A powerful new study has attempted to lift the lid on the cultural contradictions at the heart of competitive dressage in Canada, questioning how riders reconcile their deep love of horses with training and competition practices that may compromise horse welfare.
Published in the journal Animal Welfare and titled A wicked problem: Systemic issues surrounding Canadian equestrian dressage and dressage horse welfare, the study followed four Equestrian Canada-accredited dressage coaches and their riders through interviews, observations and immersive fieldwork.
Led by Megan Ross and a team of researchers, the study highlights how dressage is facing a “wicked problem” — a complex, systemic challenge with no simple solution. It reveals that while dressage riders and coaches are often deeply committed to their horses’ well-being, they are operating in a system that may encourage or reward behaviours and training methods that conflict with welfare ideals.
“Participants expressed cognitive dissonance,” the authors write, “as they attempted to balance their love for horses with the realities of competitive demands and the expectations of the wider industry.”
Among the study’s key findings:
- Contradictory Influences: Riders and coaches often take cues from elite role models and governing bodies such as the FEI, but feel these authorities sometimes promote or reward performances that reflect stress or discomfort in horses, rather than welfare-based outcomes.
- Cultural Normalisation: Certain training practices, once considered standard, are being re-evaluated. Yet many riders feel trapped by “what’s always been done” or what judges reward in the ring.
- Systemic Pressures: The study suggests that horse welfare is influenced not just by individuals, but by the entire competitive system — from early training experiences to economic pressures, judging norms and education gaps.
- Ethical Dilemmas: While some participants believed their horses enjoyed being ridden, others questioned whether horses could ever truly “choose” to participate. Many acknowledged the internal conflict between wanting the best for their horses and pursuing personal or professional goals in the sport.
- Resistance to Change: The research also touches on how riders may push back against welfare science if it challenges practices they’ve long held dear — not out of malice, but due to emotional investment and a fear of being judged.
The authors argue that dressage, like other equestrian sports, must adopt a systems thinking approach to improve welfare, recognising the complex web of influences at play, and embracing change not just at the level of individual riders, but across the broader culture of the sport.
Read the full open access study here: LINK
