A ground-breaking study examining public attitudes towards equine welfare and trust in UK horse sports has revealed valuable insights into evolving social perspectives on the involvement of horses in competitive and leisure activities.
Commissioned by key organisations within Britain’s equine sector and funded by a grant from the Racing Foundation, the study was led by World Horse Welfare in collaboration with British Equestrian, the British Horseracing Authority, The British Horse Society, the Hurlingham Polo Association, the British Equine Veterinary Association, and The Pony Club, among others.
Conducted by Australian research specialists Voconiq, the study is the most extensive of its kind, drawing on over 5,000 responses to explore not only what the public thinks about horse sport but also the reasons behind their views.
Key Findings:
- The UK public acknowledges the significant social role of horses, which emerged as a major driver of trust in equestrian activities.
- Public trust is influenced by procedural fairness, regulation, transparency, and the distribution of benefits within horse sport, with equine welfare standards playing a pivotal role in shaping confidence.
- While concerns about horse welfare exist, the public recognises its complexity, believing that welfare extends beyond preventing harm and encompasses ensuring a rich, engaging, and dignified life for horses.
- A significant majority (78%+) agrees that horses should experience positive interactions and that mental well-being is as important as physical health.
- 69% support making competitions safer for horses, even at the expense of traditional challenges in equestrian sports.
- The most pressing welfare concerns include injuries and fatalities during competition or training, the fate of horses that do not perform well in sport, and the post-competition life of retired equine athletes.
Industry Response
Jim Eyre, Chief Executive of British Equestrian, described the findings as reassuring, highlighting that despite challenges, public acceptance of equestrian sports remains intact. “As an industry, we are united by our passion for the horse, and everything we do must prioritise equine welfare. The insights from this study will guide future work across our member bodies.”
James Given, Director of Equine Regulation, Safety, and Welfare at the British Horseracing Authority, emphasised the sector’s commitment to best practices. “This research shows that British Racing is on the right track with welfare initiatives. We are investing in safety, traceability, and life-after-racing programmes while also improving transparency through initiatives like HorsePWR.”
Roly Owers, Chief Executive of World Horse Welfare, stressed the importance of engaging with public perceptions. “It is vital that we listen to society’s views on our relationship with horses. The fact that the sector has come together to learn from these findings and commit to action is incredibly encouraging.”
Tansy Challis, Chief Executive of the Racing Foundation, underlined the study’s role in ensuring a sustainable future for equestrian sports. “Understanding public sentiment enables us to strengthen the social licence of our industry. This research provides the foundation for meaningful change across the sector.”
Ongoing Welfare Improvements
British horse sport has consistently incorporated welfare and safety advancements into its practices. Recent initiatives include:
- The establishment of the British Racing Horse Welfare Board (2019) and its welfare strategy, ‘A Life Well-Lived’ (2020).
- British Equestrian’s involvement in the FEI’s Equine Ethics and Wellbeing Commission and the formation of its own Equine Welfare and Ethics Advisory Group (2022).
- Enhancements in racecourse safety, including changes to fence markers based on equine vision research.
- Introduction of new rules by The Pony Club restricting the use of spurs (2024) and British Dressage launching its Equine Welfare Action Plan.
- Development of HorsePWR, an initiative aimed at improving transparency and public communication around horse sport welfare (2024).
- British Equestrian’s federation-wide rulebook (2025), including a whistleblowing policy for all disciplines.
Looking ahead, British Racing will update its Horse Welfare Board to shape the next phase of its welfare strategy, while British Equestrian will implement the FEI’s action plan for animal welfare.
This study marks a crucial step in ensuring equestrian sports align with modern social values, strengthening public trust and safeguarding the future of horse sports in the UK.
For full details, access the ‘National Survey of UK Citizen Attitudes Towards UK Equestrian Sport Industries’ report and its key findings summary. LINKS HERE
