Creating Truly Safe and Horse-Friendly Venues: Prioritizing Welfare, Safety and Ethical Practices for the Future of Equestrian Sport – Part 2/2

Integrating the 10 Principles of Equitation Science into Horse-Friendly Venues

Equine welfare at showgrounds is not only about what happens in the arena – it is about how horses experience every moment at the venue.

The 10 Principles of Equitation Science offer a clear, science-based framework for reducing stress, avoiding conflict behaviours and improving safety in all horse-human interactions, which makes them highly relevant to competition venue design and management.

 

How the 10 Principles Apply to Horse-Friendly Venues

The welfare of high-level sport horses, notably highlighted during the recent Olympics, has garnered significant public interest, prompting inquiries into their living conditions. The principles:

• • Emphasise clear, consistent signals, avoidance of fear and pain, and training based on learning theory rather than force.
  • Are either supported or undermined by competition venues through stabling, handling areas, traffic flow, warm-up design, surfaces, noise levels and rules.
  • When integrated, they help reduce conflict behaviours (rearing, bolting, kicking), improve safety for horses and humans, and strengthen the sport’s social licence to operate.

Safety and welfare should be the first priorities. The handlers, grooms and the horses should never be put in danger. It is possible to use the Animal Welfare Indicators (AWIN) protocol for measuring welfare outcomes at horse-friendly venues.

What Needs to Change on the Ground for Horse-Friendly Venues

Clear signals and predictability

Redesign access routes between stabling, vet check, farrier area, warm‑up and arenas so horses move in clear, wide corridors on non-slip ground with minimal crossing traffic and, where possible, one-way flow.

Limit loose dogs, scooters, bikes and sudden movements in shared spaces so horses are not constantly exposed to unpredictable stimuli, this makes these spaces more characteristic of horse-friendly venues.

Minimising fear and conflict

Review warm‑up and holding areas for crowding, visual “traps” and noise sources (flapping tents, loudspeakers, generators) that increase fear responses.
Set and enforce rules on equipment and riding style in warm‑up to prevent aggressive riding and repeated conflict behaviours. When cameras are used around arenas, make sure they are positioned in a nicely way so they don’t scare the horses. Especially the horse-friendly venues at the para-games.

Using learning theory and appropriate workload

Provide calmer “familiarisation” times in the main arena or a copy of it so horses can process banners, flowers, cameras and big screens without performance pressure. Also make sure the horses have the time and possibility to view it from the right and left so they can process the information correctly.

Plan schedules to avoid long waiting times in stressful vet lines, prize‑givings or late‑night ceremonies that conflict with horses’ (and humans’) rest and feeding patterns.

Context, environment and associations

Redesign walking grounds, handling bays, wash areas and tie‑up spots so horses experience safe, comfortable, low‑pressure handling – not slippery grounds and uneven rubber floors, sharp edges, chains and fixed “panic hooks”.

Some grounds might look nice for humans but are slippery and not suitable for horses with metal shoes.

 

Physical and mental comfort during horse-friendly venues

Improve stabling with ventilation, drainage, light and sound management to help horses rest and recover between classes.

Modernise veterinary inspections: sheltered, non‑slippery, non‑crowded areas; shorter waiting times; handling protocols that avoid tight lines of unfamiliar horses standing too close.

Warm-Up Arenas: Welfare Upgrades Needed

Warm-up arenas are often where chaos, crowding and conflict behaviours are most visible.

Changes needed:

• • Warm-up arenas should replicate the atmosphere and setup of the actual competition venue to minimize stress for the horse. This gradual transition helps them acclimate to similar noise levels, footing, barriers, and crowd presence without overwhelming changes. Designing warm-up spaces as open or transparent – allowing clear sightlines inside and out – further ensures horses feel secure and familiar with their surroundings from the start.
  • Limit the number of horses in the warm-up at any one time and enforce a clear direction of travel to prevent traffic jams and collisions.
  • Ban aggressive riding and misuse of equipment; train stewards to recognise conflict behaviours such as tail swishing, pinned ears, repeated resistance and intervene early.
  • Offer quieter zones, varied footing and more predictable layouts so sensitive horses can prepare without sensory overload.
  • Make sure the warm-up arenas are transparent to the public – for a better SLO, the longer warm-up is just as important as the actual shorter performance.

