After bad cases of horse welfare, Danes must defend World Championship title: 'Not enough has been done'

The reigning world champions from Denmark and their dressage horses enter the arena in Aachen, Germany, today.

But when world number one Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour, together with Carina Cassøe Krüth, Daniel Bachmann Andersen and Nadja Aabo Sloth, begin their world title defence, it happens against a backdrop of several cases of poor treatment of the animals.

Cases that have brought about changes in Danish equestrian sport, according to the Danish Equestrian Federation.

During the 2024 Paris Olympics, dressage was hit by a crisis and a heated debate about animal welfare after images of dressage horses with blue tongues went around the world in international media. A sign that bits in their mouths had been tightened too hard, causing oxygen deprivation.

Read also: Equestrian federation finds signs of mistreatment of Olympic horses after reviewing images (https://www.dr.dk/sporten/ol/rideforbund-finder-tegn-paa-mishandling-af-ol-heste-efter-gennemgang-af-billeder)

Ahead of the same Olympics, Carina Cassøe Krüth withdrew (https://www.dr.dk/sporten/dansk-toprytter-chokerer-ved-piske-hest-i-laekket-video-det-er-direkte-vold-mod-hesten) from the Olympic squad after a training video showed her using a whip on the horse. Later that year, dressage rider Andreas Helgstrand took responsibility for mistreatment of horses (https://www.dr.dk/sporten/ridning/andreas-helgstrand-tager-ansvaret-mishandling-af-heste-i-sin-milliardforretning) in his billion-kroner business following an exposé documentary by TV2.

But when the Danish riders step forward today in Germany, one will be able to see a change. At least that is the opinion of the Secretary General of the Danish Equestrian Federation, Jens-Erik Majlund, after the federation made several changes in the wake of the critical stories.

- We are going to see some much more content horses, he says.

According to the Chair of the Danish Equestrian Federation, Kimi Gerd Nielsen, Danish equestrian sport stands "in a much stronger place" after the debate of recent years.

Horses are simply not built for equestrian sports like dressage, according to the Danish Animal Protection Society, which calls for much more focus on competitions on the animals' terms. (Photo: © Joe Klamar, AFP/Ritzau Scanpix)

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New measures in Denmark, not internationally

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After the cases in 2024, the Danish Equestrian Federation got a new board and a number of changes to benefit horse welfare.

Among other things, new ethical guidelines for the treatment of horses have been introduced, changed judging formats with greater focus on the horse's relaxation, harmony and suppleness, and new sanctions when rules are broken.

Especially the new judging criteria, where greater emphasis is placed on the horses' demonstrated well-being, is something Jens-Erik Majlund believes will yield good results.

- It matters to the riders. They train for it, and I also know that the way we ride is the way our judges – also the international judges – want to see dressage riding in the future, he says.

At the World Championships, different judging criteria apply. Nevertheless, the Secretary General of the Danish Equestrian Federation believes that it can be an advantage that the Danes ride differently.

>

> There will be images of horses that do not want to be there, that are stressed

> or in pain

> Anne Sofie Meilvang, biologist and consultant at the Danish Animal Protection Society

- The rules we have in Denmark produce nicer rides. That is shown by the results our riders have demonstrated this year around the world, says Jens-Erik Majlund.

However, he is cautious about expecting the International Equestrian Federation, which sets the rules for the World Championships, to make the same changes in the sport.

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Critics: Long way to go

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If you ask some of the biggest critics of equestrian sport's treatment of horses, the story is different.

According to the Danish Animal Protection Society, despite the changes in Denmark, there is still a long way to go before horses in dressage sport are treated as they should be. That is what Anne Sofie Meilvang, a biologist and consultant for international work and animal welfare, says.

- As far as we are concerned, not enough has happened. And we keep seeing from these events that there are images of horses that do not want to be there, that are stressed or in pain. And they actually show that quite clearly if you look, she says.

Anne Sofie Meilvang acknowledges that there has been a change among the riders and in the debate about equestrian sport, which she believes is pushing development in the right direction.

- It is very healthy that we are having this conversation. It just also needs to lead to action, she says.

If the Danish Animal Protection Society has its way, legislation should be enacted – preferably at an international level – that puts the horses' welfare first, including rules on how often they may participate in events.

And it is precisely such rules that Danish MEP Niels Fuglsang (Social Democrats) has fought for in the EU as chair of the animal welfare group. He also does not believe that enough is happening from within equestrian sport's own ranks to improve horse welfare.

- It is a sport in crisis. And I think many people are saying no to the examples of animal abuse that have been seen, he says, referring to the aforementioned blue tongues and whip videos.

Niels Fuglsang believes that rules rather than guidelines need to be put on the table to create change. Even though the Danish Equestrian Federation points out that it will be difficult to gather all parties in the International Equestrian Federation around the same rules when animal ethics can differ across the world, Niels Fuglsang believes it can be done.

- If Europe made some rules together, I think it would have an effect, he says.

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