our support in future discussions.”

World Horse Welfare chief executive Roly Owners said it was “encouraging” that the FEI is taking action on the EEWC’s six immediate priority areas – but added that maintaining “a real sense of urgency in addressing all 30 of the recommendations was vital”.

“We believe it is also fundamental for there to be independent external oversight of the FEI’s action plan, as experience shows this is central to the maintenance of social licence, and more importantly should reap faster and more effective improvements to horse welfare,” he said.

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Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

The FEI has been urged to be bold and ambitious, and make evidence-based decisions to ensure equine welfare is always at the forefront of horse sport.

The federation has dedicated a session to discussing the final report of the independent Equine Ethics and Wellbeing Commission (EEWC) at the annual FEI sports forum next week (29–30 April). The aim is to “take the time to discuss over three hours a proposed practical plan and receive feedback on actions put in place by the national federations”.

The final report, “A good life for horses: a vision for ensuring the future involvement of horses in sport”, was presented at the FEI general assembly last year. It included 30 recommendations and asked the FEI to determine what a good life is for competition horses, and for all in the equestrian world to take accountability.

It also urged the FEI to adopt the “precautionary principle”, which means putting horse welfare as the focal point in decision-making by understanding that absence of evidence does not necessarily mean evidence of absence. This was also urged at the 2024 International Society for Equitation Science (ISES) conference in March, which was also titled “A good life for horses”.

“This month, the FEI is set to convene on the EEWC’s final report and recommendations,” an ISES spokesman said after the conference. “We urge the FEI to think progressively and take action on the recommendations, in order to safeguard equine athletes as well as equestrian sports for the future.

“The world is changing fast and as the equestrian domain is now beginning to realise, the opinions of the public in a democracy are the undaunted drivers of what is deemed acceptable, especially with regard to the use of animals in sport.”

The spokesman added that the days of stakeholders and experts determining change are “fading away”.

“Sustainability can only come through the FEI and equestrian federations making calculated, forward steps into the future,” he added. “The sleeping giant of public opinion is awakening and there is no sensible alternative but for the FEI to take on the EEWC’s 30 recommendations.

“We also implore the FEI to take the bolder step of re-establishing the FEI welfare subcommittee for the horse that was disbanded in 2006. The horse needs a voice in horse sports,” added the spokesman.

EEWC chair Nat Waran agreed on the need for the precautionary principle and for evidence-backed change.

“One of the main issues raised by various FEI stakeholders related to their need for more research evidence,” she told H&H. “The three-day ISES conference, sponsored by a number of equestrian organisations including the FEI, brought together a programme of excellent research presentations that were highly relevant to the various recommendations made by the EEWC.”

World Horse Welfare CEO Roly Owers told H&H it is very encouraging to see the widespread recognition of the need for evidence-based decisions, especially regarding sport rules.

“The FEI is perfectly placed to set the tone in how the equestrian community should incorporate the insights new evidence reveals in how we can better protect the health, welfare and overall wellbeing of ridden horses,” he said.

“World Horse Welfare welcomes the FEI’s publication of the final report of the EEWC, in which we played an active role, and we are looking forward to hearing in the FEI’s action plan to implement the commission’s recommendations at the sports forum. This is a superb opportunity to highlight the importance of taking equestrianism forward using both political will and appropriate resources.

“Now is the time for the equine sector, with the FEI as a leading player, to be ambitious in its aims in creating a welfare strategy around a good life for horses, and demonstrate that they can lead at this crucial point in equestrianism’s evolution.”

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Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

What is happening to our sport? Recently there have been multiple suspensions in equestrian sports, to do with allegations of abusive practices of one sort or another.

None of the investigations has concluded so no one has been found guilty of anything. But if they are, this is not ok, and this is not my sport.

My sport, my way of life, as is the case for almost all of us lucky enough to have horses in our lives, is about a partnership, and a bond with an equine partner. It’s a bond I truly believe benefits both horses and humans – when everything is ok.

I’ve seen someone wondering whether the demands of the sport, and the quality of performance, at top level is driving some riders to carry out inappropriate training techniques. That shouldn’t even be a question in anyone’s mind. If you have to do things like those that have been alleged to win, why would you want to win, whether that’s a 1.10m at a local show or an Olympic medal?

I would like to think all of us lucky enough to be able to ride started and carry on because of a love for horses, and that those who do love their horses would condemn abusive training techniques and practices at all times.

There are two big issues here. One is what’s being alleged, and as people have said, if you see certain things at shows and in public, what’s happening in private? I think all of us need to be constantly questioning our beliefs and practices, and committing to do the best we possibly can by our horses because it is the only right thing to do.

But there’s also the threat to our future. If abuse is happening, we will not have a sport. The public will not trust us to care properly for our horses’ welfare, so restrictions will be put in place by people who don’t understand horses, and we could very well end up not being able to ride at all.

Anyone who is found to have abused horses in any way, especially top riders who are the showpiece of our sport to the world, is contributing to an end for all of us. Anyone found guilty of such things has to be hugely sanctioned, to prevent them doing similar to any other horses, and to act as a warning that this is not tolerated, by the rest of us in the sport and the wider public who will determine whether we keep it.

I think, and I hope, that the tide is turning, that people are starting to realise what’s not ok.

I also firmly believe that many horses thrive on being ridden and competing. I just hope that will continue, for generations into the future.

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Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Olympian Laura Tomlinson shares her views on why we need to be more compassionate online

I am delighted to say, following a brilliantly organised regional championships at Wellington, that we have three home-bred horses qualified for the winter dressage championships. Sarah Rogers and I will be contesting the prix st georges with Forest Hill and Full Moon II respectively and Sarah will also be riding Viva Lotta in the inter I. We are excited to see what the venue change brings, having been spoilt with Hartpury for many years. But I am sure that Addington will make for a cracking championships too.

I am excited for the 2024 season, but I must admit that it’s not without trepidation that I venture to some of these higher-level shows with spectators. There has been so much acrimony on social media and I feel for any rider who has been caught up in the mud-slinging.

Sadly, with the recent abuse cases that surfaced abroad, all competitive equestrians have now been tarred with the same brush.

