A discussion on the threat to horse sport from social license to operate (SLO) drew 200 very concerned people to a U.S. Hunter Jumper Association Town Hall Monday night.
Dozens of commenters pointed out the need for many changes in how equestrians operate in order to obtain political and public acceptance. A second town hall on the subject to explore it further will be held Feb. 19.
The topic is a polarizing one for a lot of people, USHJA President Mary Knowlton pointed out, “because we’re used to doing things the way we’re used to doing things. We are fiercely individual. We do not like anyone to tell us their way is better.”
But that is a dangerous standard in the era of social media and video cameras everywhere.
As Mary pointed out, “We are looking at ourselves from within our sport, where we might not agree with each other, but we sure understand what is going on. The people from the outside who are looking at us, animal rights activists in particular, they don’t understand.”
An equestrian who looks at a horse lying down in the deep pile of shavings in his stall can see that he’s comfortable. But someone from the public, who knows nothing about horses, might say, “My God, that horse is in a prison, it’s behind bars…that horse is trapped,” Mary pointed out.
What can be done about this situation that threatens the sport?
“It’s important we seize control of this topic ourselves and look for great solutions,” said Mary. Otherwise, equestrian competition will be in trouble.
She mentioned the film “Black Fish,” about how orcas were treated at Sea World.
“The public rose up, and suddenly the idea of keeping an orca in captivity was not okay.”
Mary mentioned that there are no longer pony rides in Los Angeles’ Griffith Park after animal rights activists protested what they called, “exploiting the ponies.”
Two years ago, PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) protested the use of horses in the series, “The Gilded Age” after one died of natural causes during filming. The organization urged the public to stop watching the show until horses were no longer part of the production.
This month’s U.S. Equestrian Federation’s Horsemastership clinic for juniors and Young Riders got negative publicity because of controversial comments by show jumping clinician Katie Monahan Prudent, who had been a prominent U.S. team rider. In the wake of an outcry over some of her remarks, including criticism of “animal rights activists who know nothing about training horses,” the USEF is continuing to review the matter.
An SLO example that always comes up in connection with horses is the 2021 Olympic pentathlon in Tokyo, where a coach hit a horse who had refused a jump, as the rider was crying. That was enough to end show jumping in pentathlon after this summer’s Olympics. At the 2028 Olympics, horseswill be replaced by an obstacle course competitors run on foot.
Like all the situations Mary cited, it points out the danger to the future of equestrian sports from SLO.
A new USHJA Blue Ribbon Commission will “look at our sport and make suggestions as to how we can go forward and try to do a better job,” said Mary. The panel is meeting every other week until May, when it will put out its report. Meanwhile, she mentioned, the FEI’s (international equestrian federation) horse welfare work is “a really good start.”
The European Equestrian Federation also is making a concerted effort to get on top of the SLO situation.
Attorney Dominique Torsiello commented during the town hall that “the distinction between animal rights and animal welfare is important.”
Mary explained animal rights is focused on the ethical argument over whether animals should be used by humans in the first place, while animal welfare is focused on the quality of animals’ lives.
Californian Marnye Langer noted the city of Berkeley’s onerous ordinance requiring horses to be turned out 14 hours a day was not passed, due to a technicality.
In that instance, she said “Horse people may have dodged a bullet, but many more are coming.”
That’s why it is so important to find an SLO solution, rather than “having a solution thrust upon us,” as Mary put it, noting equestrians “have to tell our story better.”
Show jumper Candice King remarked that “we have to be aware as clinicians on how we deliver our instruction.”
Mary noted that she and Katie Prudent, among so many others, “came up through a system that embraced that type of military training.”
The cavalry influenced the standard of riding in the U.S. almost until the 1960s, and many of the top trainers of that decade and several of the decades that followed were shaped to some extent by that tradition.
“It’s really hard to acknowledge that maybe we need to say things differently,” suggested Mary.
Even now, “we as a sport are not very open to the idea of science-based decision making. We came up through an apprentice-based system and we’re used to doing it the way our people in the past taught us to do it.” The new equitation science has a lot of really valuable insights, she pointed out.
One of the questions equestrians must ask themselves, Mary said, is not “could I?” but rather “should I?”
