Horse and Rider Welfare - July 2026 Update

When We Know Better, We Can Do Better

Our understanding of horses has come a long way in twenty years. What we've always done isn't always the same as what we now know is right — and thanks to rapid advances in research, we're better equipped than ever to close that gap.

Knowledge of both the physiological functions and the behavioural needs of the horse has grown quickly. That progress lets us connect the practical — how we train, interact with, and manage horses — with the why: understanding the effect each of those choices has on the animal itself.

At the heart of this shift is the Five Domains Model of Animal Welfare, a structured framework that serves as a supportive tool for assessing horse welfare across any type of management system. By recognising horses as sentient beings and grounding our decisions in evidence, we can make better choices for the horses in our care.

It's this combination of evidence and practice that helps safeguard the welfare of FEI sport horses.

Ready to learn more? Log in to FEI Campus now and explore this exciting new course. Enrol here