Equestrianism at a Crossroads: Will We Still Be Riding in a Decade?

Britain’s relationship with the horse is as old as its recorded history. From battlefields to farm work, hunting fields to Olympic podiums, the horse has been a constant companion to human endeavour. Today, equestrianism is a multibillion-pound industry, supporting everything from grassroots riding schools to elite competition and the world-famous racing fixtures that draw thousands to Cheltenham and Ascot.

Yet the sport is facing an existential reckoning. As attitudes towards animal welfare evolve, the use of horses in sport and leisure is coming under unprecedented scrutiny. Across Europe, legislative changes are reshaping the rules of engagement between horse and rider, while activist groups push for even greater restrictions, some calling for a total ban on riding itself. For the first time in its long and storied history, equestrianism is being forced to ask: does it still have a place in modern society?

What is the future for Equestrianism?

European Shift

This is not just a British dilemma; parliaments across Europe are actively debating the future of equestrian sport. In January 2025, the Dutch House of Representatives accepted a proposal from the Party for the Animals (PvdD) to ban "all animal-unfriendly aids and training equipment." While the motion lacks specific definitions, concern is mounting that it could lead to prohibitions on widely used tack such as bits, spurs, tongue ties, and whips. Should such a ban take effect, it would upend the foundations of traditional training and competition, requiring a radical rethink of how horses are ridden and managed.

This is not the only regulatory shift in Dutch equestrianism. In April 2024, the Royal Dutch Equestrian Sports Federation (KNHS) implemented a ban on the use of leg bandages in competition arenas, warm-up areas, and prize-giving ceremonies. The decision was based on scientific studies suggesting that prolonged use of bandages can lead to overheating and tissue damage in horses' legs, increasing the risk of injury. Long regarded as a fundamental part of equestrian care, bandages are now at the centre of a growing debate about what constitutes responsible horse management.

While welfare advocates have welcomed these reforms, others in the equestrian community warn of a fragmented landscape in which different nations impose different rules, creating inconsistencies in competition and confusion among riders. The Dutch case raises a fundamental question for the international equestrian industry: are these measures a blueprint for the future, or the first step towards the sport’s demise?

France, Germany, and Denmark: The Growing Regulatory Tide

France, a nation synonymous with equestrian tradition, had taken a leading role in welfare reform ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympics. The French National Assembly convened a special study group to examine equine welfare in sport, issuing 46 recommendations aimed at raising standards. These include tighter restrictions on rider conduct, increased welfare checks, and the integration of new technologies to monitor horse health. The move was prompted in part by the controversy that surrounded equestrianism at the Tokyo 2021 Olympics, where distressing scenes of a distressed horse in the pentathlon event sparked international outrage.

Germany has also taken decisive action. In May 2024, lawmakers amended the country’s Animal Welfare Act to prohibit the training or competition of horses younger than 30 months of age. The measure, designed to protect young horses from premature stress, has been widely praised. However, in a concession to the racing industry, Thoroughbreds are currently exempt, pending the results of a government-commissioned welfare study, due in 2027. The findings will determine whether German racing will ultimately follow the broader training restrictions.

Denmark, meanwhile, is considering a ban on the use of double bridles in dressage, arguing that the additional rein pressure can cause undue stress to horses. If implemented, it would make Denmark one of the first nations to restrict the use of traditional dressage tack, adding further fuel to the debate over how equestrian sport should evolve in the years to come.

The UK: Growing Pressure to End Horse Sport

Britain, with its centuries-old equestrian heritage, has so far resisted sweeping legislative changes, but pressure is mounting from activist groups who believe the sport should be phased out entirely.

Animal Aid, one of the most vocal anti-racing organisations, has intensified its campaign to ban jump racing, pointing to over 3,000 horse deaths since 2001 as evidence that the sport is unacceptably dangerous. At the same time, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has renewed its efforts to remove equestrian events from the Olympics altogether, arguing that competition places horses under unnatural stress and coercion.

Public sentiment is becoming increasingly volatile. The Cheltenham Festival in November 2024 saw three horses-Bangers And Cash, Abuffalosoldier, and Napper Tandy-suffer fatal injuries in a single hour. Animal Rising, an activist group known for targeting high-profile events, used the incident to renew calls for a ban on the sport, putting further pressure on race organisers.

The growing backlash presents a serious challenge. Racing and equestrian governing bodies must ask themselves: can the sport withstand this scrutiny, or must it adapt to survive?

A Future in the Balance

Equestrianism is at a turning point. Across Europe, new restrictions are reshaping the way horses are trained and ridden, forcing the industry to confront difficult questions about ethics, safety, and sustainability. Some argue that these reforms are a necessary evolution, ensuring that horses are treated with the highest standards of welfare, and that the sport remains viable in a world increasingly sensitive to animal rights. Others warn that if these measures continue unchecked, equestrianism risks being legislated out of existence.

So where does the sport go from here? Proactive change may be the only way forward. Investing in cutting-edge veterinary science, improving transparency around welfare protocols, and setting global standards for training and competition could help equestrianism prove that it can exist in harmony with modern ethical expectations.

Yet, at its core, the question is bigger than individual reforms. Is equestrianism a legitimate part of human culture and sport, or an outdated practice with no place in contemporary society? The answer will determine whether riding remains a fundamental part of British life, or whether future generations will look back on the sport as an anachronism, consigned to history.

For now, the battle for the future of equestrianism has only just begun.

The battle to save equestrianism continues.

K WILSON 24/2/25