A recent survey by World Horse Welfare reveals that less than a third of the UK public believes most sport horses live good lives, highlighting a significant trust gap between the equestrian community and the general public. Among 4,600 adults surveyed, 22% do not support horse involvement in sport, while 42% only support it if welfare improves, and 58% want enhanced safety and welfare measures. The public strongly favors natural horse needs such as social contact, rest after competitions, and turnout time. However, only a small minority accept the use of whips, spurs, or forceful training methods, contrasting with some complacency among horse people regarding these practices.

The survey underscores the public’s instinctive understanding of equine welfare and calls for the equestrian world to build greater trust through measures like unannounced welfare inspections and mandatory education for those involved with sport horses. World Horse Welfare emphasizes that while equestrians may believe horses enjoy competing, there is no concrete evidence to support this, and the majority of the public remains unconvinced that all sport horses have good lives. The findings suggest a need for the industry to bridge the gap in perceptions and improve transparency and welfare standards.