For many of us, equestrianism is more than just a sport; it is a passion, a way of life, and a childhood dream come true.

The horse world is absolutely shaking today after Charlotte Dujardin stepped down from the Olympics and is facing a ban after a video was shared of her whipping a horse from the ground whilst teaching. There are certainly a lot of people with opinions on it including a decent dose of victim shaming, defensiveness and suspicions…. But this isn’t a one off event for the horse world, this incident, alongside other controversies involving high-profile riders such as Helgstrand and Oliver Townend, has prompted many to question the current state and future of our beloved sport.

Seeing the video of Charlotte Dujardin, my initial reaction was one of disappointment but not shock. Disappointingly, I have to say “I’ve seen worse.”

I am absolutely not trying to justify the behaviour – I have been speaking out about equine welfare issues for years, sometimes very much to my own detriment! At the same time, I do accept that humans make mistakes and shouldn’t be vilified too quickly either…

But the lack of shock in itself is a stark reminder of how normalized certain abusive practices have become. From jumping in draw reins and spike boots to hyperflexion and the use of severe bits and crank nosebands, these practices are alarmingly common. Seeing tiny children walking around wearing spurs and swinging huge whips around is being totally normalised and justified. Equally concerning is that judges often reward these tense and unnatural movements with high scores, thereby encouraging such training methods.

I really hope that it is a minority of equestrians that have lost sight of what is important and have lost focus on the magic that a partnership with a horse can bring but I am not sure if I can hand on heart say that to be true…. There are so many exceptional horse people but this isn’t one bad apple, this is bigger than that if we are being honest.

Parallels with other worlds….

The equestrian world is not alone in facing such scrutiny. Recently, the popular TV show Strictly Come Dancing has come under fire for the alleged mistreatment of dancers. The parallels between the two are striking: both involve a high level of physical performance, both place significant pressure on participants, and both have sparked debates about the ethical treatment of those involved.

In both cases, the culture within these industries needs to be examined. Are we pushing our horses and dancers too hard in the name of excellence? Are the rewards and recognition worth the physical and mental toll on these athletes? Although the fundamental difference is that the dancers voluntarily sign up… the horses don’t get that choice.

The Decline of Equine Welfare

Has the equine world been in decline in regards to welfare or is the power of social media and social pressures just highlighting the issues? Racing is televised and people are asking the question about whips (Full disclosure – I agree that it would be a nicer race to watch if there were no whips involved but thats for another blog!). Everyone has a video phone in their pocket to take those behind the scenes and “in training” videos now and can share it to the world so easily. The “none of my business’ culture seems to also be moving to people speaking up and questioning behaviours more – and that is not just in the horse world.

Are breeding practices focusing on exaggerated movements and to the detriment of the horse? Are young horse classes encouraging the overuse of young horses in competitions? Do racehorses need to race as early as they do or is that money talking? If you are paying hundreds of thousands of pounds for an animal, what are the implications for choices regarding their welfare!? Even planning laws and housing developments have meant that finding a livery yard with proper turnout in certain areas is increasingly difficult!

A Call for Change

The current state of equestrianism calls for introspection and a commitment to change. Social media has brought these issues to the forefront, which I don’t see as a bad thing, but it means that every action is under scrutiny. It is crucial for professional riders to remember why they started—out of love for the horse—and to become advocates for the sport’s integrity.

We must also recognise the role of mistakes in learning. All of us have made errors in our training practices in the past (and that is without the pressure of your country’s olympic medal glory on your shoulders…) It is through these experiences that we grow and develop a deeper understanding of what is right for our horses.

Punishing individuals through social media and public shaming is not the answer. Instead, we should focus on constructive conversations and learning from these incidents. Riders must feel empowered to speak up when something feels wrong, and parents, friends, and coaches should support them in doing so. But also people who make mistakes need support, education, empathy rather than vilification.

It is vital to emphasise the importance of patience and long-term development over shortcuts that harm our horses.

The Equine World’s #MeToo Moment

Much like the #MeToo movement brought to light pervasive issues of harassment and abuse, the equestrian world is now at a crucial crossroads. This is our moment to take a hard look at our practices, make significant changes, and ensure the ethical treatment of our horses. If we do not seize this opportunity, we risk not only the welfare of our horses but also the very future of our sport. The time for complacency is over; we must act now to protect the integrity of equestrianism, so that it may thrive for generations to come.

Ultimately, the future of our sport depends on our collective willingness to uphold the highest standards of equine welfare. We must learn to have difficult conversations, agree to disagree respectfully, and always prioritize the well-being of our horses.

It is time to take a stand and make the necessary changes to protect the sport we love.