“The Paris Olympics in 2024 are a unique, exceptional opportunity to highlight and sustainably the well-being of equine athletes, belonging to the only animal species competing at the Olympics.
At a time when animal welfare has been elevated to the rank of societal and political concern, becoming a media subject, and with the approach of a new edition of the largest sporting event on the planet, truly taking Taking into account the well-being of horses is essential if we want the equestrian events at the Olympic Games to continue.
“Certain practices that are disrespectful to animals are part of the training course of the horse-athlete intended for competition”
Perceiving the horse only as an instrument of performance in the service of its rider and the country it represents, forgetting the sensitive being it represents, is a vision of the past and must evolve in the light of scientific publications. on animal emotions, their perception of pain and their sensitivity to stress.
These notions must serve as a basis for the implementation of appropriate practices.
The Paris Olympics, a showcase for Olympic sport, offer France the opportunity to initiate a new relationship with equine athletes, the scope of which will be international and must extend to the equine sporting sector.
Certain disrespectful practices towards the animal are part of the training course of the horse-athlete destined for competition.
In many equestrian disciplines, these practices take place during training, through the use of restrictive equipment such as uncomfortable hind gaiters, excessive spurs, tight nosebands, restraining reins, coercive bits.
Certain practices themselves are just as reprehensible, such as violent hand actions, abusive use of the crop or spurs, prolonged hyperflexion of the neck that is potentially harmful on a physical level and degrading on a psychological level, etc.
Of course, these practices are the work of a minority and not all riders are to blame, but it only takes a few for the image of equestrian sports to be damaged and for them to be in danger of disappearing.
For their part, equestrian authorities take supervisory measures, notably through charters dedicated to the well-being of horses, the intentions of which are certainly laudable... but never restrictive.
“46 recommendations which were the subject of a recent parliamentary report”
As France prepares to become, next July, the center of attention of hundreds of millions of people around the world, our country must set an example and make new advances in the consideration of animals. in our society.
France could take the lead and promote the fight against equine abuse through restrictive regulation of equipment (bits, spurs, gaiters, etc.) and equestrian practices during horses' training, warm-up and competition.
Also read What if Paris 2024 raised the bar for animal welfare?
As the Paris Olympics approach, which will see the horse riding events take place on the marvelous site of the Palace of Versailles, dream of a better world for the animal which embodies a major success of domestication and establish an ethical framework for equine well-being to be respected requires the application of 46 recommendations which were the subject of a recent parliamentary report, and also applicable to all two equestrian competitions beyond the Olympic Games.
These recommendations were reread by experts, veterinarians and all the organizations interviewed.
Here are some examples:
carry out longitudinal monitoring of horses in preparation for the Olympic Games and plan anti-doping samples between one month and fifteen days before the veterinary visit ahead of the events;
on all training and event sites, set up a “welfare committee”, an ethics committee made up of independent experts who will be able to move freely throughout the Olympic equestrian event site as part of a special “equine well-being at the Olympic Games” mission;
develop video surveillance on the entire site which will be made available to the “welfare committee”;
strictly limit the use of the whip under penalty of sanction or even disqualification.
Video surveillance may be requested if necessary as a means of proof;
film the tests for delayed analysis and possible sanctioning;
systematically check the conformity of the rider's artificial aids (spurs, crop), the horse's harness and protection, as provided for in the regulations;
regulate these aids: foam spurs less than 2 cm long, ban on hind gaiters, authorize light and loose fetlock guards;
obtain the opinion of the welfare committee in the event of bleeding on a horse to stop the continuation of an event;
prohibit the flexion of the neck placing the chamfer behind the vertical throughout the Olympic enclosure (“hyperflexion”) and apply sanctions with immediate effect for all equestrian disciplines;
-equip the cross-country course with 100% obstacles designed to give way in the event of a fall or strong grip by the horse.
It is up to the organizing committee for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and itself, following the hearing of different organizations, to decide on the future of these recommendations.
It is about the sustainability of equestrian sports, the French tradition that accompanies them and, ultimately, the survival of the horse, an auxiliary of man for 2,200 years, a marvelous animal which has, in turn, enabled the man to move around, to share his destiny during wars, to ensure the growth of agriculture and who is today the main protagonist of sporting disciplines appreciated throughout the world.
Let us give him, in exchange for his generosity and his trust in us, the consideration and respect he deserves.
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The petitioners :
Dr Loïc Dombreval, veterinarian, president of the CNPA (National Council for Animal Protection);
Dr Thierry Bedossa, veterinarian, president of Agir pour la vie animale (AVA);
Dr Thomas Bertholdy, equine veterinarian;
Allain Bougrain-Dubourg, president of the LPO;
Dr Vincent Boureau, veterinarian, vice-president of the Association of French Equine Veterinarians (AVEF) and founder of Equi-Ethic, a think-tank dedicated to the well-being of equines;
Pr W. Robert Cook, Emeritus Professor, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, Boston;
Marie-Bénédicte Desvallon, lawyer and solicitor of England & Wales, director of the “animals and the law” session at the National School of the Judiciary;
Professor Nathalie Crevier-Denoix, professor at the National Veterinary School of Alfort, director of the unit associated with INRAe “Biomechanics and locomotor pathology of the horse”;
Shelby Dennis, Founder of Milestone Equestrian, Certified Equine Behavior Consultant;
Professor Jean-Marie Denoix, professor emeritus of the National Veterinary School of Alfort, founder of the International Society of Equine Locomotor Pathology;
Alice Di Concetto, animal law lawyer, The European Institute for Animal Law & Policy, Patrick Galloux, squire professor and former member of the Cadre Noir and the French equestrian team;
Dr Jacques Guérin, veterinarian, president of the National Council of the Order of Veterinarians;
Martine Hausberger, research director at CNRS;
Caroline Hegarty, Founder of Equitopia and Founding Member of the Alliance for Horse Welfare in Sport;
Dr Christophe Hugnet, veterinarian, president of the National Company of veterinary experts in justice;
Maud Lafon, veterinarian, general secretary of Agir pour la vie animale;
Stéphane Lamart, president of the Stéphane Lamart association;
Frédéric Lenoir, Philosopher and writer;
Professor Paul McGreevy, Sydney School of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney 4;
Dr Laurent Mangold, equine veterinarian, vice-president of the Association of French Equine Veterinarians (AVEF);
Christophe Marie, deputy director of the Brigitte Bardot Foundation;
Dr Emma Milne, veterinarian, fellow of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons;
Professor Luc Mounier, veterinarian, professor holding the chair of animal welfare, VetagroSup;
Dr Jacques Nardin, veterinarian;
Dr Alina Palichleb, veterinarian, director of Eastern European Equine Practitioners'Congress;
Dr Sarah Pradeaud, veterinarian, head of the CAPdouleur Equine network;
Katia Renard, editor-in-chief of “30 Million d’amis”;
Mathieu Ricard, philosopher and writer;
Louis Schweitzer, president of the LFDA, Animal Law, Ethics and Sciences Foundation;
Véronique de Saint Vaultry, equestrian artist and writer;
Henri-Jean Servat, journalist and writer, municipal councilor of Nice;
Dr Eva Van Avermaet, veterinarian, founder of the Collective for Horses;
Albert Voorn, Olympic medalist in the show jumping competition,
Sydney 2000 Olympics;
Corinne Vignon, MP, president of the “animal condition and welfare” study group;
Cristina Wilkins, editor, Horses and People;
Ghislain Zuccolo, general director of Welfarm;
Jean-Marc Zulesi, MP, chairman of the Sustainable Development and Regional Planning Committee