Animal Welfare Reclaims Its Stakes in Equestrian World With a Proposition Tilting the Onus on Riders

Humans domesticated horses centuries ago and have used them for various purposes. While horses have always been our trustee companions, they also have their limits as living organisms. Equestrian sports demand a horse to carry a rider and run as fast as possible simultaneously. An equine welfare body has stepped forward to ensure that no horse is forced to push things beyond its natural limit.

The welfare body says that all equestrian riders who ‘appear’ too heavy for their horses should dismount and weigh themselves. The body argues that heavy and overweight riders should be paired with horses that are better able to carry them. 

Equestrian bodies, schools to weigh riders before mounting

The equine welfare organization ‘Suitably Mounted’ began its operations in July 2023. It consists of veterinarians, welfare officers, scientists, and some representatives of the British Horse Society. The organization says that it has been tracking the problem of heavy equestrian riders for quite some time now. One of the body’s members, Dr. Tamzin Furtado, is a social scientist from the University of Liverpool. He said, “As a society, we are getting heavier than we’ve ever been.” Dr. Furtado argues that this does not bode well for the racehorses. Offering a solution, the organization says that every rider should weigh themselves, and their weight must not exceed 20 percent of the weight of their mount. 

“We are finding that mis-matched riders and mounts are becoming an increasing problem,” said Dr. Furtado. He also noted that the weight of the saddle should also be counted along with the weight of the rider. Suitably Mounted has made it clear that they have no agenda against heavy individuals, but they prioritize the health of horses above all else. Dr. Furtado also mentioned, “It is not just about people being overweight – just whether they are too heavy or tall for the horse they are riding.” The body is targeting a mismatch between an equestrian and their mount. While this puts the onus on the jockeys, the equestrian community has welcomed this solution with open arms.

Widespread approval of welfare proposition

Equestrian circles worldwide have acknowledged the problem and shown their willingness to act on it. Dr. Furtado has asked all riders to volunteer for the humane task, do what is necessary, and weigh themselves before climbing on horseback. He said, “It can be hard for riders to know how much they weigh when combined with the horse’s tack – and how much the horse weighs, so we want to encourage as many equestrians as possible to step on a weigh bridge and educate themselves.” While Dr. Furtado has asked everyone to take responsibility for their horses and their weight, he does not wish to discourage people from having fun.

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“We of course don’t want to stop anyone from enjoying equestrian sports – but the right horse has to be matched to the right sized rider,” said Dr. Furtado. He also discouraged parents from riding their children’s ponies to “make them ready” for their kids. The following days can see equestrian authorities asking riders to dismount and weigh themselves. Such measures for equine welfare become even more necessary in the wake of the rising number of deaths of racehorses while competing. A welfare officer named Amanda Stoddart-West had asked 12 riders to get off their horses last month in England. She determined that the riders were too heavy for the horses to carry, which posed a health risk for the horses.

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