05/15/2025
*** WHY USING HORSES IN SPORT IS THE LEAST OF OUR WELFARE CONCERNS ***
The animal rights activists have definitely got the bit between their teeth with regards to using horses in sport. I can honestly say that there are many, many welfare concerns that should be registering much higher on the scale than asking a horse to jump a solid fence, or even asking a horse to race.
Speaking from my experience as a very busy ambulatory Equine Vet for the past 16 years, I want to share my viewpoint on why using horses in sport (including racing) is really not a welfare concern.
Firstly, horses can break their legs, break their necks, and rupture their tendons, whilst turned out in the field. Using the argument that we shouldnât use horses in sport due to the high risk of injury, is absolutely not an argument. I have seen FAR more broken legs out in fields, than Iâve ever seen whilst out Eventing. Regardless of numbers, if a horse breaks his leg whilst competing, he receives IMMEDIATE veterinary attention. If he breaks his leg in the field, he could be waiting up to 12 hours, or if he had as a negligent owner who doesnât check their horses twice a day, 24 hours!
Letâs actually think about broken legs and ruptured tendons for a minute, and why we normally immediately euthanise a horse with a broken leg. Is it because the horse is in far more pain with a broken bone, than a human would be? No. We euthanise a horse with a broken leg because we canât tell them to not put any weight on that leg whilst it heals, and because they are too heavy to be able to hop around on three limbs for weeks, as a dog or cat can do, whilst the fracture heals. We donât immediately rush to euthanise a horse with a fracture, because itâs in more pain than any other animal; itâs to do with the inability (often) to completely immobilise the limb. The same with bilateral tendon ruptures (rupturing BOTH tendons in the front legs); yes, itâs painful, but they are euthanised because we canât tell them to lie in a bed for weeks whilst they heal, and because they are heavy.
In my opinion, a horse will suffer unnecessarily if he fractures his leg in the field and isnât found for 24 hours. A horse will not suffer unnecessarily if he fractures a limb whilst racing or Eventing, and is seen by the course vet within ten minutes, often sooner, and euthanised within 20 minutes. So no argument there for me at all. Just as much risk of fracturing a leg whilst turned out, and seen/treated immediately if he does so whilst racing or competing.
Then we move onto rules and disciplinary committees. Horse sport is heavily regulated. And I mean heavily. Jockeys are constantly scrutinised during a race for every single whip movement, amongst other things. Eventing has a very long list of warnings and yellow cards, if you look at the FEI disciplinary list (readily available online). But who regulates and scrutinises riders at a livery yard, or riders at home? No one. At an FEI Event, our bits are checked, and any sign of blood on a horse will result in Elimination. Any lameness is picked up. Cross country rounds are watched by stewards. Riders riding too fast are pulled up for dangerous riding. Who checks this at local shows? Pretty much no one. Who checks on the soundness of horses used solely for pleasure riding? No one. Who tells the kid in the arena off at a livery yard for constantly whacking their pony with a whip? Iâm not suggesting that pleasure horses are suffering; Iâm pointing out that competition/sport horses are monitored constantly.
Obese horses? Often suffer from laminitis and end up spending their lives on a diet, and often very hungry. Upper level sports horses? Worked hard so normally able to eat ad lib, and very unlikely to suffer from debilitating laminitis.
Emaciated horses? Often not found until a member of the public reports them, and by this stage, the horse has suffered unnecessarily for months and months. Youâll never find an emaciated upper level competition horse, as they wouldnât be able to compete at that level.
Unvaccinated horses? Common in the pleasure horse community, but you canât compete an unvaccinated horse, so no chance of an upper level sport horse dying from tetanus or influenza.
Dentition? I would be fairly sure that pretty much every upper level competition horse has 6 monthly, or yearly, dental care. Iâll sometimes still hear of horses and ponies that have NEVER had their teeth looked at.
Whips/spurs? Again, their use is heavily regulated at top level sport, and whip use even more so in racing. Itâs not whip/spur use at top level sport that activists, or even the general public, need to worry about; itâs whip and spur use behind closed doors. And that wonât stop, even if whips and spurs are banned at Events. Iâd happily see whips and spurs banned for any riders under the age of 14, as I donât think thereâs anything worse than seeing the âPony Club kickâ, accompanied by spurs, and a few whacks of a whip. But I actually see both a whip and spurs as essential pieces of equipment, at least for the biggest XC tracks. One tap of a whip on a shoulder can prevent a horse jumping a part of the fence that may be too wide for him to safely jump, and one little prod with spurs can stop a 4 or 5* horse having a slight hesitation at a fence that it may then subsequently suffer a rotational fall at if he does hesitate. In the upper level riders in high level sport, we normally have a secure enough lower leg to safely use spurs, and enough experience to know when to use a whip, without âbeatingâ the horse. Iâm 100% not suggesting that Iâd expect whips to be used to whack a horse into jumping something he didnât want to jump, but Iâm a huge fan of a shoulder tap to either keep a horse straight, or make sure Iâve got his undivided attention as we approach a big or tricky fence.
Shark fin withersâŚâŚnah, only joking; think others have that topic covered đŤŁđ
I could actually write a whole book on this topic, and there are many areas I havenât touched on in this already too long, article! So in summary, I donât believe that using horses in top level sport, is a welfare concern. I believe horses being left for 24 hours with a broken leg in a field, or left hopping lame for a weekend due to the owner not wanting an out of hours vet bill, are welfare concerns. I believe rider weight (riders far too heavy for their horses) is a welfare issue. I believe obese and emaciated horses are welfare issues. I believe beating a horse into compliance is a welfare issue. I donât believe that our top level equine athletes are suffering by being used for top level Eventing, show jumping, or racing. Note that I havenât touched on dressage or endurance, as there are different points to consider in those disciplines. There are absolutely areas of horse sport that need to continue to be actively monitored, but they are being, and donât require trial by social media.
Itâs a controversial post, and Iâm sure many wonât agree with me, but feel free to share.
Photo of Johnnie and I going clear round a huge 4* track at Barbury 2022; his career was ended by a pelvic injury following a kicking match when he climbed his way into Mabelâs field.
Anyone being rude about me, or to me, gets an instant block; strangely enough, this is my own page, so I donât have to accept it đ
