Horse welfare in sport
Horse sport must put the welfare of their horses first, above other considerations.
Horse sport must put the welfare of their horses first, above other considerations.
Horse sport increasingly needs a ‘social license’ to operate, meaning it must behave ethically and responsibly if it is to continue to maintain public support.
Sport horses are generally exceptionally well cared for, thanks to the significant investment that flows into the industry and the vigilance of regulators. Standards of welfare in horse sport can be the highest in the world, and we believe our work with sports regulators over the years has helped. But there is much more to do.
There are still too many horse welfare challenges in sport. Overbreeding, questionable training methods, use of inappropriate tack, poor course design, limited access to grazing, excessive or unnecessary whip use, pre- and post-race care and retirement are all hot areas of debate within the horse community. These are issues we strive to address practically and responsibly using a collaborative approach.
If you have any comments regarding our views on horses in sport, we would like to hear from you. Please email us at info@worldhorsewelfare.org
