Comprehensive veterinary oversight at equestrian competitions is essential for detecting welfare problems early, preventing injury and ensuring horses are fit to compete.
Competition veterinary standards play a crucial role in protecting horse welfare but face significant challenges from commercial pressures and the difficulty of detecting subtle pain states. The current trot-up model catches overt lameness but may miss horses competing in chronic discomfort. Conflicts of interest arise when team veterinarians are responsible for both treatment and fitness-to-compete determinations. Moving toward independent veterinary panels, standardized pain assessment tools, and enhanced post-competition monitoring would strengthen the welfare safety net for competition horses.