Stakeholder Views on the Potential Benefits and Feasibility of an Equestrian Industry-Specific Health, Safety and Welfare Management System.
Authors: Chapman Meredith, Fenner Kate, Thomas Matthew J W, Thompson Kirrilly
Journal: Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
Summary
# Editorial Summary Australian equestrian industry stakeholders—representing both work-related disciplines (racing, instruction, breeding) and recreational sectors—overwhelmingly support the adoption of a formal health, safety and welfare management system modelled on ISO 45001:2018, an occupational safety framework already proven effective in high-risk industries. Researchers conducted semi-structured interviews with 20 industry representatives to identify current risk mitigation practices, systemic gaps, and barriers to improvement, using deductive coding based on ISO standards. Five critical deficiencies emerged: insufficient training and competency frameworks, inadequate horse welfare governance, poor safety culture rooted in tradition rather than evidence, lack of formal guidance materials, and significant resistance to organisational change. Beyond these structural gaps, the research highlighted a disconnect between industry operations and formal occupational health protocols—suggesting that equestrian organisations, regardless of size or discipline, currently manage risk through informal, ad-hoc approaches rather than systematic frameworks. For farriers, veterinarians, physiotherapists and coaches seeking to professionalise their operations and reduce human injury rates, these findings indicate both an industry appetite for standardised HSW protocols and the urgent need for collaborative development of sector-specific guidance that respects equestrian culture whilst embedding safety science.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Industry stakeholders recognize the need for formal health, safety, and welfare systems — advocacy for adopting structured management approaches has support from both work and non-work equestrian organizations
- •Training, education, and competency development are critical gaps limiting HSW improvements; investment in these areas could significantly advance industry safety practices
- •Cultural and behavioral change regarding safety traditions will be necessary for system adoption; implementation strategies must address human resistance alongside technical requirements
Key Findings
- •Most of 20 Australian equestrian stakeholders (work and non-work related) preferred formal health, safety, and welfare (HSW) management systems and supported improvements to current practices
- •Major industry gaps identified were lack of training/education/competency, social licence to operate regarding horse welfare, and resistance to change management
- •Key industry barriers included poor governance and weak safety culture related to tradition and human behaviours rather than systemic factors
- •Stakeholders supported development of an adaptable industry-specific HSW management system based on ISO 45001:2018 framework with collaboration and national representation opportunities