Working Animals

Horse Welfare in Competitive Dressage

Competitive dressage raises welfare questions about training methods, hyperflexion, and the prioritization of performance over horse wellbeing.

Key Facts

Hyperflexion or rollkur training causes neck strain and behavioral stress in horses
Survey studies show 80% of elite dressage horses show at least one pain indicator
Conflict behaviors during competition including ear pinning and tail wringing signal discomfort
FEI rules prohibit rollkur but enforcement is inconsistent
Some training methods using positive reinforcement show promising welfare outcomes

Welfare Considerations

Competitive dressage welfare is contested within the equestrian community. Evidence of pain indicators in high-level competition horses challenges the assumption that high performance is compatible with good welfare. Ridden horse pain assessment tools provide objective welfare monitoring that could transform competition standards if widely adopted.

What You Can Do

Support ridden horse pain assessment protocol adoption in dressage competition
Advocate against hyperflexion training methods
Support positive reinforcement training approaches in horse sport
Engage with equestrian sport reform organizations
Choose equestrian events and trainers who prioritize horse welfare over performance