The Ethics of Horse Riding, Sports, and Leisure

Abstract

This article examines whether the use of horses for riding, sports, and leisure purposes is inherently morally objectionable and argues that, whilst riding may be enjoyable for some horses under very specific circumstances, too often animals within this industry are reduced to mere commodities. The current conditions and welfare standards for horses are documented in three settings—riding schools, competition grounds, and livery yards. This article identifies a series of practical interventions which could significantly improve the lives of horses, achievable either through educational or legislative reform, and argues for the necessity of radically re-evaluating our relationships with horses so that our behaviors reflect their intrinsic value.

Between Leisure and Pressure—Veterinarians’ Attitudes towards the Care of Competition Horses in Germany, Austria and Switzerland

“…In recent years, ethical concerns about the use of horses for competitions have been raised in both public [1][2][3][4][5] and academic debates [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16]. In particular, an incident in which the gelding "Saint Boy" was punched by a coach after refusing a jump during the modern pentathlon competition at the Tokyo Olympics 2021 caused people all over the world to voice anger about animal abuse and welfare issues in equine competitions.…”