A study described as being the largest and most in-depth study of its kind has revealed that equestrianism is “on the right track” regarding public attitudes to equine welfare and safety — but there is still “much more to do”.

The research was conducted by Australian engagement science specialists Voconiq and sought to understand not only what the public think about horse sport but also why they think as they do.

More than 5,000 members of the UK public aged 18 or over were asked to share their views. The survey respondents were representative of UK society in terms of gender, age, and geographical region.

Key findings were:

  • The UK public believes it is important that a horse’s whole life is rich, engaging, and dignified, and although they have concerns about the welfare of horses in sports they understand that welfare is complex and involves more than just preventing harm to horses.
  • More than 78% of respondents believe a horse’s mental wellbeing is as important as their physical welfare, and that horses should have the opportunity to enjoy positive experiences.
  • Over two thirds of people surveyed think safety should be a priority in horse sports, even if this means adapting the sport to make it less difficult or challenging.
  • There was a high level of concern regarding injuries or fatalities that occur during competition or training, as well as the fate of horses that are bred for competitive sports but fail to perform well, and the post-competition fate of sport horses.

‘Concrete actions, not words’

The study marks the first time that multiple leading equestrian bodies and organisations have worked together “to ensure a sustainable future for the equine sector”.

Funded by a grant from the Racing Foundation, it was initiated by World Horse Welfare and delivered in collaboration with British Equestrian, the British Horseracing Authority, the British Horse Society, Hurlingham Polo Association, the British Equine Veterinary Association and The Pony Club, among others.

“With society changing around us it is so important that we in the horse world listen to how others see our relationship with horses, so we are delighted that our sector has been so proactive in seeking to understand public views,” said Roly Owers, chief executive of World Horse Welfare.

“What is especially encouraging is how the sector has come together to learn from these results and is committed to work together to act on them, recognising that building public trust on welfare is about concrete actions and not just about words.”

‘Drivers of trust’

The study results showed that the UK public recognises the social importance of horses to life in the UK, and this was a key driver of trust.

Procedural fairness, regulation, distributional fairness and transparency on welfare were named as additional drivers of trust. Many of these are underpinned by equine welfare standards, which play a significant role in shaping confidence in horse sport.

“The confirmation that we still have public acceptance, despite the difficulties that equestrianism has faced in recent years, is very positive,” said Jim Eyre, chief executive of British Equestrian.

 “As an industry, we are united by our passion for the horse and everything we do must have the wellbeing of our equine partners at its heart — something encapsulated in our Charter of the Horse. However, we know there is still more we can do.

“Equestrian sport is an ever-changing landscape and, in proactively commissioning a study that encompasses so many of our equestrian activities, we can use these results to guide future work by us and our member bodies,” added Jim.

“We look forward to safeguarding the place of the horse in society as we demonstrate to the public that they’re right to put their trust in us.”

Social licence

Racing Foundation’s chief executive Tansy Challis said the study offers “valuable insights into how ethical considerations, environmental impacts, and the social role of horses shape public trust.

“Understanding these attitudes is essential to strengthening our industry’s social licence, enabling us to address challenges and secure public support,” she continued.

“We hope the findings will inspire meaningful action across the sector as a whole and guide collaborative efforts to strengthen social licence across the equestrian landscape.”

James Given, director of equine regulation, safety and welfare at the British Horseracing Authority, and a member of racing’s Horse Welfare Board, added that “our investment in equine welfare will only increase as we move forward”.

“There is real strength in coming together as a horse sports sector to share best practice and to address what matters most for the horse and to the public,” he said.

“This research shows that British Racing is on the right track with the work it is undertaking, but there is always more to be done. We are already investing in projects around safety, wellbeing, traceability, and supporting Thoroughbreds in their life after racing.

“And, with the launch of HorsePWR, we are transforming how we communicate with the public to help build trust through openness and transparency.”

For further information and to view the ‘National Survey of UK Citizen Attitudes Towards UK Equestrian Sport Industries’ report in full, click here.

Main image © Shutterstock.

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