Three months, and a reminder we still have work to do
There’s a familiar rhythm to these stories by now. Someone loses their temper, a horse absorbs it, officials step in, and suddenly the community is shocke, again. This latest case is no different, except perhaps in how clearly it shows what the real problem is.
A new disciplinary decision from somewhere in Northern Europe landed this week, and once again, it’s a reminder of how far we still have to go when it comes to basic horse welfare at competitions.
The case started with a report from a senior official at a local show. After finishing her round, a rider was seen driving her horse hard toward a metal fence, using repeated strong leg aids and a whip, and even jerking the horse sharply in the mouth.
The behaviour was witnessed independently by both a veterinarian and a volunteer steward, neither of whom described the situation as “heat of the moment,” but rather as anger and frustration taken out on the horse.
Their accounts were detailed and consistent. The rider and her own witnesses told a completely different story, insisting the horse was simply spooking at water behind the fence and that she was only trying to encourage it forward.
In the end, the disciplinary panel sided with the neutral witnesses. They concluded that the rider’s actions were a form of punishment, did violate welfare rules, and did damage the reputation of the sport. As a result, the rider has been suspended from all affiliated competitions and training facilities for three months.
Three months is not much. But at least it is something.
Because if there is one thing this site, and frankly, this whole community, keeps coming back to, it’s this:
You do not get to take your emotions out on a horse. Not in the warm-up, not after your round, not ever.
And still, here we are.
If anything, cases like this should be a reminder that, welfare rules exist for a reason. It also proves officials can act when witnesses make their voices heard.
Most importantly, if you’re not ready to keep your frustration to yourself, then you’re simply not ready to compete.
Let’s hope the message actually lands this time. For if we continue to excuse frustration as “horse behaviour,” punishment as “correction,” and anger as “training,” then we’re not running a sport anymore, but a cover-up.
Horses deserve far better than that.
Any thoughts on this topic? Please leave a comment in the comment section below.
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