High-level dressage has been embroiled in controversy over rollkur (hyperflexion), draw reins and other training methods that cause pain and restrict natural movement in competition horses.
Dressage competition welfare is complicated by the difficulty of regulating training methods and the competitive incentives that drive method choice. Rollkur and hyperflexion allow rapid manufacturing of spectacular piaffe and passage movements - the welfare cost is paid by horses unable to avoid the training pressure. FEI enforcement in warm-up arenas is inconsistent, and whistleblowers face professional consequences. Welfare-conscious dressage requires training systems based on lightness and harmony - achieved through progressive, classical methods rather than mechanical force. The competitive advantage of welfare-compromising training is a market failure that requires regulatory intervention, not just aspirational standards.