Majority of equestrians believe equine sport can only continue if welfare improvements are made, survey says

Two surveys carried out by an independent ethics and wellbeing group suggests that more than half of equestrians have concerns around horse welfare and enjoyment in equine sports

The Equine Ethics and Wellbeing Commission (EEWB) for the FEI delivered its first report to FEI delegates at the FEI General Assembly in Cape Town (12 November 2022). Founded in June of this year to address equine welfare issues of public and equestrian concern to ensure the welfare of the horse is paramount, the aim of the independent EEWB is to strengthen horse sport’s social licence to operate. The Commission immediately commissioned two surveys to provide data to help shape its proposals.

The surveys were conducted in English, Spanish and French, with one designed for horse enthusiasts and the other for the general public. Almost 28,000 equestrians – including almost 8,000 FEI affiliates – responded to the former from 116 countries, and more than 14,000 people from 14 nations were surveyed in the latter.

The key findings included…

• Clear evidence that both equestrians (75% of those surveyed) and the general public (65% of those surveyed) have concerns about the welfare of horses in sport
• 67% of the general public, and 50% of surveyed equestrians, believe horses sometimes or never enjoy being used in sport
• 78% within the equestrian community and 52% of the public believe welfare standards need to improve
• The six priority areas among equestrians are, 1) training and riding/tack and equipment; 2) recognising physical and emotional stress; 3) accountability/enforcement/knowledge; 4) the other 23 hours; 5) competitive drive/horses seen as a number; 6) not fit to compete/masking health problems.
• There is general optimism (77% of equestrians) for horses’ future use in sport, but only with welfare improvements
• Equestrian stakeholders consider that for horses’ welfare to be improved, current welfare rules must be better enforced, new welfare rules should be informed by science, and those involved with horses should have a required level of equine welfare knowledge

From these findings, the EEWB Commission has made six initial recommendations, which include…

• Double bridles no longer being mandatory in Grand Prix dressage
• Spurs no longer being mandatory for any equestrian discipline
• Developing a new approach to measuring noseband tightness to identify and eliminate the use of overtight nosebands

Professor Dr Natalie Waran, Chair of the EEWB, promised delegates a “blunt” and “direct” approach and swore to “tell [delegates] the truth”. “There is change that needs to happen and we are here to develop a strategy, provide objective advice, make recommendations and then see how these recommendations can be put into operation,” Natalie said.

She then outlined the EEWB’s strategy to address social licence based on six main pillars: evidence, education, engagement, effective regulation, enforcement and empowerment.

Full details of the methodology and findings can be viewed here