At last year’s World Equestrian Games, Denmark won no less than 10 medals, making it one of the world’s best equestrian nations. The great results have increased interest in equestrian sports in Denmark, but also give reason to take a closer look at the sport. Animal ethics – i.e. the welfare of the horses – can come under pressure due to the sport’s high level of ambition and the amount of money involved.
The Animal Ethical Council’s report on horse welfare
The Animal Ethical Council has recently published a report that focuses on dressage and show jumping, but which is also relevant to other branches of equestrian sport. The report challenges the idea of the horse as a “happy athlete” and points out that the horse’s participation only serves human interests and ambitions. While elite sport can come at great cost to humans, it is self-selected, which is not the case for horses. Therefore, riders and organizations have a special responsibility to ensure the welfare of horses.
Ethical guidelines and their implementation
The Danish Equestrian Federation has developed ethical guidelines and a common set of rules for equestrian sport, where the welfare of the horse must be prioritized over the interests of the trainer, rider and owner. Although the intentions are good, there are challenges with implementation. In practice, the ethical principles are not always prioritized enough.
Focus on injuries and conflict behavior
There is a need for greater focus on injury control and prevention of physical and psychological violence before, during and after competitions. Increased knowledge about the natural behavior and conflict behavior of horses is essential to understand their reactions and ensure that performances without signs of conflict behavior are rewarded. This should be a priority so that competitions are conducted with respect for the welfare of the horse. Read the rest of the post at Kristeligt Dagblad.
