Companion Animal Welfare

Horse Endurance Welfare Monitoring

Endurance riding welfare depends on vetgate monitoring, appropriate training and rider ethics in this demanding equestrian discipline.

Key Facts

Endurance events can cover 160 kilometres in a single day at the elite level
Metabolic exhaustion, rhabdomyolysis and lameness are the main welfare risks
Vetgate examinations by independent vets assess fitness to continue during events
Completion rates vary significantly between events based on terrain and conditions
FEI has introduced welfare reforms including lower heart rate thresholds for vetgate passage

Welfare Considerations

Endurance horse welfare requires proactive monitoring, appropriate conditioning and rider willingness to retire rather than push horses beyond their limits. The discipline has genuine welfare challenges that require ongoing regulatory attention and culture change.

What You Can Do

Support FEI and national federation welfare reforms for endurance competitions
Advocate for independent vet authority to withdraw horses at vetgates without rider appeal
Choose to support events with strong welfare monitoring and low elimination rates