Equestrian sport involves horses in demanding physical and psychological activities. Welfare science is increasingly identifying indicators of poor welfare and guiding reforms to protect horses in competition.
Equestrian sport operates in a complex welfare landscape where genuine athletic partnership between horse and rider coexists with practices that cause measurable suffering. Welfare science has developed validated tools for assessing training and competition stress — the Horse Grimace Scale, heart rate variability, and behavioural ethograms all provide objective welfare data that supplement visual observation. The industry's response to this evidence varies: some disciplines and regulatory bodies have embraced welfare-informed reforms, while others resist change that threatens competitive traditions. Consumer and spectator pressure, alongside regulatory action, are the primary levers for driving welfare improvement in competitive equestrian sport.