Journal

Welfare, trends and the science of care

Research-led perspectives on equine health, welfare and the future of daily monitoring.

Equestrian sport is under scrutiny — can science save it?

As public scrutiny of equestrian sport intensifies, scientists and the FEI argue the industry's survival depends on proving — not just claiming — that it prioritises horse welfare through evidence-based monitoring and transparency.

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WelfareFeatured

Tripadvisor bans horse racing ticket sales on welfare grounds

The travel platform has blocked ticket sales for British racecourses including Cheltenham and Aintree, warning many do not meet its animal welfare policy — a stark signal of how quickly public-facing platforms are acting on welfare concerns.

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Welfare

Losing the Room: The Data Behind Equestrian Sport's Eroding Support

Nearly one in four UK adults now opposes the involvement of horses in sport under any circumstances. World Horse Welfare's 2026 YouGov poll tracks a social licence in freefall — and the equestrian industry still has no coherent answer.

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Welfare

The Cost of Losing the Equine Industry's Social Licence

A US$300 billion industry cannot take its social licence for granted. Why public consent is economic infrastructure — and how credible evidence, not louder reassurance, is what protects the future of horse sport.

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Research

What Is Welfare? A Qualitative Study into Perceptions of Equine Welfare of Horse Owners

A qualitative study of 341 horse owners exploring perceptions of equine welfare across four themes: Equine Husbandry, Human–Horse Interaction, Equitation and Training, and Personal Development and Ethics. By Lewis et al., published in the International Journal of Equine Science.

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Welfare

Equestrian world must learn from others or risk losing its social licence

A recent peer-reviewed study concludes that the equestrian world must prioritise welfare, ethics, and transparency or face the loss of its social licence to operate.

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Welfare

Social Licence to Operate: what horse owners need to know

Public acceptance of equestrian sport depends on welfare standards. Horse racing deaths, public outcry, and lessons from greyhound racing and circus animal use show what the horse industry can learn from.

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Research

Social Licence to Operate: horse welfare and the future of the equine industry

An evidence-based article with 29 scientific references explains how SLO reflects public approval of equestrian sport based on welfare, ethics, and transparency — and what it means for the future.

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