Introduction:Few voices in equestrian sport carry the weight of both competitive excellence and hard-earned perspective quite like Matt Browns.A longtime member of the U.S. Eventing Team, Pan American Games medalist, Olympian, and five-star competitor, Matt has spent decades at the highest levels of the sport. His perspective is further shaped by his partnership with Cecily Clark, an FEI dressage rider whose career and training philosophy are rooted in precision, feel, and the long-term well-being of the horse. Together, their combined experience spans disciplines, systems, and generations of horsemanship.In this open letter, Matt and Cecily speak candidly to the horse world about realities they have witnessed from inside the sport. What follows is not written from the sidelines, nor from a place of outrage for outrages sake, but from lived experience, accountability, and deep respect for the animals at the center of equestrian sport.This letter may be uncomfortable at times. It challenges long-standing norms, entrenched traditions, and the quiet compromises many have learned to accept. But it is offered in the spirit of progress, compassion, and a belief that equestrian sport can and must evolve into something worthy of the horses who make it possible.Cecily and I have taken some time to gather all our thoughts around the recent events In equestrian sports. Below Is the result. Im sure this will piss off quite a few people but sometimes getting a little pissed off is what can finally generate change. Hopefully everyone who reads this will take the time to read it to the end!! We have some proposed solutions so please please read the whole thing!!Elephant in the RoomWe have a huge problem, and I think we need to start admitting it.Horse training, for most of its history, has been extremely brutal. The shadows of the harsh military origins of the sport still cast dark and heavy shadows across our arena walls today, still shaping the way we understand and train our horses. Horses were once tools of war, agriculture, and transportation, and expected to perform as such. They evolved to endure, obey, and survive, and we have responded by labeling anything less from them as misbehavior that cannot be accepted and must be corrected.For centuries weve justified doing some crazy shit to horses in the name of training.If you grow up watching horses be corrected, made to respect, or fixed with rough tactics, these tactics eventually stop looking rough and start looking normal, necessary, and even highly skilled.Weve learned to recognize what science now tells us are signs of fear, confusion, pain, panic, and desperation as disobediences that must be addressed. We have built an entire sport and training systems upon the fallacy that horses are powerful and dangerous and therefore must be made to submit, taught to obey, never allowed to take advantage or win.We anthropomorphize them and mistake their natural instincts for crafty insubordination. But we now know, thanks to modern advanced imaging, neuroscience, veterinary medicine, and generations of observation, that this is wrongheaded. They are ANIMALS, with their own set of instincts and biology that make them behave and react the way they do, they arent schemers capable of spite, and they arent deserving of our often brutal corrections.And unlike ancient times, the world no longer depends on horses, so doing anything other than watching them frolic in green meadows is an unnecessary and frivolous luxury, making any and all reasoning for anything that resembles unethical or mis treatment completely inexcusable.We GET to work with, ride, and compete horses. We need to start treating and training horses like the privilege it is, rather than abusing that privilege in the name of tradition, or the outsider just doesnt understand, or we need to protect the integrity and origins of the sport and not let cancel culture change it.If the only way to preserve this sport is to continue to excuse rough treatment of horses, then the sport should not be preserved.Two things can be true at the same time: we can love horses deeply and still be shaped by and a part of a system that harms them. Admitting one does not negate the other, and unless we unapologetically examine our traditions, they become dogma, and dogma is almost impossible to see from the inside.As we become more educated about our horses, and science debunks myth after deeply entrenched myth about how they learn and experience the world, how can a sport that literally could not even exist without horses expect to survive if its bedrock principle is not the absolute and unwavering protection and preservation of their well-being?The sport cannot become more important than the horse itself.Any rule, treatment, or act that is not completely aligned with a deep love, respect, and reverence for these animals and their unique biology must be purged from the sport.And we must make it very clear to every participant and stakeholder in the sport that we will not look the other way, we wont continue to uncomfortably giggle when were disturbed by what were watching, and we wont keep dirty secrets anymore. This is owning up to and naming our flaws and weaknesses is not cancel culture, its holding people with a great responsibility to our horses accountable. Its breaking from the traditions that will render the sport a brutal relic of the past so that we can move forward with a sport that will finally make us deserving of what these animals give us.Our TraditionsI dont condemn our traditions from atop a pedestal, I condemn them from my own experiences and participation. I do not seek to stand above or distance myself from those who err, rather, I seek to distance myself, and the sport I love, from who we used to be, and help find a path forward towards what we need to be.I think most of us grew up in some version of this sport where