Tools of the Trade or Part of the Family? Horses in Competitive Equestrian Sport

Abstract

The horse-human relationship is based on mutual respect and understanding, and the development of trusting partnerships may be particularly important in elite equestrian sport, where horses and humans rely on each other to tackle sporting challenges. The increasing commercialization of equestrian sport is eroding aspects of the horse-human relationship, as the commodity value of sports horses increases and the pressure for quick results threatens the formation of deep bonds between horse and rider. This article presents data from an ethnographic study of competitive equestrian sport in England, including interviews with 26 elite riders, to explore how the changing nature of elite equestrian sport is altering the basis of the horse-human relationship, changing the horse from a trusted partner in sporting pursuits to a commodity to be bought and sold for human commercial benefit.2

Clothes make the rider? Equestrian competition dress and sporting identity

“…Equestrian sport has changed markedly in recent years in relation to the demographic of participants, competition formats, media outlets and fashionable breeds and types of horses (Dashper, 2014; In press a). Yet change is not happening in relation to equestrian competition dress and attempts by the sport's organising bodies to transform the sport's image through changing dress standards have met with resistance and outright opposition.…”

“…Over the last thirty years equestrian sport, along with most other sports, has undergone a rapid period of modernisation and professionalization that has changed the practices of the sport and opened it up to a much broader demographic (Dashper, 2014). For all its tradition and links to rich historical roots, equestrian sport is just that -sport.…”

“…At the same time riders themselves have adapted elements of equestrian competition dress, for example through the popularity of specific hairstyles within different subgroups or through the adoption of 'bling' -added sparkle and glamour for both horse and rider. The equestrian social world is a complex mix of tradition and modernity, and a context in which ritual and heritage are prized alongside respect for change and innovation (Dashper, 2014, In press a). Equestrian competition dress provides a clear visual representation of some of these paradoxes of contemporary equestrian sport.…”

Riders’ Perceptions of Equestrian Communication in Sports Dressage

“…The FEI rules state that dressage is about making the horse "calm, supple, loose and flexible but also confident, attentive and keen thus achieving perfect understanding with the athlete [the rider]" (FEI, 2014). For the first part of the twentieth century, Olympic equestrian competitions were limited to military riders, originating as it does from a mix of military tradition and discipline (Dashper, 2014;Thorell & Hedenborg, 2015).…”

‘Like a Hawk among House Sparrows’: Kauto Star, a Steeplechasing Legend

“…This necessarily impacts on how sports animals are treated, frequently resulting in them being traded, sold, moved between owners and trainers, and, if they turn out to be poor performers when judged against human sporting standards, rejected, moved on, or possibly even put to sleep. 31 This paints a bleak picture for animals in sport, and suggests a world involving abuse, pain and neglect.…”