The empty champagne bottles were recycled. The confetti scattered on the floor has been swept away. A few people returned to work at the end of this week; others will be heading there on Monday.
Back to reality. The holidays — which felt like quite a long stretch this time around — are over, along with time to reminisce about the year gone by. Horse shows and events are starting up again, so let’s take a look from an equestrian viewpoint at what’s in store for 2025.
The biggest issue likely will be the ever-increasing impact of Social License to Operate, or public acceptance of horse sport and to a certain extent, horse-keeping. One telling comment from last year was made by someone on social media who declared that the mechanical horse in the opening ceremonies of the 2024 Paris Games should be the only horse that takes part in the Olympics.
Scary, but even aside from SLO, there long has been concern whether equestrian disciplines can stay in the Games—especially considering the emphasis on attracting younger viewers with fast-moving, newer sports (break dancing and sport climbing anyone?) which also happen to be less expensive to stage than sports that require stabling, cross-country courses or shipping horses to a Games city from abroad.
Horse sport’s governing bodies are tightening rules with an eye toward SLO, although there often is justifiable impatience about the length of time it takes for offenders to be punished after they are suspended for horse abuse.
The U.S. Equestrian Federation last year voted for a rule change that expanded its ability to discipline those involved in unethical treatment of animals, reaching beyond the confines of the shows it licenses, even to the home stable of a member. Those who belong to USEF are expected to report any instances of abuse they witness. They can text 2USEF to express their concerns.
While USEF has yet to approve restrictions on whip use in horse shows, it has indicated that it will be open to doing that, if the language in a recent proposal is refined to better define it.
British Equestrian mandated five years ago that its riders carry padded batons rather than traditional whips, and as of January 1, these can only be used to reinforce leg aids or support the shoulder in directing the horse, never as punishment. That may well become the standard everywhere.
The blood rule, with varying standards of elimination for different disciplines, is rigid and there have been some calls for revision. Will that happen to some extent this year? Rather than relying on an official’s judgment about whether blood on a horse in competition is a welfare issue and not just an inconsequential mishap, the letter of the law is the guide for elimination of a competitor. Of course, no one wants spectators to see blood on a horse, but an insect bite or a slight scratch are hardly visible and likely negligible in terms of horse welfare. In cases where there is a question, can’t a veterinarian decide? The International Jumper Riders Club is particularly concerned.
World Horse Welfare’s research found that 20 percent of the public does not support any horse sport at all, anywhere; while 40 percent would support it if horse welfare is improved. But how many people really know what “improvements” are realistic, or even necessary?
The less experience the general population has with horses, as development gobbles up open country and stables, the easier it is for the anti-equestrians to make a case that doing almost anything with a horse is abuse. We take for granted that it’s obvious sport horses (and most pleasure horses, for that matter) are well cared-for. But since the majority of people have no idea what caring for a horse involves, they are open to suggestions that abuse is involved.
A little thing struck me during the Tournament of Roses parade on New Year’s Day, when one of the TV commentators said as an equestrian unit passed by, “Oh look, the horses are wearing leg-warmers.” They were, of course, wearing polo wraps, but it reminded me that few people have a clue about anything to do with horses, so they put perspective into their own context. On a larger scale, that can mean trouble.
Initiatives that show a caring link between people and horses, such as therapeutic riding opportunities or retraining of rescue horses and retired racehorses, are easily understood from a welfare perspective, so it’s important to give them support.
Reaching out to a wider audience via new concepts has real potential for helping broaden appreciation of horses and sport. HITS is debuting the Festival of the Horse™ in March at its Ocala, Fla., venue, where a multi-discipline, unrated competition format will offer classes for everything from the usual hunters, jumpers and dressage to western pleasure, Pony Club competition and arena eventing. The Festival also will be held at other HITS venues during the year in an effort to “unite the multifaceted equestrian community around a shared passion for horse sport.” What an interesting idea.
However optimistic you are about prospects for 2025, don’t expect an end to the continued rise in horse-keeping costs, from feed and veterinary care to the price of labor (if you can even find workers). It means less people can afford their own horses, or access to other people’s horses, factors that narrow the base of participants. Riding stables where beginners can get lessons without paying a fortune are in relatively short supply.
On the international front, the Europeans have their biennial championships in the major disciplines. But for the U.S., this is the relatively quiet year of the four-year Olympic cycle, with only FEI World Cup finals in Switzerland on the horizon as an international title meet. That competition will be more exciting when it is held in Fort Worth, Texas, during the spring of 2026. The World Championships are set for Aachen, Germany, a few months later in an unofficial reincarnation of the World Equestrian Games (minus endurance). The 2006 WEG in Aachen was the best of its genre, so the refresh two decades later is highly anticipated.
But in the meantime on this continent, the finals of the new U.S. Equestrian Federation open championships in the Olympic disciplines will be held in Virginia, Florida and California, a chance to bring along possible medal prospects and get enthusiasm into high gear for 2026 efforts. This is the year to build potential championship combinations who will have time to develop prior to the immense pressure of a major title meet. And there’s plenty to do before 2028, when Los Angeles will host the first Olympics in the U.S. since 1996.
On the bright side, there is always something to look forward to in the horse world, whether it’s your own goals, or going to a special equestrian happening. Major shows and events are much more spectator-friendly than they used to be, so attending them can make an outing an occasion, and offer a chance to introduce friends and family to horses.
In September, Dressage at Devon outside of Philadelphia will celebrate its fiftieth anniversary. The dressage scene and calendar have changed drastically since the debut of the heritage fixture at the Devon, Pa., showgrounds, because so many competitors and competitions have moved south. But Dressage at Devon has persevered and continues to be a goal for many in the discipline, especially in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic region.
Something else to look forward to this year is the reopening in New Jersey of the former Suburban Essex/Essex Equestrian Center stable in West Orange. The building that dates back more than a century is not falling victim to development. It is being renovated, while care has been taken to retain the memorable features that make it a unique facility which played an important role in so many lives over the generations. The project will be a base for hunter/jumper trainer Brianne Goutal-Marteau, whose husband, Romain Marteau, is overseeing the refurbishment.
If you haven’t already given up on your New Year’s resolutions, why not make one or two more? How about vowing to be a good ambassador for horses and sport, taking the time to welcome those who express interest, however casual. Why not become a volunteer for a competition, a rescue operation or any other equestrian organization that needs assistance or is a good cause? And if you have the interest and ability, consider learning to be a judge or steward. There’s always something you can do to help, which will pay off in a better experience with horses for everyone to enjoy.
