This week I read an article on another equine media source reporting that PETA had once again called for the overall ban of horses being used in the Olympics. They wish “to leave the competing to willing participants”. This plea from PETA came about after a video surfaced that showed a top European Showjumping rider/ trainer “wrapping” his horse. Wrapping is condemned and prohibited by the FEI yet it seems some are still using these cruel and unnecessary techniques.

Although PETA has always been an extreme group it got me thinking, if PETA did get it’s wish and horses were banned from the Olympics, what would this do to our sport?

I voiced this question on my Instagram page too and the opinion was unanimous among ordinary equestrians. This WOULD be the beginning of the end for our sport. If the International Olympic Committee did eventually ban the use of horses in the Olympics, that would surely lead to other international competitions being axed. Eventing would be next, then Racing and so on until the animal rights groups call for a ban on riding horses completely. The ripple effect would be catastrophic for our entire industry all the way to the grassroots level. Aphorses on Instrgram said “Banning the sport won’t stop bad trainers, if anything, it can make it worse as there will be even less regulations in competing”

Changing the public’s perception

From my point of view we need to change the public’s perception of the entire equine community. Negative stories and headlines surround our sport as of late and the public is jumping on the bandwagon. All of these biased documentaries that have surfaced over the years of isolated incidents have tarred the entire equine community beyond repair in some instances.

Panorama did a documentary on slaughterhouses and the entire racing industry got slammed online. A trainer was pictured sitting on a dead horse and the public outcry was unbelievable. The modern Pentathlon was another incident that caused massive welfare concerns. A showjumper electrocuted his horse through a hidden device during a round. A horse died at a 3 Day Event or a Race and it becomes headline news. (Regardless of if the same injury could and would have happened in a field at home grazing with his mates). Fox hunting is another area that is permanently in the headlines through vegan and anti-hunting groups. This is the problem. The media has sculpted this warped public perception of the equine world and fed a false narrative to the general public about our sport and this is not a true representation of the equine industry as a whole.

So, what can we do to change the narrative?

We, as an industry need to change this negative persona around our industry. It is our duty. But how do we do that?

Firstly, I think, with the likes of “wrapping” or “Rollkur” and other inhumane practices, there needs to be harsh penalties for these trainers/riders that continue to use these techniques. It sickens me to even think that trainers at the pinnacle of their career are still resorting to these techniques and getting away with it, AND are still allowed to compete?? Its madness! In any other sport, if a teammate was injured by another team member there would be consequences.” The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the ways it’s animals are treated”- Gandhi

Personally, I think a ban or exclusion is needed for these people, they are not a true representation of the thousands that treat their animals with respect. This goes for any level, the same rules need to apply to the internationals as it does to us at a Grassroots level too.

Someone made a good point on my post on Instagram and it really hit me, “the mere fact that horses are checked for blood before leaving the arena surely says that something needs to change?”-@Heidihooverpig on Instagram. Becky hit the nail on the head with this point.

Welfare needs to become more of a priority and it needs to happen yesterday or this will be the end of our sport, an entire way of life and let’s not forget a multibillion-dollar industry worldwide every year.

“With more people becoming so detached from life around animals, the countryside in particular, misinformation has flourished” -@the.knightmares on Instagram.

We also need to change public perception through media. We all have a phone; we all have access to social media. It is up to us how we use it and what elements of our sport we chose to showcase. Obviously, it’s not all rainbows and butterflies but the public need to see that the everyday horse owner loves and cares for their horses. Welfare is a top priority for the majority of us and not the 5 percent that the media represents in the industry. We need to change the narrative that all horse people are wealthy and abusive and just use their animals for monetary gain and success. We have the power collectively, in our hands, to change a lot of the public perception.

It’s not too late to change, but a change needs to come, from each and every one of us.

“Whatever makes you uncomfortable is your biggest opportunity for growth”.