31/03/2025
๐๐ก๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ช๐ฎ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐ข๐๐ง ๐๐ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฉ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ข๐๐ฌ? ๐ ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐จ๐จ๐ค ๐๐ญ ๐๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ข๐ ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฅ๐จ๐ซโ๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ
Iโve spend the last couple of days reading this book and highly advise people to as well and make your own mind up but here is my thoughts
For over a century, equestrian sports have been a part of the Olympic Games, showcasing the unique partnership between horse and rider. However, Julie Taylorโs book, The Case for Dropping Equestrian from the Olympic Games, challenges this long-standing tradition, arguing that the sport raises serious ethical concerns particularly regarding equine welfare.
Iโm not against competition. In fact, I think sports, at their best, bring out human excellence and inspire us to push past our limits. But when it comes to equestrian in the Olympics, I believe Taylor makes a compelling case that we need to take a step back until the world can truly figure out whatโs going on behind the scenes in the equine industry.
Iโve looked into Taylorโs argument in-depth, addressing the core issues of equine welfare, accessibility, fairness, and the role of tradition. If we want the Olympics to reflect the best of humanity, we must also consider how our decisions impact the animals we involve in competition.
๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ข๐๐๐๐ง ๐๐จ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ช๐ฎ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐ข๐๐ง ๐๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐ฌ: ๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐๐ง๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฌ๐๐ฌ?
One of the most powerful aspects of Taylorโs book is her unflinching examination of how horses are treated in high-level equestrian sports. Itโs easy to be mesmerized by the elegance of dressage or the excitement of show jumping, but behind the scenes, the pressure to perform can lead to serious ethical compromises.
Horses used for Olympic-level competition endure intense training, long-distance travel, and often brutal discipline to ensure peak performance. While many riders and trainers genuinely care for their horses, the industry as a whole can be unforgiving. A horse that doesnโt perform well can quickly become expendable sold, retired, or even euthanized if it is deemed no longer profitable.
A particularly disturbing moment in recent Olympic history brought this issue to global attention. During the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, modern pentathlon athlete Annika Schleu was seen in tears as her assigned horse, Saint Boy, refused to jump. Under immense pressure, she repeatedly struck the horse with her whip while her coach, Kim Raisner, encouraged her to โreally hit him.โ The shocking footage sparked international outrage, raising urgent questions about the ethical treatment of horses in Olympic competition.
Taylor argues that this wasnโt just an isolated incident,it was a symptom of a larger problem. Horses are not inanimate equipment; they are living beings with their own needs, fears, and limits. And yet, the Olympic system often treats them as disposable assets rather than sentient partners in sport.
Until we have stronger regulations in place to protect these animals, Taylor suggests, the best course of action may be to remove equestrian from the Games altogether.
๐ ๐๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ๐: ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฆ
Another significant argument in Taylorโs book is that equestrian sports are among the least accessible disciplines in the Olympics. Unlike track and field, swimming, or gymnastics sports that require primarily human ability and dedication equestrian sports demand an enormous financial investment.
The costs involved in training and maintaining a competitive horse are staggering. A top-level horse can cost anywhere from hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars. Then thereโs the expense of training, stabling, veterinary care, transportation, and competition fees.
Because of this, the sport is overwhelmingly dominated by athletes from wealthy backgrounds. Itโs nearly impossible for someone without significant financial backing to break into the upper levels of equestrian competition.
Taylor argues that this exclusivity contradicts the Olympic spirit. The Games are supposed to be about bringing together athletes from all walks of life, showcasing talent regardless of nationality or socioeconomic status. Yet, equestrian events remain largely inaccessible to athletes from developing nations or less privileged backgrounds.
So, if equestrian is a sport only a small, wealthy fraction of the world can afford to compete in, should it really be part of the Olympics?
๐
๐๐ข๐ซ๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฌ๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง
One of the most unique aspects of equestrian sports is that the performance isnโt solely based on human ability itโs a combination of both the riderโs skill and the horseโs capabilities. Taylor raises an important question: Can a sport be considered fair when so much depends on an animal, rather than just the athlete?
Unlike sports where all competitors rely on their own bodies, equestrian events are influenced by factors outside of the riderโs control, such as:
The quality of the horse (some are naturally more athletic or better trained).
The financial resources to acquire and maintain a top-tier horse.
The unpredictable nature of animals, who may refuse to perform regardless of training.
This is particularly evident in disciplines like show jumping and dressage, where a well-trained, well-bred horse can make all the difference. Taylor points out that in many cases, riders at the Olympic level are competing not just with their skill, but with the financial and genetic advantage of the horses they ride.
In contrast, most Olympic sports level the playing field by requiring athletes to rely purely on their own strength, agility, and training. Taylor argues that this fundamental difference raises valid concerns about whether equestrian belongs in the same category as other Olympic sports.
