European trip last year exposed me to the world of international equestrian competition, showing a side of equestrianism I had heard existed but had not realised was prevalent and furthermore, accepted. It challenged things I may have been oblivious to in the past and created growing discomfort in me about how horses are being used, horses that can not speak for themselves.
Having a business in horse training and rider coaching and a strong animal welfare interest, the pressing focus of educating riders and helping horses had been growing for some time.
When a powerful thought refuses to go away, you’ve just got to do something about it… the result is this blog… Ethical Horsemanship.
Question: Are these horses happy?
Related posts:
- Equestrian competition’s sad expose
- Do competition horses achieve the ‘Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare’?
- Competition & the 5 Freedoms of Animal Welfare revisited
- Klaus reveals horses ‘die inside’
- What is ‘trust’? What your horse wants you to know…
- Anky van Grunsven, Patrik Kittel and the horse’s blue tongue
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I wonder how many horsepeople look at these photos and see nothing at all wrong. I look forward to reading more of your posts on these matters.
Hi Kim,
Thanks for your thoughts on this – I have noted that too, which is why sometimes I am at pains to describe what is in a picture, to help people see ‘with new eyes’.
I look forward to your thoughts in future posts also.