Those who think, “What they can’t see won’t hurt,” should remember there are cameras everywhere.
Her suggestions included listening to what people are telling you, take a minute and try to understand what they see. Take time for self-reflection, ask yourself where you can improve and be honest with yourself.
Terri Young expressed concern about equestrians who are “writing off non-horse people’s opinion as `They just don’t know.’ It doesn’t matter if they don’t know.”
As she pointed out. “They are vocal and have the ear of legislators.”
Commenter Molly Scriven stated, “the more we price the general public out of the sport, the more it becomes a treatise on the wealthy. The more people who are able to join and love our sport and their horse partners, the more voices of understanding we can have.”
But there are many issues that need attention in the meantime.
Sue Lyman noted that the Horse and Rider Advocates committee has tried to address several key matters, including longeing, having horses compete in too many classes, the practice of pulling shoes for under saddle classes.
“But what we put forward is always pared down,” she stated.
“I just wish people would be better horsemen.”
A commenter who gave her name only as “Sue Ellen” said that while she has been lobbying for years to stop shoe pulling done for the under saddle classes so the horses move better, such a rule “has been stopped dead in committee in spite of evidence by vets and farriers that the practice is harmful.”
Horses lined up to have their shoes put on after competing in the hack. (Photo © by Nancy Jaffer)
Suggestions made during the town hall include requesting a drug test when there is reasonable suspicion about a horse. Mary will talk to USEF about that.
There was also a conversation about using the equine grimace scale for judging. Some judges are uncomfortable calling out lame horses, so this one will require “a lot of conversation.”
Bev Bedard, chair of the USHJA’s stewards committee, said that panel started working on the issues Monday and would welcome comments and ideas for discussion and action.
There was, as there always is, talk about whether stewards should be hired by USEF instead of the shows, so they don’t risk not being rehired by management who takes issue with the way they are doing their job.
Veterinarian Mike Tomlinson, who is also involved in governance, said “Right now, the management considers the riders/trainers/owners to be the customers and the officials must be nice to them. If an official calls out a competitor for abuse, the official is currently often labeled `not good’ and not asked back.”
The U.S. is not, of course, the only country taking steps to deal with SOL.
The European Equestrian Federation reported “initial studies have shown the public has concerns about horse welfare and the overall role of the horse in a sport context. The emphasis is on us to change these opinions, consider how we approach our sport and educate the public to develop a stronger reputation for equestrianism.”
At this point, as the EEF noted, the question becomes how to do that. There is a vast number of people who have formed opinions over a range of experiences, “from those competing or spectating at top sport, to those taking their children for a weekly lesson. Finding the right ways to connect to these different groups and tackling the issues they foresee is part of the challenge.”
Europe’s various equestrian federations have looked into the areas where they have influence, to engage fully and “create changes in perception.”
The German federation has come up with a strategy following a 2022 workshop about social license.
The plan to regain society’s trust and secure it long-term is scheduled initially to run until 2026 and will be adapted and developed along the way.
The Germans are planning, among other things, 100 workshops on the topic of social licensing throughout the country.
In terms of additional action, one key component involves access to the sport, with the German federation supporting riding clubs to source and fund suitable horses, particularly for children to engage and learn.
Another is insuring rules and governance are in place to ensure fair sport, with the horse as an equal partner, and to explain and implement the rules better. The federation also will utilize science to inform decision-making and maintain the best conditions for horses.
At the top end of the sport, performance and welfare will be combined with transparency and open access. Another aspect involves communication, connecting athletes and those inside and outside the sport to understand the importance of horses in society.
With studies showing the public has concerns about horse welfare and the overall role of the horse in a sport context, the emphasis is on changing these opinions, considering how to approach the sport and educate the public.
That requires action on horse welfare, environmental sustainability and the issues on which the public has expressed criticism. It also means showing the public that their criticism has been heard. There is a need for research to determine what changes need to be made on horse welfare and environment.
“There must be continuous active listening, to monitor the opinions and acceptance society has. There must be continuous development within the sport so we adjust and change with an evidence-based approach to the issues. And there must be continuous communication, in an open dialogue to build and maintain trust,” according to the EEF.