An Ethical Framework for the Use of Horses in Competitive Sport: Theory and Function.
Authors: Campbell Madeleine L H
Journal: Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
Summary
# Editorial Summary: An Ethical Framework for the Use of Horses in Competitive Sport Growing public scrutiny of equestrian sport—evident in media coverage, social media debate, and government discussion—has prompted regulatory bodies and animal welfare organisations to address ethical concerns, yet responses remain fragmented across disciplines with no unified decision-making tool. Campbell's 2021 paper identifies a critical gap: existing animal welfare frameworks and sports ethics models fail to address the unique ethical complexity of non-human, non-consenting athletes, and proposes a novel ethical framework designed to fill this void. This bespoke framework enables stakeholders—including farriers, veterinarians, coaches, and governing bodies—to make contextual, evidence-based decisions about practices in equestrian sport by systematically considering the ethical dimensions of specific situations. Beyond providing a structured approach to addressing current practices, the framework aims to strengthen the social licence for horses in sport by demonstrating that the industry can self-regulate through rigorous ethical assessment and subsequent welfare improvements. The framework is currently undergoing practical field-testing with industry stakeholders, with further research forthcoming, making this foundational work particularly relevant for professionals seeking to align practice with contemporary ethical standards.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Industry stakeholders now have access to a structured ethical decision-making tool to evaluate whether current and proposed equestrian practices are justified and defensible
- •Using this framework can help your discipline demonstrate responsibility in addressing ethical concerns raised by animal charities, regulators, and the public
- •The framework encourages systematic rather than ad hoc ethical consideration, allowing you to make welfare-improving changes proactively before external pressure mandates them
Key Findings
- •Existing animal welfare frameworks and sports ethics frameworks are insufficient for addressing ethical issues in equestrian sport where horses are non-consenting participants
- •A novel ethical framework has been developed to help stakeholders make contextual decisions about practices in equestrian sport
- •The proposed framework aims to maintain social license for horse use in sport while enabling critical assessment and welfare-improving adjustments to existing practices