Did Snoop Dogg watching an equestrian event save the sport? Maybe

It’s been a weird few weeks for horse lovers and equestrians the world over. First, leaked footage showed British dressage rider Charlotte Dujardin, one of the most esteemed trainers and competitors in the world, whipping a horse abusively.

The media storm that followed, including a major exposé from The New York Times, broke the ranks of equestrians and shone an embarrassing global spotlight on our sport, with some (rightfully) questioning why horse riding is still a thing, let alone an Olympic sport.

Then, just when it looked like equestrian events might be thrown out of the biggest sporting arena in the world, Snoop Dogg arrived at the Palace of Versailles, dressed to the nines, ready to spend time with the Olympic ponies. The feel-good content of him dancing with the US equestrian team’s horses and feeding them treats has amassed over 10 million views globally, and reinstated at least some of our community’s fractured social licence.

I say “our” because I am an equestrian myself. I own three horses, compete in amateur eventing and dressage, and the horsey community is a massive part of my life. But like many equestrians, the past few weeks have left me wondering if our partnerships with these beautiful animals are more one-sided than we’d like to believe.

The average person probably pictures horse riding as being all about galloping in open fields, the bond between rider and steed evident in the way they move as one across the country.

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But the reality is that all the major equestrian sports are dogged with welfare issues, and the higher the stakes, the greater the risk of welfare being compromised. When you have goals to achieve that require obedience from a 600-kilogram animal, the quickest way to get there usually involves aversive methods and devices – even when there are other, more humane ways to get there.

After all, it’s very hard trying to explain to non-equestrians why horses in the Olympics are regularly shown with blue tongues in the dressage (from too-tight nose bands interfering with their blood supply), or being disqualified for having blood in their mouths, or from spurs on their sides, or showing signs of extreme stress like rearing or bucking, without sounding like we condone animal abuse.

Not every top rider abuses horses, of course. But when one of the most highly regarded equestrians in the world, who was lauded for her welfare-focused ethos, is shown lashing a horse with a lunge whip, it raises serious questions.