The line between abuse and riding a horse in the wrong frame seems to have merged. Can any rider say that they have never had a horse get tight in the neck and behind the vertical in certain situations? Yet this seems to be the new standard for whether a rider is abusive or not.

Change is needed

Riders are judged on still shots or a minute of training, sometimes while clearly dealing with an issue, and brutally slandered online. It’s heartbreaking to see the online equestrian world tear the sport down with self-righteous comments. However, I can say, hand on heart, that the majority of riders at the elite level that I have seen in all my years – whether they ride with a different style to me, or with a more a commercial focus – all love and respect their horses.

If you ask 10 coaches how to warm up, rug, feed or do anything else to the same horse, you’ll get 10 different answers.

If we don’t learn to be more respectful towards one another and more understanding of each other’s problems, we will eliminate our sport. Horse abuse should not be tolerated in any way, while most elite horses work for only 40 minutes a day and are so loved.

I hope that both elite and amateur riders can continue to compete and work on and through their problems at shows to progress – whatever their level – without being shamed for a small moment that is often not at all representative of that combination as a whole.

Reward correct training

Meanwhile, it’s imperative that judges must go back to rewarding correctness according to the scales of training – even if this messes up the expected line-up. If a horse is going correctly and is expressive, then it is worth the really big marks. If a rider achieves the spectacular but has lost the correctness and the judges mark accordingly, then maybe the online masses will feel less need to abuse. Maybe also that rider can then continue to work on their issues until improvement is seen, without being called an abuser.

That follows on to the issues with horses that I am working with. Tension in competition environments that I thought I’d sorted at home continues to plague me with some horses. But I’ve found that groundwork has helped me understand my horses’ issues better. Those that I have acquired rather than bred often bring baggage that is harder to understand as I am not aware of the origins of the issues. The groundwork helps release tension and helps the horse understand how to cope with external pressures. The tricky step is translating in-hand progress to work under saddle and then, competition environments.

That’s my current project, to unlock the potential in some horses who can be superstars but need to process their tension better, which I am sure many an online expert would have plenty to say about.

● Do you feel trepidation ahead of competing in public? Write to us at hhletters@futurenet.com, including your name, nearest town and country, for the chance for your letter to appear in a forthcoming issue of the magazine

• This exclusive column will also be available to read in Horse & Hound magazine, on sale Thursday 14 March

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Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

“First we have to do the right thing, second we have to talk about it” – was the simple message from a seminar on how to communicate on the equine industry.

Experts from World Horse Welfare and the FEI were among the speakers at the European Horse Network-hosted seminar on date.

Haike Blaauw, managing director at the the Federation of Dutch Equestrian Centers (FNRS) said it is “more important than ever before” for equestrianism “to be visible in a positive way”.

“But first of all, you have to do the right things – and then you have to communicate about it,” he said.

“Every three years we do research in the Netherlands about the sport, the public support of horse sports and keeping horses.

“What we see in the Netherlands is that there is still large support for keeping horses by humans, but the support is decreasing slowly but surely. And the same is true for the public support in society for horse sports.”

He added that the research found that strong supporters are “very familiar” with horse sport, while the strong opposers are not. This formed the basis of a public campaign, encouraging personal storytelling by all those involved in the industry to share personal and inspiring stories, with the message that “this is what horses do in Paris”.

FEI communications director Olivia Robinson said it is “very important” for the horse world “to be genuine, transparent, honest and accountable”.

“From my humble opinion, there is a lot of learning to be done in terms of being accountable in the sense that it’s okay to admit to mistakes or shortcomings or to look at areas to be strengthened, because this is how things evolve,” said Ms Robinson. “It’s a question of taking stock and not always endorsing the status quo, but thinking ‘How can we do this better?’ For me, that’s a big sign of strength, because it shows that we can be trusted to self-regulate and that’s what society wants to see.

“Accountability is one of the key areas in terms of maintaining our social licence to operate.”

She added the horse world should take this summer’s Olympics as a real opportunity to present good stories.

“It’s our job to earn the trust of the public and not the other way round,” said Ms Robinson.

“We need to work closely, to be united and consistent in our messaging, to share resources, expertise, stories, science and research.

“We have an amazing amount of collective knowledge within our industries and often my experience is that sometimes we are all working in separate bubbles, when we could be using economies of scale and really sharing better.”

She added: “This really is not a PR exercise. It’s about walking the talk. We need to embrace scrutiny, and not shy away from it or deny it, and we need to champion change.”

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Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Ingrid Klimke has explained that she holds a monthly open training session at her yard to help equestrian sport’s social licence.

Speaking at an event at Wellington Riding last Friday (1 March), in response to a question about convincing the general public that what riders do is acceptable and positive, the German Olympic gold medallist said: “Once a month, I have open training. It means people can sign up and come to my barn. I show them the horses in the barn in the field and do a bit of varied training, with different horses. I teach a bit and we have coffee where they can ask questions.”

Ingrid added that she grew up riding in a club and that her father Reiner Klimke’s riding arena was in an open environment.

“He knew any time someone could pedal by and watch,” she said. “The best thing is if you know the door is open, someone can come by and watch and if someone asks why you are doing something, you can explain it. It was always open.

“We’ve been having this open training day about 15 years or so and you never know who will come. Sometimes it works well, sometimes there are mistakes and the horses take off or buck or stop at a fence. We say this is real life, how can we explain so our horses understand us, how can we communicate what we want them to do?”

Ingrid added that she was asked by the German federation to host some people from Greenpeace, who were “very against riding”.

She said: “They came to an open training day and were very critical. I worked through their questions, explained we try to let the horses out as much as possible. I said that if they have hind shoes on they go out side by side so they can put their heads together [without kicking each other]. In an ideal world I’d have more room, more pasture, but this what I have and I try my best. We have to explain horses love work, they are excited to go out.”

Ingrid explained that the lorry was on the yard during the visit and one young mare was trying to get on it, which the visitors could not believe.

“I said, yes, she’s ready for her next adventure, she wants to join us. We really have to try to explain that we try to give the horses a good life,” she said.