toughness was rewarded, and getting it done mattered more than understanding why it was happening in the first place. I believed in this system because it was all I knew, I saw and felt it working, and I was being rewarded for utilizing it with a successful business and FEI rankings.But over the last decade, through many of the heights of my personal and professional successes, my own horsemanship has changed dramatically. Reflection upon moments in my past that Im not proud of, when Ive been a blind acolyte to tradition, has led me towards rebuilding my approach to horses and training them from a place of curiosity rather than force, observation rather than control, and flexibility rather than agenda. Some of this may be to my own professional and competitive detriment, this way of training is not fast or results driven, but it has been to my personal and spiritual benefit knowing that I am trying every single day to be better for my horses than I was the day before, and that I recognize in myself less the rough and tumble horseman of my youth.These changes havent come easily or dramatically - theyve trickled in slowly (far too slowly Im sure if you asked the horses); in the bitter aftertaste of a ride where I lost my patience, in the sharp stab of regret upon seeing the limp of a horse I should have rested instead of injected, in the lingering nausea of shame I felt after watching a video of a double clear round at a five star where my whip made far too many cameos in the performance. These changes were inspired by a disgust in my own behavior, as well as by a what I observed in others.As I made my way up the levels of the sport, and into high performance, into a place where I was supposed to be a part of the upper echelons that represented the best of the best, the cognitive dissonance grew overwhelmingly loud and impossible to deny, because what I saw at the top of the sport from more of an insiders perspective deeply disappointed me.As I was faced with decisions that felt like choosing between my ethics and success, I had to take a much harder look at myself, my actions, my methods, my ego, and start recognizing where I needed to change.Ive had to confront some uncomfortable truths about myself and my history with horses: Ive harmed horses by doing what I thought was right. Ive caused them fear and confusion when I thought I was correcting them. Ive used too much pressure, lost my patience, and blamed horses for my own lack of skill, imagination, and understanding. In an effort to change, Ive sought out therapists, psychiatrists, sports psychologists, and mentors. Ive immersed myself in books, articles and podcasts on mindset, equine psychology, equine behavior, and equine physiology. And I still struggle and make mistakes. I still wish sometimes I could forget what Ive learned and take the quicker, harsher, often times more effective way out rather than actually having to think critically about how to resolve a problem a horse may be having. And still I come up short, despite my best efforts.Lately I see some of the sins and secrets that we all carry, to varying degrees, breaking free and bubbling to the surface, and I cant say Im surprised to see it, knowing what I know about my own misdeeds, as well as those of others. While I dont think I can say that Ive gone to any extremes, I know Ive erred.But I dont think this current moment is simply about viral videos, condemning a few people for losing their tempers or making terrible choices, rather, its about recognizing and trying to rectify a culture that normalizes roughness, excuses pressure driven mistakes, and stays quiet in the name of loyalty, tradition, or fear. This isnt just about a few bad apples, this is about recognizing that we have an outdated worldview that permeates barns, warm up rings, and federation rulebooks.Meeting this moment is about collectively working to repair a system that leaves people under enormous pressure without the education, tools, support, or the emotional regulation they need to do right by their horses. Theres a famous saying by the legendary trainer Ray Hunt: make the wrong thing difficult and the right thing easy. Our system does the opposite, often rewarding the wrong ways and making the right ways almost career threateningly hard.And part of our problem is that we all resort to thinking, well, if a horse was being treated so badly, they wouldnt perform so well. Believe me, there are days when I ask myself if training with less force and pressure is actually the right way, because consistently and without fail I watch rough, punishing, cruel, tactless, unkind, stiff, head-wagging, chin-to-chest, restrictive riding get rewarded. And I think, maybe that is the way but then I remember what Ive learned about flooding and learned helplessness in horses, and I remember how I know first-hand that a shut-down horse often behaves more reliably than a happy, unstifled one. I remember how I am literally in awe of horses every day, even after 40 years with them, for the crazy things they let us do with or to them. Ive learned it is a mistake to equate performance and competitive success with a horse that must be happy and well treated. Horses, like humans, have an instinct to survive, and if experience has taught them that obedience equals survival, then we must learn to recognize what that looks like rather than rewarding it.The ProblemsJust get a video!So much of the abuse that happens is so quick it cant be noticed and videoed in time. I saw a horse punched in the face in warm up at a 4 star. A highly respected coach was there directing the warming up of that esteemed rider. They said nothing. The groom said nothing. Rough riding continued but the horse wasnt punched in the face again. I would have had to be videoing before the incident occurred in order to actually capture it. I went and got a steward and told them what I saw, but