News
Guide on Horse Welfare
Jan 1, 2026
When we use animals in sport it is vital that we consider how this impacts their welfare. Horses have been used by mankind for millennia as food, transport, for work and for sport. The methods used to handle, train, and house them have been passed down from one generation to the next for hundreds of years.
Some of these traditions no longer align with current animal welfare science. Canadian Pony Club has embraced animal welfare science and incorporated it into their education materials. A horse experiences good welfare if it is healthy, comfortable, feels safe, and is not suffering from unpleasant mental states such as pain, fear, and distress. Every horse should be able to express behaviours that are important for its physical and mental wellbeing - that is, it should experience “a life worth living”.