Companion Animal Welfare

Horse Show Jumping Welfare

Show jumping welfare considerations include hoof health, back and muscle function, training methods, and the welfare implications of falls and refusals.

Key Facts

Modern show jumping courses are technically demanding; fitness, skill, and soundness are essential
Horse falls at fences cause injury to both horse and rider; course design affects fall rate
Rollkur and other training controversies affect the warm-up phase welfare of competition horses
Hoof health including shoeing quality is critical for jumping welfare on varied surfaces
Welfare checks including tack fit, bit acceptance, and response to leg are conducted at major events

Welfare Considerations

Show jumping welfare spans training, competition conditions, and course design; rider skill, horse fitness, and trainer ethics are individual determinants of welfare outcomes.

What You Can Do

Support equestrian organisations with strong welfare and course design standards
Advocate for welfare check expansion at all levels of show jumping competition
Learn to recognise signs of horse discomfort or resistance in training and competition