13 Dec 2022
Charlotte Graham and Holly Johnson describe their takeaways from the 2022 World Horse Welfare Annual Conference.
Image © olehslepchenko / Adobe Stock
The 2022 World Horse Welfare Annual Conference was centred around the question: “When does use become abuse?” and follows on current exploration into the social licence to operate (SLO) for equestrianism.
As members of the equine society, it is easy for us to acknowledge the care, dedication and high welfare status we see, and assume all is well within the community.
However, as highlighted in US eventer Matt Brown’s presentation, we all need to continually ask ourselves if we can do better. Matt shared an honest account of his career and how he has changed many of his practices over time to be a kinder horseman.
He shared questions he asks himself at the end of each day, which include: “am I happy with how I handled the horses today?”; “did I help the horses become more comfortable and confident?”; “was I able to catch myself becoming frustrated and stop to rethink my approach?”; and “did I let external pressures control how I worked with the horses?”
Likening the SLO conversation to the #MeToo movement, he expressed that instead of turning a blind eye to behaviours that once were common practice, but now no longer acceptable, we must be willing to call out this behaviour when we see it.
It was discussed that the line between use and abuse is not as black and white as we may like to believe. World Horse Welfare chief executive Roly Owers addressed the hybrid audience in his keynote speech.
Roly highlighted that despite World Horse Welfare working and reflecting on this question for the past 100 years, never before has such a need arisen to ask: “When does use become abuse?”
Mixed views exist on what is use and what becomes abuse in the public perception, the equestrian community, indeed, even between vets. This, he reasoned, is due to three reasons:
The use of horses in sport and competition is a highly debated subject. Each year, Roly explained, the voices get louder calling for racing and other equestrian sports to be banned, and we believe it is the industry’s responsibility as a whole to address these concerns and proactively work together.
The use of advanced diagnostic imaging to increase the safety and welfare in racehorses is increasing. Using advanced imaging such as CT before races is becoming increasingly commonplace and helps to identify those horses that may suffer catastrophic injuries if they were to run.
Hallmarq has developed state-of-the-art standing CT and MRI scanners, designed for on-the-day, efficient ease of use. Access to remote equine imaging specialists via teleradiology services such as that offered by VetCT means rapid, high-quality advanced diagnostic imaging and interpretation for horses has never been easier. These modalities are not just for racehorses, however, with horses from companion animals to competition horses having increased access to this technology, providing prompt and accurate diagnoses as championed by our recent #imagemorehorses campaign.
Attendees of the conference were treated to a presentation from Mark Wentein, editor of Belgium’s equine magazine HIPPO Revue and chairperson of the European Horse Network. He explained how practices surrounding Bruges’ horse cab services have evolved to improve horse welfare.
Whereas horses once worked gruelling shifts with inadequate rest, now guided by vets and animal welfare groups, new stringent rules are in place to ensure better working conditions for the horses. The city of Bruges recognised the economic, environmental and historical importance of the horse drawn cabs, and has found a solution to maintain the horse-human partnership in the city while prioritising horse welfare.
The lively discussion panel included CVO Christine Middlemiss, alongside fellow vets Sarah Coombs and Amber Batson, with Bluebell Brown from the RVC and Lee Mottershead, senior writer at the Racing Post, chaired expertly by Sky Sports’ Nick Powell. The question: “How can we create greater consensus in the horse world over what is use and what is abuse?” sparked fascinating insights from the panel.
Bluebell opened with the concept that we must simultaneously come together as an industry, while being open to change and prepared to listen to the views of others. Lee raised how stabling racehorses, a well-accepted husbandry protocol, may well come into light soon as being abuse.
He commented that only by being challenged on our practices can we move standards forward. Sarah confirmed this view, explaining how already some trainers are increasing turnout time to allow horses to express more “horse-like” behaviour and agreed that we must challenge the status quo. She recognised that a consensus on the “low-hanging fruit” of abuse most likely exists, but that the difficulty will come in challenging traditional practices and continuing to question if we can do it better.
When asked how the welfare of horses can truly be put first in the context of competitive, commercial and social pressure, it was pointed out that people who get involved with the equine community, be it for competing or commercial purposes, do so because they love horses and, as such, none would be comfortable in neglecting welfare.
Once again, it comes back to being very honest with ourselves and the community about what we are doing, why we are doing it, and asking if a way we can do it better exists.
The day was summarised by an extraordinary speech given by the World Horse Welfare president, the Princess Royal. She highlighted that to discuss such a complex issue as this, it is imperative to have perspective. Perspective, she explained, can be different from horse keeper to horse keeper, and differing perspectives can create a divide between those who have grown up with differing attitudes towards horses.
She acknowledged the work we have to do in bringing perspective to “non-horse” people, and had empathy for their feelings when their only encounters with horse sports were negative media headlines, with no real perspective on the number of horses that are involved with humans.
The Princess Royal also raised an interesting point that mankind’s relationship with horses goes back thousands of years, and that our survival was intertwined. Horses being bred during that time were bred to work with us, and have evolved as such – realising this shines light on our responsibilities to care for them.
The World Horse Welfare Annual Conference was a fascinating day, which covered many viewpoints on the use and abuse of horses.
We believe days like this, and these difficult debates, are the duty of professionals within the horse community, and we are proud to be joining the conversation.