Warm-Up Jumping Principles

In many places, the “whoever is higher in the hierarchy or gets there first jumps” culture dominates, creating competition and stress before the competition has even started.

Changes needed:

• • Introduce clear principles for warm-up jumping, such as timed slots or turns, so every rider gets fair access without rushing.
  • Maintain one-way flow around fences, with no cutting across lines or taking off under another horse’s nose.
  • Support stewards in actively managing the warm-up, stepping in when horses show lameness, repeated conflict behaviours or when riding becomes unfair.
  • Make sure the warm-up jumping arenas are transparent to the public – for a better SLO, the longer warm-up is just as important as the actual shorter performance.

FEI General Assembly Rule Change: A Step Forward

Following the FEI General Assembly in Hong Kong, we’re pleased to see a new rule allowing only the top three athletes to attend late-night mounted prize-givings. This change means grooms and horses placing 4th-10th can rest earlier, benefiting both horses and staff for more horse-friendly venues.

Until now, grooms and horses sometimes had to wait until the class ended in the middle of the night, with all boxes needing to be mucked out and the grounds cleared by 06:00 on Monday morning. Now, they can rest a little bit more….

Reflecting on Tradition: Do Horses Need to Canter Around and Be Dressed Up in the Ring?

But we can definitely take this further – do horses really need to canter around in the lap of honour and be dressed up and brought into the ring at all to be honoured?

Why do we maintain these traditions if we want horse-friendly venues?

Is it truly in the horse’s best interest, or more for human expectations and showmanship?

It was very nice to see, during the World Championships at the Agria FEI Jumping World Championship 2022 in Herning. After completing the five rounds of competition, some chose to walk – not trot nor canter – around the arena during the lap of honour. Why don´t all winners do like this? A lot choose to canter around with non OEKO-TEX-certified rugs and badges flipping around – doesn’t that seem a little bit old-school?

Who is ever going to use the one-time-use, non bluesign, non-fitting rugs again?
It’s time to reflect on what truly serves the sustainability and welfare of our equine athletes. Would it not be enough to honour the horses with what they would appreciate – rest, comfort, calm handling and good surfaces?

Tradition should never outweigh the comfort and security of the animals we depend on.

Environmental Challenges Horses Face at Shows

Who hasn’t arrived at the showgrounds in the morning to find the horses’ stalls flooded after a night of heavy rain? Or felt that chaotic tension when strong winds whip around the competition tent roofs, the flapping so loud you can barely hear your own thoughts?

And if it feels overwhelming to us, imagine what it’s like for the horses – standing through the night in a space that suddenly feels unstable, the ground wet beneath them, strange noises echoing around, and the tent walls shifting with every gust. They don’t understand the weather forecast or the temporary nature of the setup; they only feel the uncertainty, the discomfort, and the instinctive need to stay alert when everything around them seems to be moving and the surroundings are very unfamiliar.

Outdated Veterinary Inspection Practices

And then there are the veterinary inspections – why are they still carried out in such a traditional way, using a system designed long before horse welfare received the attention it deserves for horse-friendly venues?

At many smaller competitions, horses are expected to line up and wait for their turn, even when it’s freezing cold, pouring rain or dangerously windy. They stand there exposed to the elements, often tense and uncertain, while handlers try their best to keep them calm. How much stress and uncertainty do these conditions cause the horses and their handlers?

More than once, these outdated inspection setups have led to completely unnecessary stress and drama. Horses become anxious standing shoulder to shoulder with unfamiliar horses in tight, overstimulating spaces.
Does this setup truly support the horses’ wellbeing, or does it compromise both their comfort and the fairness of veterinary evaluations?

It’s time to rethink how we conduct these checks. Veterinary inspections should reflect modern welfare standards, providing a safe, sheltered and calm environment where horses can be assessed without added stress.

Tradition should never outweigh the comfort and security of the animals we depend on.

Lameness and Veterinary Inspection Gaps

And who hasn’t seen visibly lame horses still allowed to compete, even after passing the veterinary inspection or dressage judge?

