Katie Javanaud, “The Ethics of Horse Riding, Sports, and Leisure.” Journal of Animal Ethics 12(2): 158-171, Fall 2022.
- After cruelty towards a horse in the 2020 Summer Olympics was brought to light, the pentathlon event dropped equestrian jumping as one of its five legs. (The 2020 Olympics were moved to 2021 because of the pandemic.) Also in 2021, the BBC broadcast a documentary, The Dark Side of Horse Racing, made clear that the abuse of race horses was a common occurrence.
- "Only through acquaintance with practices commonly found in these settings [everyday situations like rising schools and livery yards], can we begin to challenge and to change dominant attitudes and narratives which portray horses as commodities, objects, and instruments for human entertainment or use [p. 159].”
- Abolitionism traces animal abuse to the property status of animals. Being a benevolent master to an enslaved animal is still to operate in an unethical system.
- But can’t a dog (or a horse?) be a family member and well-treated even if “property” in the law?
- Legal personhood for anymals would eliminate any treatment that was not in the animal’s best interest. For horses, personhood would rule out racing and jumping competitions.
- But can we make these competitions better before they are banned? Are welfare-improving moves delays, or assurances against backtracking (p. 162)? Can informing and educating humans about their similarities' to anymals serve as a palliative strategy?
- Some human/horse interactions (even within the human leisure realm) appear to be mutually beneficial; nonetheless, in the current environment, horse interests are frequently sacrificed to rider interests.
- British riding schools are woefully underregulated. Horses are overworked and overburdened; inexperienced riders and the horses have little opportunity to bond pre-ride; schools often foreground ease for the human riders: jump-on, jump-off.
- The Donkey Sanctuary has helped adopt better regulations for donkeys – daily and weekly time off, weight restrictions, and so on. "It is time similar legislation was enacted to protect other equines [p. 164]."
- Spacious group housing is best for horses; better vet care and retirement conditions are requisite.
- Competitions lead to pushing horses to or beyond their limits. Horses are transported to a new area, and surrounded by unfamiliar horses and humans. Some competitions do not provide sufficient protective gear and veterinary care for the horses.
- Horse parades are judged based on qualities that humans find appealing; these qualities don’t align with horse wellbeing.
- Livery yards which board and sometimes rent horses also are under-regulated: bad conditions can persist for years. Horses can suffer from a lack of exercise and companionship, along with poor nutrition.
- Horses in livery yards can develop stereotypic behaviors, which then are responded to as if they are the fault of the horses ('stable vices').
- Good livery yards are consistent with horse flourishing.
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