Elite competitive dressage involves intensive training and high performance demands on horses, with welfare concerns including training methods, bit and equipment use, and the physical and psychological demands of high-level competition.
Dressage welfare sits at the intersection of sport, art, and the human-horse relationship. At its best, dressage develops a partnership of communication and physical development that enhances horse welfare through appropriate exercise, training clarity, and a relationship of trust between horse and rider. At its worst, high-pressure competitive training uses forceful methods — rollkur, inappropriate bit pressure, excessive training duration — that cause pain and fear in pursuit of performance scores. The sport has welfare tools available: FEI stewards, scientific pain assessment from images, and rulebooks that prohibit abusive practices. Enforcement and cultural change within competitive circles are the critical gaps. Riders and trainers who prioritise horse welfare over score optimisation represent the positive model, and supporting them through competition preferences and advocacy changes the culture more effectively than regulation alone.