For generations, the horse has stood as a true partner and athlete, symbolising grace, power, and loyalty. But as society increasingly prioritises ethics and sustainability, the equestrian world must now confront an unavoidable truth: horse welfare must become the central focus of our sport and industry, not an afterthought. 

Horse welfare is no longer a niche concern, it has entered mainstream dialogue for governing bodies, event organisers, athletes, and leisure riders alike. The concept of "Social License to Operate" (SLO) is now essential, as without it, our industry's legitimacy is at risk. As scrutiny intensifies, driven by ethics, performance, and science, the need for reform becomes undeniable. 

Environments That Undermine Recovery 

Scientific research has already begun to shed light on the physical demands of equine athletes, with the results often leading to improved training, equipment, and competition rules. Yet, while we focus on the hour a horse spends training or competing, we often ignore the other 23 hours, those that are arguably the most critical for overall welfare and performance. 

New studies are revealing how modern housing environments with restrictive stabling, isolation, and artificial conditions can impair recovery and performance for the horse. The decision to ignore these design flaws isn’t just a welfare issue, it undermines everything we aim to achieve with training. True athletic respect begins with recovery. But most horses are kept in conditions that actively disrupt it. Despite mounting evidence, discussions about equestrian sport often sideline this reality. Why do we continue to prioritise marginal training improvements while overlooking the foundational needs of rest, social interaction, and natural movement? 

At Jelka, we have committed ourselves to transforming equine housing based on horses' biological and psychological needs. In partnership with Nottingham Trent University, we are carrying out studies on how our product designs affect the vital recovery factor of REM sleep. Our principle is simple: if a system measurably improves equine rest, it should be standard, not optional. This applies to private yards and elite competitions alike. 

The Weight of Tradition 

At top-level events, it is common for horses to be kept in temporary stables that restrict movement, social contact, turnout, and environmental engagement. When you combine that with travel and unfamiliar routines, these stressors may leave horses physically present but mentally depleted. At a time when we are expecting peak performance, we are denying the horse of basic recovery. 

This issue extends beyond competition. Across the industry, horses are micromanaged into stagnation. Over-rugging, minimal turnout, and isolated stabling are driven by fear of injury and the illusion of control. But in shielding horses from harm, we deny them their instincts and freedoms. In many places, turnout is a luxury, and isolation is the norm. Horses kept in stalls for over 20 hours a day are merely surviving when we should be enabling them to thrive. We know that horses are social, mobile creatures and research in behaviour, neurology, and physiology confirms this. So when deprived of interaction, movement, and natural rest, horses will suffer, and so will performance. 

The answer may lie in cultural inertia. Traditional practices go unchallenged, passed down for generations. Our reverence for heritage often resists necessary change. 

Barriers to Change 

Frustratingly, the desire for change exists. Many owners recognise the mismatch between their horse’s needs and its environment. But cultural, financial, and practical barriers often block progress. Facilities designed around horse-first principles remain rare, and change is hard to achieve alone.

Yard owners and managers are central to the solution, yet they too are constrained by insurance costs, weather, and rising expenses. These are real challenges, but not insurmountable. With innovation and commitment, solutions exist. What’s needed is a paradigm shift: from seeing horses as units in a rider-focused pipeline to understanding them as sentient beings who should shape the business model, not be shaped by it. 

Many livery yards operate under a “more horses = more income” mentality, but overcrowded facilities and degraded land are neither ethical nor sustainable. In contrast, horse-first yards, such as retirement or youngstock facilities, prove that welfare and profitability can coexist. These operations prioritise space, land management, and behavioural needs, resulting in healthier horses, lower vet bills, and higher customer satisfaction. 

So why do we embrace this model for young or retired horses, but not during their prime? When we demand the most, we often provide the least. This contradiction must end. Investing in drainage, rotational grazing, enriched environments, and adaptive stabling shouldn’t be seen as a cost, but a long-term saving. These upgrades improve welfare, reduce emergencies, and build resilient, future-ready facilities. To move forward, we must stop pursuing isolated performance gains and begin supporting the whole horse. 

A Call to Action

This is not just about ethics, it’s about legacy. If we want equestrian sport to thrive in the future, welfare must drive every decision. Change must come from all sides, including governing bodies with enforceable welfare standards, venues that redefine excellence, and owners and riders who demand better. Marginal change is no longer enough. What’s needed is transformation. It starts with tough questions, honest answers, and a commitment to see the horse not as a commodity, but as a partner. The time to act is now.