Endurance riding involves horses completing distances of 80-160 km in competitive conditions, creating significant welfare risks that require robust veterinary oversight and regulation.
Endurance riding occupies a contested space in equine welfare: a well-prepared horse with an experienced, welfare-conscious rider, competing within appropriate conditions, may undergo no greater stress than other demanding equestrian disciplines. The welfare problems that generate justified concern arise from inadequate preparation, incompetent physiological management during competition, and pressure to complete rather than prioritise horse welfare at veterinary checks. Robust veterinary oversight, mandatory cardiac and metabolic assessments at check points, and empowering veterinarians to eliminate horses without appeal are the key protective mechanisms. The culture of completion at any cost — rather than horse welfare first — is the primary driver of preventable suffering in endurance competition.