Equestrian sports involve millions of horses worldwide, with welfare concerns ranging from training methods and equipment to the physical demands of competition.
Sport horses face unique welfare pressures from physical demands, equipment use, and confinement. Racing places extreme physiological stress on young horses whose musculoskeletal systems may not be fully developed. Dressage and show jumping horses may suffer from tight equipment that restricts movement and causes pain. The high-value status of sport horses means injuries are sometimes concealed or managed with anti-inflammatory drugs rather than rest. Behavioral signals of pain and stress are frequently misinterpreted as training problems and addressed with more coercive methods.