Used like Pawns or Treated like Kings? How Narratives around Racehorse Welfare in the 2023 Grand National May Affect Public Acceptance: An Informed Commentary.
Authors: Pearson Gemma, Douglas Janet, Wolframm Inga, Furtado Tamzin
Journal: Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
Summary
# Editorial Summary The 2023 Grand National protests by Animal Rising created a unique opportunity to examine how competing narratives about racehorse welfare shape public perception of the sport. Drawing on media analysis and social licence theory, the authors identified a fundamental disconnect: whilst the racing industry responded to animal welfare concerns with defensive messaging emphasising horses' "natural" athleticism and apparent contentment, the broader public was increasingly receptive to deeper questions about systemic welfare standards and the ethics of racing itself. The racing community's approach—framing horses as privileged athletes rather than engaging substantively with welfare criticisms—inadvertently undermined social licence by appearing dismissive rather than collaborative. For equine professionals working within or advising the racing industry, this research highlights that maintaining public trust requires genuine proactivity on welfare standards, openness to independent scrutiny, and acknowledgement that contemporary societal expectations around animal use have shifted considerably. The authors argue that racing's future viability depends not on winning rhetorical battles with activists, but on demonstrating material commitment to welfare improvements and actively seeking input from those currently sceptical—a lesson equally relevant to other equestrian disciplines facing increasing public scrutiny.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Racing industry stakeholders must recognize that social licence is earned through demonstrated commitment to equine welfare, not through defensive messaging or dismissal of public concerns
- •Engaging transparently with welfare criticisms and implementing visible improvements to horse care and safety will better maintain public support than industry-only advocacy
- •Understanding public perception and being willing to adapt practices based on welfare evidence is essential for the long-term viability of racing
Key Findings
- •The 2023 Grand National protest highlighted divergent narratives between pro-racing and animal rights communities regarding equine welfare
- •Racing industry commentary inadvertently damaged its reputation through poor understanding of social licence principles
- •Public acceptance of horse racing requires proactive welfare improvements and engagement with independent opinions rather than defensive positioning