by the time the steward arrived, the riding had smoothed out (partially due, no doubt, to the fact that the steward arrived). Nothing could be done to the rider because the steward didnt witness the punch it was only my account.At another event I called out a well known trainer for repeatedly and violently jerking a students horse in the mouth after they had fallen off. I went and got a steward as the trainer took the horse back to the barn and continued the rough treatment. The trainer told me to mind my own business. He then approached me after and called me a motherfucking do gooder to my face in front of the steward. The steward told me to walk away (which I did). Nothing more was done, as far as I know.Abuses in our sport run the gamut - Horses being competed with known tendon injuries and lamenesses, or nerved feet. Horses getting nerve blocks before jogs. Horses being lunged in rolkur for the better part of an hour before their dressage tests, legs getting wire brushed and sweat-wrapped with chemicals before show jumping. Water being withheld or made unpalatable, heads being tied up. Horses being intentionally flipped over fences to teach them to back themselves off, rapping legs, using fishing wire, carpet tacks, and inverted oxers to make them more careful. Whipping that leaves raised and bloody welts. Calming pastes and tight nosebands seem quaint compared to what is being done in the name of high level, competitive performance on a regular basis. And this list is by no means complete, these are just some of the things I know about first hand in the high performance world.How it makes me feelI am heartened when I see the good ones out there - the people who have figured out how to train ethically, with kindness and compassion, and also win. But those people are the rarest exception rather than the rule, I can assure you.What Ive seen and what I know, both the extreme, and also the arguably less egregious and mundane: horses being treated as soul-less objects, vehicles for personal success and gain. Horses being yanked on and yelled at, being overfaced and blamed for mistakes. Horses being smacked for whinnying to their friends, kicked in the guts for pawing in the cross ties, bullied on to trailers with lunge whips, brooms and lip chains. I shield my eyes when Im at shows because, even though much of it is not the worse abuse a person can think of, or even what many people would consider an abnormal way to treat horses, my heart cant take watching horses being treated with so little care and compassion. Some abuse is violent, some is just a disregard for the horse as an animal with a soul and a biology different than ours. Some is born out of fear, some out of anger, some out of boredom, some out of routine, and some out of just not knowing any better. From the idols of the sport, to the newbie kid with the under muscled, wormy, lame horse, perpetually attached to a stud chain, there are varying levels of harm, and varying levels of intent.All of these things have made me less able to stomach the sport I love. It makes me jaded, and question hidden secrets behind any success I see, wondering whats actually happening behind the barn doors - because what Ive seen tells me that many of our heroes shouldnt be. I long for the horses being mistreated to misbehave, to protest in the ring, to refuse to participate. But somehow they show up day after day and put one foot impeccably in front of the other, making me feel even more strongly that if we cant change we well and truly may not deserve to keep them.Its heartbreaking. Its soul crushing. It defies anyones sense of karma being a bitch. From what Ive seen, she seems to be just about as blind as justice, and not in the good way.The way the sport is now has taken the breath out of me, and some days it takes the desire to be any part of it out of me as well.I often ask myself whats the point of working this hard to do it right when it often cant compete with the harsh methods that create robots out of the ones that can take it, and chew up and spit out the ones that cant.Speaking up - a recent case studyI know Im not the only one seeing these things, and I know Im not the only one thats disturbed.But when you see the people that do speak up getting pummeled and ripped to shreds, or when you see the inner workings of the FEI Tribunals like we just did recently, you start to understand why those of us who know, stay quiet.At that tribunal, the voices of the witnesses were questioned, devalued, and met with skepticism, while the voices of the respondent and his witnesses seemed to be met with the benefit of the doubt and an eagerness to accept and rationalize the justifications for the documented and corroborated occurrences of abuse. The panel hid behind provably false justifications like: such a short instance of abuse could not possibly cause long term trauma to a horse.Excuse me while my brain explodesIf a child is regularly hit by her parent, but is never hit for longer than 10 seconds, are we to assume that she couldnt possibly be scarred for life from those experiences?The brevity of the suspension and low dollar amount of the fines meted out exposed the tribunals decision for what it was - an unserious and unprofessional lip syncing act meant to look like accountability.The length of time that it took for the accusations against the respondent to be investigated (only taken up AFTER being blasted about on social media), shows how (un)seriously the federations take claims of abuse. Most situations will not have the video and picture evidence that were provided in this case, so how can any one person be expected to speak up and think theyll be taken seriously if all they have are the eyes in their head?The Solutions - accountability, safe ways to speak out, compassionThe approachIf we love this sport, and if we love these horses, we must take