It’s an uncomfortable truth in our sport: the current system doesn’t always catch what it’s meant to prevent. Whether due to rushed evaluations, less-than-ideal inspection conditions, or the pressure of keeping schedules moving, horses who clearly show signs of discomfort and are not fit to compete sometimes still enter the arena.

Spectators notice it.
Grooms notice it.
And most importantly, the horses feel it.

A welfare-focused sport cannot accept situations where a horse that is clearly not moving freely is permitted to perform simply because it was deemed “fit to continue” in a quick trot-up.

We owe our equine partners better than outdated procedures that allow compromised horses to compete. Modernising inspections isn’t just about efficiency – it’s about protecting horses from avoidable pain and ensuring the integrity of competition. We know our eyes can´t see it all, so why not take some help from AI, for example DESSIE for more horse-friendly venues?

Contamination Risks During Veterinary Inspections

There’s also the issue of contamination – something far too often overlooked. During veterinary inspections, especially at smaller or crowded venues, how safe is it for horses to be brought into close contact many other horses, before exercise? How easily can pathogens spread in these conditions?

A horse can pick up bacteria or viruses from the ground, from another horse standing too close, or from hands that weren’t cleaned properly between inspections. Even grooming tools and rugs placed temporarily on shared fencing can carry contaminants.

In worst-case scenarios, that brief moment in the inspection area can be enough to spark infections or contribute to outbreaks – particularly in young or stressed horses with lowered immunity.

Modern horse welfare demands that “routine procedures” like vet inspections be carried out in environments that minimise such risks. Clean, controlled and well-organised spaces are not luxuries, but essential safeguards for the health of every horse on the showground.

Farrier Working Conditions: A Welfare Priority

And we must not forget the farriers – an essential part of every competition, yet often the ones given the most overlooked and inadequate working conditions.
Despite the precision and concentration their work requires, farriers are frequently expected to operate in environments that are anything but suitable. Many showgrounds offer no quiet, well-prepared and dedicated space, forcing them to work in high-traffic areas where horses, people, noise and distractions are constant.

Proper lighting is often lacking, making detailed hoof work unnecessarily difficult. The ground surface may be uneven, slippery, or not covered with safe, non-slip rubber mats without gaps – creating hazards for both farrier and horse.
In some cases, there is no shelter from wind, rain or harsh sun, leaving farriers to perform skilled, delicate work under conditions that would be unacceptable for almost any other professional craftsmanship.

These are not minor inconveniences. Poor working conditions increase the risk of mistakes, accidents and stress for the horses being shod by an unknown person.

If we talk about raising welfare standards, the farrier’s workspace must be part of that conversation. A calm, well-lit, dry, non-slip, soft flooring, weather-protected environment with high enough tie-up areas is not a luxury – it’s the minimum required to ensure horses receive the high-quality hoof care they deserve at competitions.

The Hidden Risk Behind Routine Horse Tie-Ups

Raising the Standard for Horse-Friendly Venues

Improving the welfare and safety of horses in horse-friendly venues goes far beyond regulatory checklists – it’s an ongoing journey of reflection, personal responsibility and collective action. Through experiences at leading horse-friendly venues and firsthand observation of current risks, it’s clear that true progress depends on attention to detail, open communication and a willingness to question outdated traditions that may not serve equine wellbeing.

By prioritising ethical design, calm handling, modernised veterinary protocols, and proper working environments for every professional involved – including farriers – we create a foundation for transparent, horse-centred practices.

Organisers can:

• • Encourage venues and organisers to “audit” their showgrounds for low hanging fruits and against the 10 Principles and publish key changes.
  • Invite safety experts, judges, stewards, vets and riders to see the venue itself as part of training and learning, not just a backdrop to competition.
  • Position venues that adopt the 10 Principles visibly in their design and procedures as horse-friendly venues leader in welfare‑based, future‑proof equestrian sport.

Our choices today determine whether equestrian sport continues to earn society’s trust and social licence to operate.

Let us keep challenging and evolving our standards, always placing the horse’s experience and welfare at the heart of every day. This commitment honours both our horses and the future of the sport itself.