Are We Doing Enough for Equine Wellness and Welfare?
- Horses Inside Out
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
If you've been anywhere near the equestrian world over the last couple of years, you'll know that welfare isn't just a buzzword anymore. It's there in the debates about social license to operate, in the questions non-equestrians ask us, and also in the quieter moments when we look at our own horses and ask ourselves whether they are comfortable and happy.
That's why Wellness and Welfare is the theme for the Horses Inside Out Conference 2027, (20 - 21 February 2027).
"It's something that's at the forefront of all of our minds. With so much happening in the equestrian world from a social license perspective, but also just becoming much more aware of the horses that we love and that we work with." Gillian Higgins.
It's a topic that divides people. On the one hand, equestrian sport is under more scrutiny than ever, non-equestrians looking in often see it as elitist, expensive, and increasingly they're asking a harder question: should we be riding horses at all? On the other hand, as Gillian points out, the answer to that scrutiny isn't defensiveness. It's better knowledge, and better practice.
"It's up to us, everyone involved in the equine world, to do as much as we can to make sure horses are comfortable, happy and healthy."
Learning to See What We Might Be Missing
Some of this is uncomfortable work. Gillian has spent time recently working alongside Dr Sue Dyson creating the Movement and Behaviour online course, and gaining a greater understanding of Sue's Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram, and it's changed the way she looks at the horses she meets day to day.
"Studying this, and really using this, helps me spot horses that are uncomfortable, horses that aren't particularly happy. Although this may seem a little depressing, I see it as a real positive thing, because we're getting more awareness."
That's the thinking behind this year's conference theme: not guilt, but genuine, practical awareness. The kind that changes how we manage, train and care for the horses whether you're a horse owner or equine professional.
Rethinking "Healthy Weight"
One area Gillian is particularly keen to unpick is bodyweight, a topic where, even among experienced horse people, there's still real confusion.
Look around and it's not hard to spot horses carrying more condition than is good for them, often because outdated ideas about what "healthy" looks like are still doing the rounds.
"There's misconceptions about healthy weight and overweight horses. A common one is that you've got to be fat before you can get fit, well, that's not true. Fat doesn't necessarily turn into muscle."
Gillian has been exploring this topic further with Alison Talbot from the University of Liverpool, whose research uses CT scans to look at fat deposits within the tongue and how they affect the soft palate, the position of the larynx, and ultimately a horse's breathing.
"If a horse is overweight, they'll often make a noise in their airways — just like overweight people often snore more, because of the size of the tongue affecting their breathing. We're seeing these same patterns in horses."
It's a telling reminder that "just a bit overweight" is rarely just cosmetic and has more far reaching consequences on the horse.
Putting the Full Picture Together
Obesity is one piece of a much bigger puzzle. As Gillian puts it, wellness and welfare means looking at every single aspect of a horse's management — from hoof care and the tack fit, to dentistry, coaching and therapy work, each one shapes a horse's day-to-day life.
Just as you would expect, the Horses Inside Out 2027 conference: Wellness and Welfare will bring together a genuinely broad range of expertise to explore the topic from every angle — from equine obesity, to the farrier's perspective, the role of tack fit, understanding behaviour and much more. Rather than one narrow view of "welfare," expect a conference that brings together and connects nutrition, biomechanics, dentistry, hoof care and training.
What's Next?
Over the coming weeks, we'll be publishing a series of articles written by the speakers themselves. Each one at their area of the wellness and welfare picture in more detail, ahead of the conference. Whether you're a horse owner, a trainer, a therapist or any kind of equestrian professional, there'll be something in this series that shifts how you look at the horse in front of you.
Find out more about Horses Inside Out Conference 2027, including venue, dates and booking details. Take advantage our our Early Bird Ticket offer and save 35% when you book before 31 October 2026.
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