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Anna Ross on the need for constructive dialogue to ensure the sport’s future and a safe space for those well-placed to influence its direction – riders, judges, and trainers – to be heard

The dressage world is reeling from footage of recent horse abuse but the industry has been caught on the back foot. Condemnation and clarity are needed from the top of the sport, but why are so few speaking up?

The uncomfortable truth is that for years the subjective nature of dressage has resulted in a culture of silence. Some competitors believe that if they upset the wrong people their scores may be affected. Therefore, they only voice their opinions once their sporting careers are over.

Others stay below the radar afraid of the vicious online trolling that has become so prevalent. The result is a deafening silence, which is in danger of being interpreted by the outside world as acceptance.

I can attest that the top riders and judges are not all best friends who sit holding hands and singing Kumbaya at shows. There are many spirited discussions but as in any workplace, it would be unprofessional – especially of judges – to air their differences of opinion in public apart from via their scores, however this does leave them open to online criticism.

Systems should be visibly in place for those who wish to raise concerns, and they need to be heard.

The issue is that abuse looks very different to various groups of people, who can be concerned about:

• Blatant abuse
• Rough riding with intentional or unintentional in-the-moment responses a rider or handler may regret
• Anything that doesn’t look like the fabulous Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and Dalera, regardless of a horse’s conformation or age
• Any dressage that doesn’t look like the old masters
• Using horses for sport without modifications, perhaps bitless, spurless or whipless
• Using horses for sport at all, though they think it’s OK to ride them
• Riding horses at all

While blatant animal abuse should, rightly, be met with heavy sanctions, any meaningful discussions around changing rules or practices lie somewhere in the middle groups all swallowing a chunk of humble pie, interacting constructively and being prepared to learn from one another.

But how do we know if a horse is happy? Who decides what constitutes abuse? For example, I know when I go to the gym I pull a few faces but that’s from exertion, not pain. Snapshots are often used online to suggest a horse is in pain but how can we categorically – without question – decide from a horse’s momentary expression how they feel?

The sport coming under the spotlight has revealed so many different perceptions of abuse. Apart from the obvious, there are: the use of bits, spurs and whips; travelling horses to competitions; the use of draw reins, side reins and martingales; a lack of turnout time; a rider’s weight; competing a horse in age classes – the list goes on.

A transparent approach

The Sporthorse Welfare Foundation will keep its eagle eye on the Olympic disciplines this year.

Perhaps by listening to all opinions a framework could be gathered and conclusions used as a code of conduct. This could be signed up to by competitive riders as a signal of intent as to the integrity of their training, methods and methodologies. While not a law, it could provide reassurance to the general public and animal lovers worldwide.

Social licence should not be the objective. If we are sincere in our intention, then social licence will follow. A new transparent approach could start with an “open table” where representatives gather and discuss topics in a public forum. But first, we need a shift, online and in reality, to create a safe space for those well-placed to influence the sport – riders, judges, and trainers – to be heard.

I’ll also remind people that Facebook critics aren’t always sincere and often have ulterior motives.

● How can we start a constructive dialogue around dressage’s future? Let us know at hhletters@futurenet.com, including your name, nearest town and country, for the chance for your letter to appear in a forthcoming issue of the magazine

• This exclusive column will also be available to read in Horse & Hound magazine, on sale Thursday 29 February

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McDonald’s may seem a long way from equestrianism – but the company’s experiences could be invaluable in helping maintain public acceptance of horse sport.

Speakers with experience in changing opinions of their sectors addressed a webinar organised by World Horse Welfare on 24 January. The main points that emerged were that responding to and engaging with, rather than ignoring, public concerns is key, as is openness, transparency and respecting different opinions.

Opening, World Horse Welfare CEO Roly Owers referred to the “ever-changing world of public acceptance”, and the benefit of learning from industries that have “emerged stronger from listening to public concerns and working to address them”.

“Public acceptance, or social licence, is nothing to do with law,” Mr Owers reminded guests. “It’s not something you can apply for, or award yourself, it’s an intangible, unwritten contract between society and an industry or activity; it’s a measure of trust.”

Mr Owers cited surveys World Horse Welfare commissioned, in 2022 and 2023, that found some 20% of the public are opposed to horses’ involvement in sport, and another 40% would only support it if horse welfare were improved. He said the most important factor is the public’s trust in the industry to protect equine welfare, and that “actions, not words, will determine whether we can earn and maintain that trust”.

“But we’re not stepping into the unknown,” he said. “With this challenge comes real opportunity, and I hope we can all go back [after this] with confidence that we can change, and inspired by the opportunity.”

After FEI president Ingmar de Vos and Chris Riggs, Hong Kong Jockey Club Equine Welfare Research Foundation director, sustainability consultant Bob Langert spoke.

Much in common

The former vice-president of corporate social responsibility and sustainability for McDonald’s said his work and the equestrian industry “have many things in common”.

“At the start of our journey, we thought the attacks on our brand were from silly people,” he said. “We thought, ‘We’re good people, we have ethics’. But we learned to take the issues seriously.”

Mr Langert said that although he loved his job, he felt as though he were “on a battlefield”, as the company was attacked from many sides.

“Until the late 1980s, everyone loved McDonald’s,” he said. “Then suddenly, kids were sending thousands of those polystyrene boxes to our mail room. I can’t overstate what we felt. We had to do something.”

Rather than be defensive, the company went into partnership with the Environmental Defense Fund to reduce waste, in a move unheard of at the time. Mr Langert said there was concern about working with outsiders, who might be “tree-huggers”.

“But they were smart, they became friends,” he said. “They had our best interests at heart. Their new president believed in working with businesses, and that business could be good for the environment.”

Actions McDonald’s took included ditching polystyrene, making bags from unbleached paper and decreasing napkin size, which Mr Langert said meant a 300m-tonne drop in waste during the 1990s.

“We went from being the villain to a perceived environmental leader,” he said. “We did good for the world, and we found these things were compatible with running a business; they were efficient and we didn’t spend an extra nickel. But it’s essential to work with the outside world as you can’t do it alone.”

Mr Langert said then when major concerns and campaigns arose about animal welfare, McDonald’s had learned that validation from external experts, as well as openness and letting people in, was key to public trust.

