The State of Sport Horse Welfare

This article originally appeared in the Summer 2025 issue of EquiManagement. Sign up here for a FREE subscription to EquiManagement’s quarterly digital or print magazine and any special issues.

As veterinarians, we know how our clients manage and care for their horses because we are intimately involved in much of that care. For each horse, we address not just physical well-being but all the facets that influence his life—nutrition, conditioning, environment, stabling, and social interactions. The public rarely has a chance to witness these favorable events in horses’ lives. Public scrutiny of horse competition has stepped up considerably, with social media posts periodically casting ­equestrian sports in a negative light. The public’s perception of equestrian events is often based on single time points from videos and photos of horses being trained or ridden. This perception is magnified by infractions that disregard equine welfare and safety. While such transgressions are not necessarily the norm, they certainly leave a bad impression.