Bridging the Gap: Advocating for Equine Welfare in a Professional Setting

Excluding the sketchy sides of the industry, there’s two main sides to the equine world. The side of competitors, professionals, businesses, etc. And the side of compassionate equine-science geeks who would rather have a partner and a companion than a money-making beast. Or, you’re somewhere in the middle, like me. A professional some compassionate equestrians dislike because I make an income off of horses, but also an advocate for equine welfare disliked by majority of natural and traditional horse people who role their eyes at the mention of “positive reinforcement.”

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The debate of what’s right for the horses has caused conflict amongst equestrians for centuries, as everyone believes their way is the right (and only) way. We drag each other’s names through the mud, treat people poorly, end lifelong friendships, and cause unnecessary drama, one of the many reasons the equine industry can be so toxic. But how do we bridge the gap between worlds? How do we make equine welfare a priority…. While still going to competitions, seminars, teaching clinics, and other activities we all love so much?

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Mackenzie Wilde, owner and founder of Wilde Child Horsemanship has created a list of ways we can work to make the professional world a healthier place for the horses.

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1) Take humans out of the equation

Our priority should ALWAYS be the well-being of the horse. In order to do this, we need to leave our thoughts and opinions at home. Forget about pointing our other equestrian’s mistakes, throw what we know out the window and focus purely on the science.

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What does science say about equine welfare? Which disciplines have been proven safe or unsafe for the horse? It doesn’t matter if we’ve been doing something for generations (newsflash, the world is evolving… we need to do the same), if a famous clinician says it’s right (I could tell you the sky is green, but that doesn’t mean it’s true), or if we’re SO close to winning an award or making lots of money (the horse is more important than fame or finances), if science has proven something is harmful, we need to put everything else aside and do what’s right for the horse.

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Humans are a species that thrive on conflict. Oftentimes our wants, desires, and needs come before others. In order to bridge the gap between the professional world and the world of equine welfare, we need to completely remove humans from the situation and ask ourselves “What does the HORSE need?” Don’t worry about what Stacey who’s been riding since the Stone Age or some “famous” person online says. What does the HORSE need?

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2) Study equine science from a TRUSTED and RELIABLE source

​You can’t put your horse’s well-being first if you’re unwilling to expand your knowledge. One of Wilde Child’s Training Principles (which can be studied more in-depth in our Online Academy), is “There’s Always More to Learn.” Take every single opportunity you have to educate yourself about the equine species.

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If you’re a reiner, research how reining affects a horse’s physical health. If you’re a trainer, research the science behind certain methods. If you’re an animal activist who believes all equine disciplines are cruel…. well just do some research. The more you learn about equine science, equine welfare, behavior, and all things horse, the more you’ll be able to improve your horsemanship and help others do the same.

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However. Make sure your source is TRUSTED and RELIABLE. It’s better to educate yourself with material provided by people with degrees than some random professional you follow online. Just because someone has been in the equine industry for a while or makes money doing equine-related activities, DOES NOT mean they’re going to have the right answers. Take certain things with a grain of salt and know where to find reliable sources of information.

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3) Plan your goals wisely.

When setting goals (both personal and professional) it’s important to plan them wisely. Are you going to be that person who makes the same goal, year after year, but never actually works towards achieving it? Or are you the person who turns your goals into a reality?

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If we want equine welfare to be more common within the industry, we need to make goals with the horse’s best interests in mind. Want to become a professional eventer? How can you do that while putting the horse’s needs first? Want to compete in your first barrel race? Can this be accomplished with your horse’s health as a priority?

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It doesn’t matter which part of the industry you’re in or want to be in. Your goals can most certainly be achieved, but our biggest goal should be making the horse’s health our top priority. At the end of the day, no goal can be achieved without actively (and passionately) working to accomplish them.

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4) Practice what you’ve studied

​You can research content all day long, but if you don’t take what you’ve learned into the real world, nothing is going to happen. So often we learn about something, hire a trainer, get advice, and more…. But neglect to do anything else.

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If we do not allow the seed (the information) to grow (impact our lives), it’ll eventually disappear in the back of our minds. We owe it to ourselves and ESPECIALLY to the horses to actively apply our discoveries to our lives. If you’re going to pour time, energy, and resources into studying our horses, you may as well put it to good use. Whether you change how you handle your equine partners, start a blog, advocate at events or online, mentoring others, or whatever else you can think of, leading by example is one of the best ways you can fight for change in the equine industry.

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5) Put yourselves out there

Seriously. This one is HUGE. While the internet has millions of ways to connect with others and get your name out there, meeting people face to face, working in front of a live audience, and communicating with people provides a different experience. Everyone can hide behind an alias online, not everyone can do the same in person.

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You also don’t have to start with big, massive events either. My first event I purchased a ten dollar booth at a local small business convention. Now I teach clinics and demos at invite-only events in front of thousands of people.

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By getting yourself out there, even if you’re just sitting outside the feed store with pamphlets, you’re planting a seed in the lives of people you meet. People are going to see you handling your horses differently, advocating for a better world, and standing out amongst others. They’re going to start talking, maybe do some research, and possibly even change how they do things. All it takes is one person to start a chain reaction.

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6) Accept no as an answer

Once you get into the professional world, either all of your hard work at home will pay off…. Or things won’t go according to plan.

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If your horse is struggling or having a bad day, listen to them. We can’t fight for more humane horsemanship practices if we ignore our own horses when they try to communicate. It doesn’t matter how much money is at stake or what will happen to your reputation, if you are going to advocate for change, you have to lead by example. Surrender all control and expectations and understand that your horse is a living, breathing beings. You’re not going to win every competition or have only good days. Bad days happen. It’s better to accept them than fight them.

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In the grand scheme of things, someone who sacrifices a title or a check to put their horse’s well-being first is more of a winner than someone who cares more about their reputation than their horse.

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7) There’s nothing natural about riding

The thing is, there is absolutely NOTHING natural about riding horses. Horses were wild animals until some random person decided to try and domesticate them centuries ago. While people ride horses every day both for fun or as a career, there’s still nothing natural about it.

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This isn’t going to stop people from riding and competing no matter how much we talk about it, so our only option is to fight for better, more humane ways of doing things. ​

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There’s a difference between riding yearlings at the race track and riding a fully developed horse at a clinic. The goal and priority is that one day, the professional world will handle horses humanely and prioritize the animal’s well-being over fame and fortune.

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At the end of the day, horses can’t advocate for themselves as humans rarely take the time to understand their language. The ones who truly care about the welfare of the animal are the ones who need to speak up for these magnificent creatures. We need to be the voice to the voiceless if we ever want to bridge the gap between the professional side of the equine industry and what’s actually right by the horse.