He said it was “ugly”, when animal rights activists “came for us”, but McDonald’s again addressed the concerns, involving a renowned independent animal welfare expert, who worked with suppliers.

“The suppliers were resistant; they didn’t want someone external telling them what to do,” he said. “But she wasn’t out to destroy the meat industry, just make welfare as good as it could possibly be. We went from on the defensive to a place we could stand up and when [the activists] attacked, we could put them back on the fringes where they belong.”

Mr Langert said openness, collaboration and “getting stuff done”, is key. But he urged the equestrian industry to be more proactive than McDonald’s initially was, and make changes before they are necessary.

“Be an open book; if you hide things, people think you’re doing wrong,” he said. “Work with your critics, with scientists. Get stuff done and don’t worry about being perfect as there’s always stuff to be done. Fix the hole in the roof while the sun’s shining.”

Building public trust

Charlie Arnot, who grew up in agriculture, founded Look East as he had realised that “attacking those who attacked us wasn’t effective”, and he wanted to help agriculture businesses build public trust. He said the “historical response was to be aggressive” to critics, but that agriculture, and equestrianism, should focus on the “rational majority that wants to believe you’re acting in a way that’s compatible with their values and norms, which are involving”. In our case, the 40% who would support horse sport if welfare was better.

He said that although scientific research and facts are crucial in arguing a point, they are not enough to win public trust, – so what is?

He cited a 2007 incident at a US meat-packing plant, where 143m pounds of beef was recalled. This was after animal rights activists had released “horrific images” of animals being dragged to slaughter. But although the industry debated food safety, the public was “outraged by the abuse”, in a “perfect misalignment” of values, and the industry being “tone-deaf” to public concerns.

This led to a change in US government processes and rules, and the meat plant went bankrupt. But animal activists also realised the power of undercover filming, and the industry recognised it needed to change its approach. Now, he said, the response to any such footage is that the sector’s leaders are just as appalled, and that they look forward to working with the farmer to help raise standards.

“They condemn the action as inconsistent with their standards without condemning the farmer, and work with the farmer,” he said. “It’s an approach more consistent with society’s expectations and standards. We have the science and data but need to understand we’re also in a societal conversation, and the emotional resonance that will help people be confident we’re doing the right thing.”

Mr Arnot said trust is “the most valuable intangible asset”, to help prevent social licence turning into social control, where the industry cannot regulate itself.

He said trust is affected by competency and influential people, and also shared values.

“You might have a message to share: horses are natural athletes and we understand our obligation to protect them,” he said. “Acknowledge both sides of the debate so it doesn’t look like you’re hiding anything. Stop trying to persuade, and you won’t convince people by sharing facts. Acknowledge concerns without validating them: ‘I can tell you care deeply about horse welfare and appreciate that because I do too’, and stop trying to win arguments. We have everything we need already, but you have to listen to people, without judgement; find those shared values. It’s important to validate and understand people’s experiences, have respect for that and engage with them. Then ask, invite dialogue, show you care. If someone says riding is cruel as horses get injured, say, ‘I can tell you care; tell me about your specific concerns’. Ask and listen three times, then share; you care a lot and so do they. Then you have a chance to share what’s being done to protect welfare. Help them understand your commitment to what’s right.”

In a discussion that followed, Mr Riggs acknowledged that the issue is not just perception, there are things about the industry that have to be improved.

“Social licence shouldn’t be the target; that should be doing things really well, then social licence follows,” he said.

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Pammy Hutton FBHS on why she will be encourage others over 60 – and 70 – to ride into better physical and mental health, as well as her thoughts on the future of the sport

Another year older… and another clever clogs asking me why I still ride and compete. Whatever happened to doing it for fun?

I hate being old. I hate people asking how old I am. I hate not being the old me. Harder still is overcoming the comparisons and criticism.

Pushing aside the excuses and pain from arthritis, I’ve decided to ignore the naysayers and set about trying to live well and live longer. Illness means my family is relying on me at the moment, so I must keep going. And that means riding – and being fit to ride.

I’ve dieted as I was too fat to sit well. I can use that word about myself as I won’t be taking it up with my lawyer.

My new watch monitors my exercise levels and recently advised that I call the emergency services when my pulse rate soared during a lesson. I put that down to excitement.

I’ve fallen in love with riding all over again. Not quite that first heady rush of 50 years ago, but as I’ve become fitter, I’ve enjoyed it more and surprised myself.

I’ve trained my horse Ebony to inter I, I’ve stopped puffing, I ride for longer and I’ve added two more horses to my morning exercise. I won a class with 72% and galloped up a hill three times, thanking God I still could.

This experience has taught me to encourage others over 60 – and 70 – to ride into physical and mental health.

Preserving our sport

Outrage and scandal trickle down, via the grassroots, to the non-riding public. It’s agreed there’s an urgent need to preserve our sport and indeed the right to ride at all. Yet are we – the people within dressage – contributing to our sport’s downfall by coming across as elitist, uncaring and cruel?

Do we highlight the negative too much without showing enough happy horses and their humans?

Do we take enough care with our horses when phone cameras are ever-present? We have CCTV everywhere at Talland, and I personally have sacked a rider for abuse.

Racing modified Becher’s Brook, eventing adopted frangible pins, showjumping made safety cups mandatory. Now dressage must make “ease” and “harmony” its keywords – and put a stop to winners with their horses’ heads in their chests.

Olympic gold is Jessica von Bredow-Werndl’s if her horse is on form. Why? Because she rides with a soft, forward contact and her horse has a long neck, which several revving up behind her simply do not. Conformation helps, of course, and for that reason, Becky Moody’s up-and-coming horse Jagerbomb should be considered.

Social media went on and on after London yet among the tirades was some correct analysis. The tide is turning – judges must reassess and the FEI must take note. The general public, who know less than those at the top, will influence our sport’s future.

It’s perhaps harsh to compare objective showjumping, where a pole down is clear-cut, with subjective dressage. But the former has done a good job

to repopularise, something we need to emulate.

