A Good Life For Horses
Understanding what makes a good life for horses is vital in our efforts to ensure horses' needs are met, and horse welfare is a priority across all our breeds and disciplines.
In this series of videos, Equestrian Olympic gold medalist and US Equestrian Chief of Sport David O'Connor shares what comprises "A Good Life For Horses." By focusing on communication, their life in competition and training, and their life outside of competition, you can begin to see the full picture of what "a good life for horses" means.
Communicating With Horses
Communication and the relationships between horses and humans is key when looking at what makes a good life for all horses. Despite being an interaction between two different species, horses are prey animals who are willing to have a partnership with a predator--humans. O'Connor explains how body language can be used to communicate with horses. In addition, he covers the importance of patience and allowing horses the time to understand and choose the activities that we are asking them to do.
In Competition and Training
Prioritizing horse health and well-being in training and competition environments is paramount. USEF competition rules are in place to prevent harm to horses and create a positive, fair and safe field of play experience. Competitors and officials must continuously evaluate their practices to confirm alignment with the modern public and safety standards. O'Connor cites the balance between competition practices, public understanding, and everyday horse welfare as paramount to the safety and the well-being of horses.
Outside of Competition
The time horses spend outside of competition and training is key to ensuring a good life for horses. Horses typically spend less than an hour a day in training or competition. Good practices to maximize horse happiness consist of three F's: forage (sufficient feed and hay), friends (interaction with humans and other horses), and freedom (ample opportunity to turn out, hand graze, and socialize).