17/06/2025
Resistance to welfare reform?
Bad things happen when enough good people stand by and watch..
But just because the status quo is established doesn’t mean that we have to repeat our mistakes of the past?
There is a plethora of credible, evidence based content of equine ethology on the internet which is easily accessible.
If we truly love and care for horses, then why does it seem so difficult for the horse industry to adopt actionable change?
Advocating for horses is tough.
You are mocked, ridiculed, dismissed and attacked.
But when l look into the soul of an animal’s eye and see that voiceless vulnerability, then that’s all l need to galvanise my resolve…
In mainstream Dutch Newspaper De Limburger
Page 1 of 2
Here is the English translation of the Dutch article
📰 COERCION IS DEEPLY ROOTED IN EQUESTRIAN SPORTS — CAN THAT STILL BE JUSTIFIED?
By Carola Houtekamer and Saskia van Loenen
Utrecht — De Limburger, June 16, 2025
“If equestrian sport is to survive, the way we treat horses must change,” says Anne Muller, riding instructor and owner of a training institute.
Her animal-friendly approach is met with both resistance and understanding.
🟩 “We are conditioned to see the human as dominant”
Look at most city squares and you'll find a statue of a horse. Almost always, says riding instructor Anne Muller, it’s a horse with wide eyes, flared nostrils, ears pinned back — and on its back, a man yanking hard on the reins.
“We’ve become so used to that image: the human commanding the horse. But it’s coercion.”
Muller believes force is still deeply embedded in horse training — from Olympic sport to riding schools.
“If equestrian sport wants to survive in a society that is becoming less tolerant of animal mistreatment — think circuses or dolphin shows — our relationship with horses must evolve.”
She founded her own training institute and created a curriculum based on scientific insights into how horses learn and how people move. In her beginner’s course, students first learn what kind of animal a horse is and how it communicates, before ever riding in a group.
“It’s not fair for a horse to spend twenty years walking in circles with someone bouncing on its back, flapping legs, and yanking on the reins at the wrong times. And then being told by an instructor to ‘just take control’ if the horse doesn’t obey. That mindset still dominates.”
She notes that riding instruction is often of poor quality, with instructors underpaid and training programs too short.
🟨 A Kinder Way
Muller proposes an alternative:
“When we ask something of a horse, we should seek the least forceful method. Not pulling hard on the reins, not jabbing with your legs — but gently, cleverly shifting your weight or position.”
Instead of punishing unwanted behavior, desired behavior should be rewarded:
“I want people to constantly ask: Can this be done more kindly? That’s hard, especially if you’ve paid a lot for a horse that won’t do what you want.”
🟥 Resistance Comes Quickly
Her approach sounds self-evident, but it often meets resistance.
This became clear during a Facebook debate. Under a post about new scientific insights in horse training, former Olympic show jumper Albert Voorn called it “nonsense.”
“Just learn proper riding technique,” he said. “All that theory is irrelevant.”
Voorn offered to give a demonstration. So in April, Muller organized a masterclass at Manege ’t Hoogt in Utrecht. The audience included representatives from the FNRS (Dutch Riding Schools Federation), the KNHS (Royal Equestrian Federation), the veterinary faculty at Utrecht University, a judge, farriers, stable owners, and a politician from the Party for the Animals.
🟥 The Demonstration: “You Just Have to Be Clear”
Two horses were brought in to demonstrate. Voorn made a provocative statement:
“Let’s face it — horses are mainly there for our enjoyment.”
When one of the horses refused to jump, Voorn — 69 years old — mounted it himself. He drove his spurs into its sides, asked for a gallop. When the horse refused again, he forcefully bent its neck — which he said “they hate” — then jabbed again with the spurs. The horse opened its mouth, ears pinned, began to sweat… and eventually jumped.
“See?” said Voorn as he dismounted.
“You just have to be clear. Yes, he was stressed, but now he knows what’s expected. Better that than constantly begging or pulling.”
The horse’s distress was obvious. Some in the audience squirmed. One rider, who’d been building trust with that very horse, walked away in frustration.
🟦 Blue Tongues and Mental Pressure
“What we saw there is classic conditioning,” Muller says.
“You apply pressure, and the horse learns to avoid it. Voorn’s timing was perfect — but the ethics? That’s the problem.”
She continues:
“What we see in extreme form at the elite level — tight bits, blue tongues — starts with what we teach beginners.”
“We need to ride with the horse, not on top of it. Communicate. Understand how horses learn. What they experience. And then reward, not punish.”
🟩 A Shift in the Federation
There is some movement within the sport’s governing bodies.
Peter van Pinxteren of the KNHS says:
“We’re asking more often: ‘What’s in it for the horse?’”
The federation now includes learning theory in its instructor courses.
“Horses learn quickly, but not under stress. We’re training instructors to recognize stress and teach accordingly.”
Still, it’s not easy to change things overnight.
🟩 Riding Schools Under Pressure
Eva Sonnen, owner of the Amsterdam Manege, attended the Voorn–Muller debate.
“People want quick results: jumping, showing, ribbons. Social media only adds pressure.”
Yet she implemented changes: smaller group sizes, more time with horses, and a stronger focus on horse welfare.
🟩 “We Must Do Better”
Muller believes the debate is only beginning. She organized a second evening of discussion afterward, which drew dozens of attendees. Now, over 150 riders — from amateurs to professionals, instructors and judges — are co-authoring a manifesto calling for major changes in equestrian education.
“We need to teach more about how horses think, feel, and learn,” says Muller.
“We must train in a way that doesn’t make them suffer.”
She pauses.
“I love riding. But how can we do it without harming the horse? That’s the challenge.”
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