Equestrian sports including racing, showjumping and dressage raise significant animal welfare questions about training methods, performance demands and the management of horses at the end of their sporting careers.
Horse welfare in sport is complex because horses are prey animals whose stress responses are often misread or suppressed through training. The bond between horse and rider can be genuine and mutually beneficial, and many sport horses appear to enjoy their work. However, the economic pressures of competitive sport create incentives to push horses beyond welfare limits — starting training before physical maturity, competing through minor injuries, and using coercive training methods. Post-career welfare is a particular concern: racehorses and sport horses that are no longer economically productive face uncertain futures that may include slaughter or neglect.