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ช๐ฒ๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ป๐ผ๐๐ด๐ต?
One of the strongest counterarguments to Taylorโs position is that equestrian sports have a long history in the Olympics. Since their official inclusion in 1912, they have become deeply embedded in the culture of the Games. Many equestrian enthusiasts argue that removing these events would be an unnecessary loss of tradition.
But Taylor challenges this assumption by pointing out that tradition alone is not a good enough reason to continue a practice that may no longer align with modern Olympic values. The Games have evolved before sports like tug-of-war, polo, and baseball have been removed over time as the Olympics adapted to changing societal values and interests.
If equestrian sports no longer align with the principles of fairness, inclusivity, and ethical treatment of animals, Taylor suggests, then itโs time to question whether tradition should outweigh progress.
๐๐ถ๐๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ข๐น๐๐บ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ
Equestrian sports have a rich history at the Olympics, dating back to their first inclusion in 1900 and becoming a permanent fixture by 1912 in Stockholm. In those early days, the sport wasnโt about wealth it was about military skill and horsemanship. Until 1952, only commissioned military officers could compete, and riders didnโt own the horses themselves. The mounts were often cavalry horses, showcasing the bond between rider and horse that had been forged through service. These events werenโt just competitions they were a test of a riderโs ability to work with any horse in demanding, real-world conditions. It wasnโt about privilege or access to elite resources; it was about raw skill, experience, and trust.
Even after civilians were allowed to compete, the sport retained its working-class roots for some time. Riders such as Britainโs Harry Llewellyn, who famously won gold in the 1952 Helsinki Olympics with Foxhunter, were celebrated for their horsemanship rather than the price tag of their horses. The courses were tough, designed to replicate the challenges faced in the field, and riders were admired for their grit and talent, not their ability to buy their way into competition.
But over the years, as the sport modernised, money began to take centre stage. Today, success in equestrian events often depends more on financial backing than sheer talent. Horses bred for top-level competition can cost millions, and sponsorship deals and access to world-class facilities dominate the sport. The Olympic dream, once about skill and determination, now feels out of reach for those without significant financial resources. Equestrian has drifted far from its humble beginnings, and until the sport addresses this imbalance, itโs worth questioning whether it still aligns with the Olympic spirit of fairness and equality.
๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ก๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ฎ๐ฝ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ป ๐ก๐ฒ๐
๐?
Taylor doesnโt argue that equestrian sports should be eliminated altogether. Instead, she believes that before they can remain part of the Olympics, the industry must undergo serious reform. Some key changes she suggests include:
1.๐๐ญ๐ซ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐๐ซ ๐๐ง๐ข๐ฆ๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ โ ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ข๐๐ฌ ๐ฌ๐ก๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ ๐ข๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐ข๐๐ญ๐๐ซ ๐ ๐ฎ๐ข๐๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ ๐ก๐จ๐ซ๐ฌ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ ๐ก๐ฎ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ฒ, ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ญ๐ข๐๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ฏ๐ข๐จ๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ.
2.๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐ฒ โ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ง๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ข๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐ก๐จ๐๐ฌ, ๐ข๐ง๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ฒ ๐ซ๐๐ญ๐๐ฌ, ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฌ๐ญ-๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ก๐จ๐ซ๐ฌ๐๐ฌ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ง๐๐๐๐๐.
3.๐๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ซ ๐๐๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ โ ๐๐ ๐๐ช๐ฎ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐ข๐๐ง ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ซ๐๐ฆ๐๐ข๐ง ๐ข๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ข๐๐ฌ, ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฌ๐ก๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฆ๐๐ค๐ ๐ข๐ญ ๐ฆ๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ญ๐ก๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐ ๐๐๐๐ค๐ ๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐๐ฌ.
4.๐๐๐๐ฏ๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐จ๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐
๐๐ข๐ซ๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ฌ โ ๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐ข๐๐๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐จ๐ ๐ก๐จ๐ฐ ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ฆ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฌ๐ ๐ฌ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ซ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ก๐ฎ๐ฆ๐๐ง ๐ฌ๐ค๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ, ๐ง๐จ๐ญ ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐ข๐ง๐๐ง๐๐ข๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐ฏ๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ ๐.
Until these issues are addressed, Taylor argues and I agree that it might be best to remove equestrian from the Olympics. Not because the sport itself isnโt valuable, but because we owe it to the horses, the athletes, and the integrity of the Games to ensure that competition is fair, ethical, and truly representative of the Olympic spirit.
At the very least, the world needs to take a hard look at whatโs happening in the equine industry before continuing to place these incredible animals on the global stage without full assurance that their welfare is the top priority.
Have a read of book and let me know your thoughts.