Treating horses like horses, not kings: changing the commentary

Research found that changing the way we talk about welfare could help protect it, and our sport’s future

- ELEANOR JONES

CHANGING the way we talk about equine welfare – and treating horses like horses rather than “like kings” – may not only improve it, but also protect our sport for the future.

This was the finding of a study on events after Animal Rising campaigners accessed the course at the 2023 Grand National. The paper, published in Animals, looked at how what was said could affect public acceptance of horse sport.

Gemma Pearson, an equine vet, behaviour specialist, and racing fan, told H&H the paper “wasn’t an easy one to write”.

The study’s main message is that although Animal Rising’s aim was to prevent a fatal equine injury in the race, in the main, pro-racing figures concentrated on how horses are treated when not racing.

It cites a radio debate after the race, in which Animal Rising and representatives of racing featured. But despite the campaigners’ repeating the risks in racing, and the public echoing this, “racing’s representatives were reluctant to address” the point.

Dr Pearson added: “Racing should have dealt with this. They don’t realise they’re digging a grave for racing with their words. They think they’re selling it, but don’t have a good enough understanding of social licence principles.”