The Darkside of the Equestrian Industry

Many love the sport of equestrian due to its showcasing of strong and talented horses, but the hidden aspects of the industry are not so pretty.
​Peyton Satchwell

The equestrian community surrounds a famous, worldwide sport based on the partnership between horse and rider, competing in a multitude of different events such as racing, dressage, jumping, barrels, and more.

Animal abuse is an upsetting but real event that occurs in life, and the equestrian industry is full of it. Even if rules are put into place, people still try to find a way around them so they’re able to enhance their chances at winning. Truth needs to be brought to the surface about this problem, including about the riders, owners, and trainers who actively participate in the abuse of these poor horses.

Ribbons Over Welfare
Harsh equipment is an unfortunate but popular way to be able to gain control of a horse and increase the chances of winning. Spur marks being left on the sides of the horse's stomach, sores in the crevices of their mouths due to heavy bits, and restricted breathing from severely tight nosebands are just a few of the ways people try to gain control of their success with their horses.

USEF and FEI are big associations in the community that create rules to prevent the neglect many horses face. Sadly, some riders find cheat codes to get around these regulations. Competitions don't need to include pain to the horses, and many riders need to understand this.

Injected Winning & Wealth
Over 2,000 racehorses are killed or retired due to the abuse of illegal drugs administered by owners, trainers, or even riders. These horses start their careers at the young age of around 2 to 5 years old. Giving drugs to young horses is a disgusting way of people trying to win with cheat codes and lies.

In horse racing, everyone wants to succeed. Trainers, jockeys, and owners all feel obligated to have the horse win. All of this pressure leads them to push their horses to the limit. Racehorses bring in thousands or even millions of dollars each race for people who could not care less about their well-being. Some trainers are so money-hungry that they up the dosage of substances to enhance their chances at crossing the finish line first. “Frog Juice” is the most commonly used drug in the racing industry, allowing pain numbing, an increase of stamina and oxygen, and even nerve blocks to parts of the body.

Now, on the outside, this might seem like a positive for the horse, as they are able to run pain-free while feeling as energized as possible, but sadly, this is incorrect. Numbing and nerve blocking allow horses to push through pain at extreme levels, which, if taken too far, can lead to sprained or even broken bones, tendons, and ligaments inside the legs.
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The industry looks over pain in these horses like it's nothing, and as long as money gets brought in, the animals' welfare is the least of their problems. Continuous use of the drugs can lead to severe health problems in these racehorses, soon putting an end to their careers and, in some cases, their lives.