So, what can we do? Firstly, social media is here to stay so let’s use it positively. Secondly, we must appear less elitist by making riders accessible and inviting the public to stroke the horses.

Here at Talland, we open up to locals to eat cake while watching the horses. And to be honest, the Horse and Country TV shows we host help keep our riding school open. The LeMieux All Star Academy and the latest Megan’s Talland Takeover are about characters, fun, laughter, chaos and mistakes – and that brings people in. Presenter Megan Elphick has over 170,000 followers on Instagram and 240,000 on YouTube – equestrianism needs them all.

Good business sense is required for dressage to thrive. And, as with any business, the smart money goes into effective advertising. Love it or hate it, social media is advertising. Every time we ride a horse in public it’s an advertisement – good or bad – for our sport and the privilege of riding horses.

● Do you agree that those involved in dressage need to do more? Write to us at hhletters@futurenet.com, including your name, nearest town and country, for the chance for your letter to appear in a forthcoming issue of the magazine

• This exclusive column will also be available to read in Horse & Hound magazine, on sale Thursday 1 February

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Are horses being overproduced for young horse classes? H&H seeks an expert’s view

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

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Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

There has always been much debate over young horse classes, and whether or not horses are being overproduced for them.

In August 2023, Horse & Hound columnist Laura Tomlinson wrote of the World Breeding Championships in Ermelo where she was competing her then seven-year-old home-bred Full Moon II: “The standard of horses there was unreal. I found it a little scary that most of what I could hear being called across the collecting ring was ‘more’ and ‘poll up’, as some very young horses were being pushed to what may well be their limit.

“It will be interesting to see how many of the top three in each age category go on to be successful at grand prix.”

We’ve had a look into the data and have spoken to renowned sport horse clinician and equine orthopaedics specialist Dr Rachel Murray to get an expert’s view.

Starting with the results, from the 2016 World Breeding Championships only one of the top three five-year-olds – second-place Quel Filou who is now with Danish rider Anna Zibrandsten – went on to have a grand prix career.

Glamourdale, now recognised as one of the best dressage horses in the world, was 10th under Benjamin Maljaars – he would later go on to win the seven-year-olds in 2018.

However, it’s not as easy as saying winners of the seven-year-old classes are more likely to go onto grand prix than those of the five-year-old, or the more recently introduced four-year-old classes.

In 2017, seven of the 15 five-year-old finalists went on to later compete at international grand prix, as well as five of the six-year-olds and six of the seven-year-olds. Ten of the 90 finalists across the three age groups in 2017 haven’t gone on to compete again internationally outside of young horse classes.

It’s very difficult to draw any substantial conclusions from the results alone, other than success at young horse level doesn’t necessarily guarantee a competitive future at the highest level.

“We need to take a multifactorial approach, rather than just looking at one thing,” says Dr Murray.

“You need to look at all the factors that affect the horses. For example, how many of the horses end up with a rider, trainer and support team who are capable of training and producing horses to grand prix?

“How many of the four-year-olds are going to be fed optimally, shod correctly and ridden in well-fitted tack so that their bodies are able to muscle up and develop in a way that they can go on to perform the movements required in the seven-year-old classes and then train on further towards grand prix?

“How many go on to be sold to riders who aren’t suited to them or don’t have the knowledge to support the horse’s body, mind and training programme? I don’t think you can conclude it’s because they’re overproduced too young that they don’t go on to grand prix.”

“We need to prioritise education”

As Dr Murray explains, more and more talented horses are being bred, meaning more peoples have access to these excellent horses without perhaps the experience to develop them, despite being well-meaning and having the best intentions.

“It’s not that some people don’t push young horses close to their limits of movement – which might increase risk of injury if the training isn’t balanced well – but a lot also underproduce or incorrectly produce them as well, frequently with the best intentions, but through lack of knowledge or experience, which can increase risk of injury for other reasons,” explains Dr Murray.

“There is evidence that if a horse was initially trained for one sport, like racing or showjumping, they’re at a higher risk of lameness if they move to a different sport, like dressage, likely because their bodies aren’t adapted to the sport they’re now being asked to do.

“It’s therefore important that young horses have a level of cross training so that their body adapts generally, and within this are trained for the needs of the sport that they are aiming to do. This training allows their body to adapt and develop as they mature.”

When and how you start to compete your horse is very much dependent on their individual conformation, strength, degree of development and temperament, Dr Murray says, there are no binary rules.

“Every part of the horse matures at a different time, so it’s not that one day they’re mature and one day they’re not. It’s about being sensitive to what they need at any given time.

“I’ve got a lovely picture that I have on my welfare talk of two three year olds: a 16-hand stallion with good posture and muscle development who is strong and stable plus a long-legged 17-hand mare, who’s as narrow as a piece of paper when you’re looking at her at the front.

“The three-year-old stallion, who has a confident temperament, is absolutely ready to go and learn from doing young horse classes as a four-year-old but the mare would not be – she would struggle to balance carrying a rider doing turns round an arena.

“So, saying we shouldn’t do four- or five-year-old classes doesn’t make sense because some horses are absolutely ready to go into an arena and experience the world as a four-year-old – and it can be a very good opportunity for them to experience being in an arena with a little more flexibility in the test movements and potentially a chance to do this alongside another horse to gain confidence.”

Overtraining, she explains, can happen at any age: “It’s not because they’re doing young horse classes, it’s because they’re being managed wrong. We know that a risk factor for injury is over competing and overtraining. And that doesn’t matter if it’s a young horse or an old horse.”

Dr Murray argues that we can best make an impact on young dressage horses’ welfare through prioritising education.

“Some 90% of dressage horses are competing at advanced medium and below with 73% at elementary or below, so that’s where we should be focussing our efforts, less so on the few elite horses,” she says.

“We need to recognise when horses are sore or struggling to achieve what is being asked of them, and when we should be doing things like groundwork, poles or cross-training to build their strength. Likewise, things such as our saddles might need to be fitted more frequently because our young horses’ bodies are changing and shoeing should be carefully evaluated as the horse matures.

“There’s lots we need to do with all stakeholders but we should also make sure that everything we do is evidence-based, and there’s no evidence to say that we shouldn’t have young horse classes.”

