The Arabian Coalition

12/01/2025

Is Equestrian Sport Facing a Reckoning?

As the behind the scenes horrors carried out by yet another "Olympian" are unveiled in this recent article by by ABC Australia, we can surely no longer accept that the Olympics represents the best of equestrianism.

This article and new piece argues that elite equestrian disciplines, especially dressage, are under growing scrutiny as a wave of horse-welfare scandals threatens the sport’s reputation and even its place in the Olympics.

At the center of controversy is Heath Ryan, a former Olympic-level rider and trainer, who is being investigated by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) after a video surfaced appearing to show him whipping a horse.

The same investigation has also brought to light photos and videos from 2022 showing a severely injured mare, “Quartz R,” at Ryan’s stable — images that depict a level of distress prompting questions about whether the horse received appropriate care before being euthanised.

Veterinarians who reviewed the material describe the injuries as “life-threatening,” and criticised the handling and treatment methods, suggesting they were inadequate.

Critics argue this case reflects deeper systemic issues: decades of breeding, intense competition pressure, financial incentives, and training methods that prioritise performance over welfare.

The article also highlights that the controversy isn’t limited to one rider.

Experts say that changing societal attitudes toward animals — recognizing that horses feel pain, fear, and stress — are shifting public tolerance.

For many, the central question becomes whether equestrian sport, as currently practiced, can reconcile competitive ambitions with respect and compassion for the animals involved.

Link to full article: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11-30/equestrian-heath-ryan-horse-welfare-fei/106049564?

CALL TO ACTION:

The IOC Board will be meeting on the 9th and 10th of December and we ask all horse welfare advocates to contact the them and demand that equestrian sport be banned from the Olympics - https://support.olympics.com/hc/en-gb/requests/new

From our years of trying to effect change through diplomatic sources, it is CLEAR that the changes are not coming, and this is the ONLY way forward to get any kind of relief for these horses who are suffering daily under the hands of these 'elite" riders.

For any JOURNALISTS interested in attending via zoom, the link is below. You will be able to ask questions.

https://www.olympics.com/ioc/news/ioc-executive-board-meeting-9-10-december-2025-information-for-the-media

Again, for any non-media, please email the IOC directly (https://support.olympics.com/hc/en-gb/requests/new) with a simple message to ban equestrian events from the Olympics due to the widespread horse abuse and include a link to the news article:

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11-30/equestrian-heath-ryan-horse-welfare-fei/106049564?

11/20/2025

Although protein is normally listed as a nutrient, horses actually have a requirement for amino acids, the building blocks of protein, rather than for protein itself.

Protein is the least efficient energy source for your horse, so high protein does not automatically equal high energy. Carbohydrates, fats, and fiber are more readily digestible energy sources, so chances are a horse with too much energy is being fed more calories than the animal truly needs.

As always, remember that all horses have different nutritional needs based on age, stage of development, metabolism and workload. Be sure to work with your veterinarian to determine the correct protein and energy requirements for your equine friend based on your horse’s individual situation!
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Courtesy of the AAEP Horse Owner Education Committee

11/09/2025

Welcome to the reality of the horse world and anyone who tells you that a living can be made breeding horses. When you see horses being sole at absolutely insane costs as weanlings, guarantee it is not balancing the budget. People are lured into the horse business seeing the dollar signs of the biggest sales but, simply put, these same people do not see until its too late, is the average breeder coming into the business to try a hand, most farms close within five years of opening. If you see one around longer, they plan to lose money and are extremely expensive habits of those who can afford to lose millions each year. The absolute luckiest breeder will break even. This is the case for every breed of horse.

Older broodmares are increasingly pushed into late sessions where sale outcomes decline sharply. Here’s why it matters—and what must change.

11/07/2025

The changes sought by the IJRC and multiple national federations have generated an opposition petition that has garnered more than 64,000 signatures internationally. The FEI will vote on that and a slate of other rule changes on the last day of the FEI General Assembly, broadcast live from Hong Kong, beginning at 8 p.m. ET Thursday. Story in comments 👇

11/07/2025

Closer every day, because caring people like you will not let their suffering go unnoticed and unchallenged.

11/05/2025

CLARIFICATION: We apologize for the confusion caused by this post. To clarify, the changes to GR310 do not impact USHJA/USEF shows or members—they were designed to address specific breeds and disciplines outside of USHJA/USEF competition.

🔗 See our full guide to upcoming rule changes at ushja.org/knowbeforeyoushow.

11/05/2025

If you ever doubted the importance of The Blood Rule, now is the time to evaluate the numbers and become educated on the widespread epidemic in top FEI competition.

British Dressage publishes its first welfare statistics, detailing eliminations, disciplinary outcomes and plans to strengthen rules and horse welfare.

11/05/2025

Warning to horse owners after ‘potentially disastrous misinformation’ on laminitis shared on social media. Read more below

11/05/2025

Cues are discreet, previously unrelated signals—such as voice, posture, or gestures—that are learned by the horse through classical conditioning.

Unique, standardised cues may develop for particular equestrian activities or sports. The most important criteria for selecting cues are that they should be easy for the horse to discriminate, unique to each desired response, and avoid overlapping or overshadowing other cues or signals.

Whether you choose visual cues, such as your posture, or aural cues such as your voice, the most important thing is to be consistent and avoid creating higher arousal.

Research has shown that negative, emotionally charged vocal sounds—for example, screeching or growling—can lead to negative affective states in horses, and there is anecdotal evidence that fast, erratic human body movements may also lead to negative affective states in horses.

Andrew McLean - Modern Horse Training: Equitation Science Principles & Practice, Volume 2

📖 Available for purchase on our website!