Symbiosis or Sporting Tool? Competition and the Horse-Rider Relationship in Elite Equestrian Sports.
Authors: Hogg Rachel C, Hodgins Gene A
Journal: Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
Summary
# Editorial Summary Elite equestrian competitors across six disciplines were interviewed regarding how the horse-rider relationship influences competitive performance, revealing a striking lack of consensus that warrants serious consideration for equine welfare. Rachel Hogg and Gene Hodgins conducted in-depth interviews with 36 international elite riders, analysing responses through a grounded theory lens to identify how athletes conceptualised the partnership between horse and human. Rather than confirming the widely held ideal of symbiotic partnership as essential to success, riders articulated three distinct positions: some viewed the relationship as pivotal to performance, others as irrelevant to outcomes, and troublingly, some saw strong emotional bonds as detrimental to competitive achievement. The variation in these perspectives reflected both disciplinary differences and individual philosophies, with competitors often shifting between positions when discussing intrinsic versus extrinsic definitions of success—suggesting genuine ambivalence about whether genuine partnership advances or hinders medal outcomes. These findings expose a fundamental problem: where elite sporting pressures position emotional connection as expendable or counterproductive, equine welfare and longevity become secondary to competitive results, challenging the ethical foundations upon which equestrianism claims to rest.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Elite equestrian sport shows variable attitudes toward the importance of horse-rider relationships, indicating that some competitive contexts may prioritize winning over partnership—veterinary and welfare professionals should be alert to this tension
- •Governing bodies in equestrian sports need to establish and enforce welfare standards that ensure the horse-rider relationship supports rather than compromises equine health, as current competitive pressures may incentivize practices harmful to horses
- •Understanding that riders define success differently (intrinsic vs. extrinsic goals) can help farriers, veterinarians, and physiotherapists counsel clients about sustainable training approaches that maintain both performance and long-term horse soundness
Key Findings
- •Horse-rider relationship was positioned in three distinct ways relative to elite sporting success: pivotal, non-essential, or antithetical across 36 elite riders from 8 countries and 6 disciplines
- •Participants expressed nuanced and ambivalent attitudes toward the horse-rider relationship that reflected both their specific equestrian discipline and personal philosophical orientation
- •Competitive success was defined fluidly by participants, with differentiation between intrinsic markers (partnership quality, horse welfare) and extrinsic markers (wins, placings)
- •Where strong horse-rider relationships are antithetical to performance outcomes, significant threats to equine welfare and the ethical foundations of equestrianism exist