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Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Changing the way we talk about equine welfare – and treating horses like horses rather than “like kings” – may not only improve it, but also protect our sport for the future.

This was the conclusion of a study on what was said after welfare campaigners gained access to the racecourse before the 2023 Grand National. The paper, published in Animals, investigated how what was said could affect public acceptance of involvement of horses in sport.

Gemma Pearson, an equine vet, behaviour specialist and racing fan, told H&H the paper “wasn’t an easy one to write”.

The study focused on the commentary from the racing industry; its main message is that although protestors Animal Rising’s aim was to prevent a horse suffering a fatal injury in the race, in the main, pro-racing figures concentrated on the way horses are treated when not racing.

It cites a radio debate two days after the race, in which Animal Rising and representatives of racing featured. But despite the campaigners’ repeating the risks to horses in racing, and public contributors echoing this, “racing’s representatives were once again reluctant to address Animal Rising’s main point”.

Dr Pearson added: “Racing should have dealt with these things. They don’t realise they’re digging a grave for racing with their words. They think they’re selling the sport, but don’t have a good enough understanding of social licence principles.”

She compared the issue to some in general horse sport – experts have reiterated before that most of the public sees no difference between the disciplines – such as if a horse is eliminated for blood.

“The commentator might try to manage it by saying, ‘Horses have such thin skin… a tiny glance of the spur,’ but that’s not right to say,” she said. “Then people ask, ‘Surely they’re not allowed to wear sharp spurs?’ They’d be better to say, ‘Feel sorry for the rider, but that’s a lesson learned; that’s excessive spur use.’ Transparency is very important.”

Dr Pearson said the future of equestrian sport depends on whether the public trusts the industry to safeguard horse welfare.

“If they don’t, they’ll insist it’s regulated, which would probably be by people who don’t understand horse sport and welfare,” she said. “We’ve got to say the right things, and prove it, and then the spotlight comes off.”

She cited the difference between zoos and circuses; the latter has largely lost public acceptance, but the former has kept it by shifting focus to conservation and education.

“Times change and people think they can push back and stop the change, but actually they accelerate it,” she said.

Another example is McDonald’s, which came under fire from campaigners about animal welfare. Instead of trying to quash the protests, the company engaged independent welfare assessors and invested in training, showed they had done so, and “as soon as they did that, no one was interested in what the protestors said”.

“We need to be willing to look at research,” she said. “There was a tendency to say, ‘I’ve been around horses all my life; I know everything.’ People feel threatened, then tend to push away the threat rather than deal with it.”

Dr Pearson added that the public “understands it is impossible to completely eliminate risk in sport” but does want to know the industry cares about and is doing all possible to minimise it.

“The aim of the paper wasn’t to upset people,” she said. “But as a vet who works on racecourses, I want racing to continue. I hope this will help the industry.”

World Horse Welfare CEO Roly Owers told H&H the paper is a “constructive contribution to discussions on how racing – indeed all of horse sport – can evolve the way they communicate to maintain public acceptance”, and that there are two “especially pertinent” points.

“Firstly, when responding to public concerns, these need to be acknowledged directly, including what is being done to address them,” he said. “This will help build trust. Public anxiety about risk of injury and fatality in racing will not be assuaged by assurances that a racehorse has a high quality of life off the track.

“Secondly, beware of the mantra that racehorses are ‘treated like kings’. The public already expects that they receive the highest level of care. And we know that for horses to have a good quality of life, they do not need to be treated like kings – they need to be treated like horses. This means ensuring their mental wellbeing, as well as physical welfare, including plenty of access to turnout and forage, and the ability to socialise with other horses.

“We hope this paper provokes thought and will help develop how the media, horse sport and the racing community communicate about the benefits and challenges within this most visible demonstration of the inspirational horse-human relationship.”

H&H has approached the British Horseracing Authority for comment.

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Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Experts have called for the creation of a welfare charter to help inform those involved in equine management.

New research published by the Sporthorse Welfare Foundation (SWF) in scientific journal Animals has examined the key priorities regarding sport horse welfare. The Foundation, created last year, is made up of equestrian researchers and practitioners to “accelerate the application of objective, reliable and valid data to advance the knowledge and understanding of training and management of the equine athlete”.

More than 100 equine professionals from 24 different countries and across the Olympic disciplines took part in four rounds of a Delphi study, a research technique used to reach group decisions. In conclusion, the participants agreed that five factors – training management, competition management, young horse management, health status and veterinary management, and horse-human relations – were “essential to maintain horse health and welfare”. Stable and environmental management, and welfare assessment were rated as important but not essential, as most respondents felt that these areas were already managed well.

An SWF spokesman said that following this first tranche of research, funded by various equestrian organisations and federations – including World Horse Welfare, Hartpury University and British Equestrian – the experts involved have “called for improved education and research and a dedicated welfare charter to inform those involved in equestrian management practices”.

It was also suggested that a “universally agreed” set of guidelines would help to maintain public acceptance of horse sport.

“The next steps will be to evaluate the opinions of other (non-elite) equestrians and the wider public on the results, to identify areas for further investigation.”

SWF will also collate evidence to understand what practices and management are being implemented across different countries, disciplines, competitions and individuals.

“By increased monitoring, record-keeping and research, good practice can be identified and showcased to the wider equestrian communities and the public to establish a culture in which the quality of life for sporthorses is always the priority,” said the spokesman, adding that SWF plans to work with national and international federations to provide “targeted education and guidance” to improve the management of sport horse health and understanding of best welfare practices.

World Horse Welfare chief executive Roly Owers told H&H that with “elite equestrians at the frontline of public visibility, it is vital to listen to and include those at the top of the sport as equestrianism maps its path into the future”.

He added: “This analysis of expert opinion helps fulfil this remit, and the results provide a valuable perspective on the priorities and knowledge base of the participants. World Horse Welfare is pleased to have been able to support this important study, which will form a solid basis for further work.”

