British Equestrian reinforces commitment to equine guardianship through new welfare action plan

British Equestrian, in conjuction with British Dressage and other member bodies have released an update on the federation's ongoing commitment to enhance equine welfare. 

Equine welfare and the ethical care and use of horses are at the heart of British Equestrian (BEF) and our work. We constantly seek to ensure that the needs of our horses are at the forefront of decision-making and without compromise to their health, safety or wellbeing. Reflecting our commitment to continuous improvement and evolving equine welfare and ethics expectations, the federation and its member bodies have intensified efforts to raise standards, strengthen compliance and drive meaningful change.

Ahead of World Horse Day on 11 July, the United Nations-backed celebration of the vital role horses play in society, British Equestrian is proud to provide further details of the Equine Welfare Action Plan 2026–2028 - a clear roadmap for continuous progress within the federation over the current four-year Olympic cycle and beyond.

As the national federation, British Equestrian unites 19 member organisations under a shared commitment to responsible equine guardianship. Guided by the Charter for the Horse (introduced in 2022), alongside a comprehensive and enhanced rulebook and Equine Ethics and Welfare Policy released last year, the federation provides a framework which supports member bodies to deliver leisure, sporting and educational activities under the governance of their own rules, codes and policies.

EQUINE ETHICS & WELFARE POLICY

British Equestrian is committed to:

• Upholding the highest standards of welfare and ethical practices for horses in activities under our jurisdiction.
• Driving continuous improvement in our guardianship role through education and insight.
• Building engagement, credibility and trust in the equestrian sector so we remain legitimate, relevant and sustainable.
• Demonstrating the social importance and relevance of horses to society and culture in Great Britain.

To help deliver these goals, British Equestrian created the Equine Welfare and Ethics Advisory Group (EWEAG) in 2022, independently chaired by Professor Madeleine Campbell. This was followed by the Equine Welfare Steering Group (EWSG) in 2024, led by the BEF Chair Fields Wicker-Miurin OBE FKC. The EWSG drives changes in policy, rules, coaching and compliance through specialist taskforces in regulation, education and communications. The group comprises leaders from member bodies, veterinary experts, elite equestrian athletes and BEF staff.

These groups are in addition to the existing specialist committees that continue to operate across equine science, horse health and anti-doping.

Key recent progress and current priorities 

Enhanced welfare reporting: Over the past year, the federation has implemented a dedicated reporting and case management system (Globocol), to which any concern about the welfare of a horse can be reported. This new system enables better reporting, tracking and compliance with the federation’s horse welfare standards across all member bodies.  Additionally, all equine fatalities that occur in federation events under member bodies’ auspices are now reported and reviewed to enable data-led decision making and improved safety measures.

Equine Welfare Officer Network: Relevant member bodies now have nominated Welfare Officers, who are the main points of contact for reported concerns. These individuals are supported with training and development and work collaboratively across the federation and with organisations such as the RSPCA, SSPCA and World Horse Welfare to strengthen alignment and best practice.

Equine medication principles: The federation has developed a set of principles regarding the ethical use of medication in horses. Prepared with input from the British Equestrian Veterinary Association, the principles state that all veterinary medication use be clinically justified and aligned with anti-doping rules.

Stronger governance: British Equestrian revised its rulebook in 2025 to include stricter regulation on the protection of equine welfare. Self-assurance requirements, updated codes of conduct and welfare policies are now embedded across member organisations.

Coaching reform: Equine welfare content such as ethical training, welfare models and equine learning theory and ethical roles and training for coaches has been embedded in an updated coaching framework to be used across the federation. Developed in conjunction with 1st4Sport, education on equine welfare is central to these coaching programmes. Materials to support ongoing CPD are in preparation for existing coaches and qualifications. The EWSG is also focusing on enhancing our training and education programmes for officials to ensure equine welfare remains a paramount consideration for officials at all levels and competitions.

Disciplinary alignment: The federated structure we operate under requires an aligned approach to case management and disciplinary procedures, so an immediate priority has been to establish clearer, more consistent and more robust processes. This includes a looking at ‘return to play’ requirements for those who receive equine welfare sanctions.

Horse registration ambition: Work is underway to improve traceability across a horse’s involvement within federation activities via registration processes, supporting biosecurity, welfare and safeguarding. Only by implementing a cross-sector tracking and monitoring process will we be able to effectively act as guardians for horses while they are in our care.

Communications: A coordinated approach to proactive and reactive communications has been implemented to promote welfare education, raise awareness and share positive equine experiences, and those who champion them. This includes showcasing best practice, while also celebrating the unique bond and partnership between horses and humans.

This action plan is being continuously reviewed, ensuring progress remains measurable and aligned with emerging challenges and opportunities. The work is underpinned by sport and activity-specific action plans developed by individual member bodies to ensure there is a concerted effort and coordinated approach across the federation.

Fields Wicker-Miurin OBE FKC, Chair of British Equestrian, said: “The horse must always come first. There can be no compromise on their health, safety or wellbeing. We have a responsibility - as regulators, educators and, most importantly, as people who love horses - to deliver real, tangible change and to hold ourselves and others to the highest standards.

“Increased scrutiny offers an opportunity to demonstrate what good welfare looks like, to be transparent in our actions and to celebrate those who dedicate their lives to delivering a positive environment for horses. We have made good progress, but there is always potential for improvement. We keep learning, as science and evidence reveals new insights about horse welfare and behaviour, and we will continue to evolve in response to these developments. Only by being humble and recognising there is collectively more to do will we be able to build a sustainable, trusted future for equestrianism.

“Our advocacy for horses never stops. Acting has their guardians, we will continue to champion their value to society and never waver in our commitment to put welfare at the forefront of every activity across our community through knowledge, education and learning,” she concluded.

British Equestrian has expanded the ethics and welfare section of their website and added a reporting hub to raise safeguarding, welfare, anti-doping or integrity concerns in complete confidence, which is accessible from any web page. For member body-specific equine welfare policies, rules, initiatives and frameworks, please visit their respective websites.