This year the FEI-appointed equine ethics and wellbeing commission announced plans for an equestrian charter to which all stakeholders should commit to (news, 4 May). The charter pledges to: “understand that it is a privilege to involve horses in sport and this comes with responsibilities to the horse”; and to “respecting the horse as a sentient creature capable of feeling both positive and negative emotions, and to ensuring its welfare is always my priority”. This charter was approved at the FEI general assembly last month and comes into force on 1 January.

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Leading riders, coaches and veterinary professionals have joined forces to campaign for one of the industry’s biggest sponsors to help bring about “a new era for equestrian sport”.

A Change.org petition, to Longines CEO Matthias Breschan states: “Equestrian sports have several severe welfare issues. Question is, do their sponsors know what they are paying for?”

The petition, started by Norwegian author and podcaster Live Bonnevie, was signed at creation by FEI vet Svein H Bakke and former three-star FEI dressage judge Hege Trulsen, as well as other vets, musculoskeletal practitioners, riders and trainers.

It cites the fact that in 2012, Longines signed a long-term deal with the FEI, as the federation’s “top partner”.

“This was a moment that was described as the beginning of a new era for both equestrian sports and the FEI,” it states. “But what the equestrian sports really needed 10 years ago, and still need today, is a new era with a significantly stronger focus on horse welfare, not only written on documents but practised and implemented in real life.”

The text cites the undercover documentary filmed at the base of top Danish dressage rider Andreas Helgstrand, during which “highly questionable” conditions caused “global outrage” (news, 30 November), “mainly because it is regarded as a symptom, not a unique case”.

“The problems are not unique to dressage, but embrace the other sports as well, and we fear the horse industry itself is at the tipping point of losing its social licence to operate,” the petition states.

The signatories say they start with international events and grand prix dressage, asking Longines to question the FEI on issues including why double bridles are mandatory at grand prix, why “a horse showing clear signs of discomfort and stress” can be scored highly, and why 20 seconds of equine resistance is acceptable before elimination.

They also urge Longines to “question what we teach future generations of riders, if their role models fail to ensure the public that they can protect their horses from harm”.

Sue Dyson, former head of clinical orthopaedics at the Animal Health Trust, was also among the named, founder signatories.

She told H&H most of her co-signers are from Scandinavian countries, where the Helgstrand documentary was more widely viewed.

“I was at a meeting in Germany where everyone was talking about it,” she said. “It was very clear people were disappointed the FEI hadn’t been more proactive in showing they have a role in protecting equine welfare; their statement was pretty low-key.”

Dr Dyson added that she believes the petition is a good idea to raise awareness of the issues, and hopes Longines will put pressure on the FEI.

She cited the fact the FEI has not adopted recommendations, such as one to make double bridles optional in top-level dressage, made by the equine ethics and wellbeing commission.

“Why appoint the commission if you’re not going to listen to it?” she asked. “They worked hard to produce recommendations, which the FEI has chosen to ignore.”

Dr Dyson said she believes “not dissimilar” practices to those shown in the Helgstrand documentary could be found at many yards.

“Which was why the British Dressage convention last month was so refreshing,” she said. “What was on display was lovely, which shows it can be done well, and should be. If the FEI said ‘This is how it must be done’, and what judges must reward, it would encourage much better training, across the board.”

An FEI spokesman told H&H the FEI is “unwavering in its commitment to safeguarding the health and wellbeing of all horses participating in FEI events, and we approach this responsibility with the utmost seriousness”.

“We acknowledge the frustration, particularly when distressing images come to light,” he said. “Despite this, we remain steadfast in our dedication, actively addressing perceived or genuine welfare concerns within the scope of our legislative authority. Additionally, we are proactive in community education initiatives to ensure horses receive optimal care even beyond our jurisdiction. We recognise the importance of transparency and continually strive to enhance our efforts in promoting the welfare of all horses involved in FEI events.”

The spokesman added that horse welfare is “at the core of our values and regulations”, and that “any action or omission which causes or is likely to cause pain or unnecessary discomfort to a horse constitutes a violation of our rules”.

“We are committed to ensuring horses involved in sport experience positive welfare throughout their lives, and that the FEI’s regulations, policies and practices, as well as the wider community’s actions, reflect these principles, and we will continue to address actions and behaviours that are in contradiction with our values,” he said.

The spokesman said all the resources and measures used by the FEI to “proactively address and mitigate welfare risks for horses” are not always widely known, but “it is important to stress that this is the driving factor behind the FEI’s decision-making process and planning”.

“The equine ethics and wellbeing commission delivered their final report to the FEI board in Mexico last month; the final recommendations are being carefully reviewed to establish actionable items and an implementation plan,” he said. “These are high on the FEI’s agenda, with a roadmap for discussion and implementation to be presented at the FEI sports forum 2024. It is important to highlight that some of the recommendations have already been put into play.

“As for the FEI position on the use of the double bridle in grand prix dressage, the FEI is committed to fact-based decision-making and remains open to future rule changes founded on meaningful scientific evidence that would indicate any welfare shortcomings based on its use.

“The FEI encourages all acts of free speech, and especially the opportunity for individuals to express their views and concerns in relation to horse welfare, and remains committed to addressing the concerns raised, and optimising the systems in place to proactively promote equine welfare, mitigate any risks to welfare and raise awareness around the community’s role and the existing processes, mechanisms and systems already in place to safeguard the wellbeing of horses in our sport.”

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A blueprint for the way forward to ensure the future of equestrian sport was set out at the FEI general assembly, following 18 months of work and research by leading figures.

Professor Natalie Waran presented the FEI-appointed Equine Ethics and Wellbeing Commission’s (EEWC) final report at the general assembly in Mexico on 21 November, which covered public perception of horse sport and ensuring equines have a good life.

The report, titled A good life for horses: a vision for ensuring the future involvement of horses in sport, comprises 30 recommendations, asks the FEI to define what a good life for competition horses looks like and calls on everyone in the horse world to take accountability. In simple terms, these fall under the areas of: be a leader, be accountable, be trusted, be transparent and be proactive.

It also urges the FEI to adopt the “precautionary principle”. This means putting horse welfare as the focal point in decision-making by understanding that absence of evidence does not necessarily mean evidence of absence.

The recommendations include establishing a permanent FEI equine ethics and wellbeing independent advisory committee, to act as a “critical friend”, and provide external perspective and independent advice, and adopting an evidence-based approach for assessing the impact on horse welfare of new and existing items of tack and equipment. Another is for additional checks by trained professionals to ensure horses are always “fit to compete”. It also asks the FEI to develop and implement a robust FEI internal decision-making process, to ensure that equine welfare and ethics are prioritised when developing policy and in practice.

The main takeaway from Prof Waran’s presentation is that the future of horse sport rests on everyone’s shoulders.

“Everybody knows that changing the status quo can be extremely challenging. It’s hard because often people hang on to the old stuff, because they overestimate the value of what they have. And they can underestimate the value of what they might gain as a result of change,” said Prof Waran.

“That is why we really want to remind you that this is more of an evolution of the equestrian sports and not a revolution.

“Social acceptability isn’t something that you can market your way out of. It’s not something that nice pictures, or talking about partnerships and so on, is going to solve. Part of the story is telling the story well, but [public acceptance] isn’t able to be self-rewarded just on that basis.

“The important thing is to earn trust, through listening and engaging and remaining legitimate, credible and accountable to that external scrutiny. Real commitment to prioritising equine welfare needs to be demonstrated not just by what we’ve written in the paper, and the work we’ve carried out over the 18 months we’ve been doing this, but by what is actually being done as a result of that work.

“Leadership is about you, every single person in this room, every national federation, every equestrian organisation and of course the FEI, overarching all of that. We believe that if we all show that responsibility, then we can certainly secure the future of equestrian sports.”

FEI president Ingmar de Vos commended the commission for this “important body of work” and added that this will “contribute to a larger strategy and concrete measures” that will be presented at the 2024 FEI sports forum.

World Horse Welfare chief executive Roly Owers, who was also presenting at the general assembly, said the report provides the equestrian world with a “really exciting opportunity”, adding that national federations being proactive “makes a huge difference”.

“We must demonstrate our ongoing commitment to both prioritising equine wellbeing and scrutinising everything we do from an ethical standpoint. We must do this in both word and action, because this is not just a communication exercise – ‘welfare washing’ will get us nowhere,” said Mr Owers.

“The ball is very much in our court and the future of horse sport will be dictated by how we play it.”

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The measures horse owners, sport leaders and vets can take to maximise our industry’s environmental sustainability have come into the spotlight.

FEI president Ingmar de Vos joined equine internal medicine specialist David Rendle on a discussion panel at the 2023 World Horse Welfare conference, with charity director Jenny Fernando and Agata Rzekec, of the French horse and equestrian institute.

The panel, chaired by Sky News sports editor Nick Powell, considered what “radical” ideas should be considered to enable horse sport to be more sustainable, what vets and owners can do about resistance to wormers and antibiotics, and how yards and owners can give their horses the best care and manage the land they graze to maximise sustainability. The discussion was in keeping with the theme of the day: “Horses and the environment: friend or foe”.

On the first topic, Mr de Vos said he did not like the word “radical”, as radical ideas and solutions “have not always been the most sustainable ones”. He added that the conference had heard great ideas, but the biggest challenge is in communicating them.

“The international sport world is very aware of its responsibility and how society is looking at them when it comes to environmental sustainability,” he said, adding that taking action regarding the 4,500-plus FEI events per year is key, and that he believes sustainability should contribute to the work on categorising events and organisers, perhaps with recognition of best practice. Ms Fernando cited Forest Green Rovers, the first carbon-neutral football club, showing that events can be green.

Ruth Dancer, director of environmental sustainability specialists White Griffin who had spoken at the conference, said many of the day’s suggestions are already being acted on.

“The industry is working at pace and has been all year,” she said. “In the next month, you’ll probably be hearing about Kitemarks, awards, toolkits. But don’t carbon-offset your way out of this problem. Carbon-offsetting is just a consumerism, we’ve got to reduce what we do and improve our work on the land. So I’d ask everyone on the panel, what one thing would you like to see happen in the equestrian space around environmental sustainability?”

Ms Rzekec would like people to ask event organisers to make an effort, as “I believe people are the main source of evolution,” and Ms Fernando would like “lots of small things”.

“More hedges, better grazing, more toolkits and more help for people,” she said.

Mr Rendle said he would like restriction in the sale of toxic medicines, which led into the next topic. He said the important thing is for everyone to be aware of the eco-toxic effects of “much of what we do”; most wormers are toxic and there are groups of people calling for their use to be banned.

“Do people think about the harmful effects of fly spray, what that does to other insects and their predators?” he asked, adding that ivermectin remains toxic in the environment for four months and that worming drugs enter our water systems, where they are harmful to aquatic life.

“This is a huge issue and awareness needs to be much higher,” he said. “We all have the responsibility to look carefully at how we use these drugs.”

Mr Rendle said this includes anti-bacterials, which can lead to populations of resistant bacteria that have a negative effect on wild and domestic species, and that many of these drugs would not have to be used if we managed horses better.

“I’m afraid voluntary actions will probably never be enough as it’s too easy to use these drugs,” he said. “So we will need some restriction if we’re serious about preventing the environmental damage of these drugs and that will have welfare benefits.”

On the final topic, Ms Rzekec said horse owners “present green assets”, and that correct management is key.

“I’m convinced the industry can find a balance and achieve sustainability,” she said. “We need to communicate our green assets more.”

But she said avoiding overstocking fields and poo-picking can help reduce emissions of nitrogen, and keeping permanent vegetation can help prevent harmful run-off. This can also promote biodiversity.

“Grasslands are important in carbon storage, which is the main green asset of equestrians,” she said.

Ms Fernando said when World Horse Welfare started looking at its sustainability, they were not experts but had to learn, and that learning from each other is key. She said knowledge of each piece of land leads to its correct management.

“Not all of us have acres of land to manage; I don’t but I can still make sure I worm responsibly, recycle feed packaging and don’t leave buckets overflowing,” she said.

“It depends on what you can afford and what your horses need. What simple things can I do that work for me and my horses. Look at one or two simple projects that will work for you and go from there.”

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Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now