real, concrete, uncomfortable steps towards progress, or the sport and the horses will be lost to us.Still, I do not think we should condemn wholesale the perpetrators of abuses. I want people to be held accountable, and accountability is not the opposite of compassion. We can disavow and be horrified by the actions of humans without exploiting that opportunity to be cruel to the human. We must still acknowledge the humanity inside of people who do wrong things. In fact, thats the only way to actually change things. If we cop out and say that only a monster could do such things, then we dont actually face the reality - that humans are capable of doing despicable things, even without necessarily having despicable intentions. And if we dont face reality, we will miss the opportunity to stop the cycle of abuse because we wont be able to change the CULTURE of abuse.Punishment alone wont fix this - education, rehabilitation, and mentoring must be central to any reform if we want any real change.What we are confronting now isnt just a string of individual failures, but a cultural inheritance. In order for the sport to survive, indeed, in order to prove it deserves to survive, we must be willing to examine the systems that shaped us, shaped our teachers, shaped our heroes, and shaped our blind spots. And we must be brave enough to rebuild.The StandardsWe must take seriously and actually require a mandatory certification (and periodic re-certification) process for anyone getting paid to ride and train horses, teach students, care for horses, or run a staff.It must include not just education and proficiency requirements for riding, teaching and general horse care knowledge, but also clear criteria for what constitutes both horse and human abuse.We need to make that certification process affordable and accessible.The EnvironmentWe cannot preach ethics while normalizing poverty level wages for grooms or financially precarious conditions for trainers. Desparation breeds shortcuts, while stability breeds integrity.Bad people are going to do bad things, but most people are far more nuanced then simply good or bad. Good people will do bad things when theyve run out of tools, or run out of patience, or feel the need to produce an immediate result. As professionals, very few of us are in a position where we can afford to not show results and still expect to have a business over time. Not that the free market shouldnt do its work, but the traits of good horsemanship, hard work, talent and good business practices are not usually the most important factors in determining whether a business is successful or not - winning results are.There is never going to be a way to get rid of all pressures, but, creating the expectation, industry wide, that boarding and training businesses will run as businesses - where workers are paid more than subsistence wages, all operating expenses are more than just covered, and training fees are enough so that trainers themselves actually get paid a salary to allow for retirement savings and quality of life. We cannot survive or have a healthy mindset if literally every single horse in training staying on is the difference between paying all our bills that month or not. The number of horse trainers that dont have health insurance or a retirement savings is staggering. The number of grooms and farm workers who lack those necessities is criminal.It sounds simplistic or maybe counter-intuitive, but the easiest way for me to always choose to do right by you and your horse is if you and your horse dont actually matter to my bottom line - because then I can tell you what your horse actually needs, even if what it needs could lose me money. I can tell you the hard things - like that your horse isnt suitable for the job you want it to do, or its not ready to move up to preliminary, without worrying that if I tell you the truth you dont want to hear, Ill lose your business and I wont be able to pay the rent this month. The financial picture Im painting for us horse professionals may sound hyperbolic, but I promise you, its not.The industry needs to normalize charging what it costs to run a functioning and successful business. Its in the best interest of the horses for the businesses theyre in to be thriving.The RulesWe need to shift the culture of training horses away from hardness and towards softness, and our competition rules must reflect those values.If we dont want people to misuse whips, then we should get rid of them in competition, so that the industry itself is saying horses dont need to be whipped to be competed or trained. Will that stop all excessive whipping or all heavy handedness? Of course not.But, people train at home for what the competition tests. If Im competing in an FEI where I cant carry a whip in to the ring, Id be silly not to practice without a whip at home. And then maybe I start learning how to not rely on my whip to get my horse in front of my leg.Whats modeled and accepted at shows will carry over to training at home, so we need to be far more bold in making our competition rules reflect our ethics, as well as more regularly calling out mistreatment on show grounds. We need our officials to be brave. We need observers to be brave - and believed.We need all of our warm up rings to be videod, from dawn to dusk, so that we can show that we take how horses are being ridden seriously. A few stewards cannot see everything that is happening in every warm up at all times, get riders in to the ring on time, and check equipment.There needs to be real accountability for cases of mistreatment, and I didnt see it at a stewarded horse show can no longer be our fallback reason for lack of accountability.OversightThe federations need to have an independent oversight board that is made up of veterinarians, equine behavioralists, animal ethicists, sports ethicists, human resource professionals, workers rights ethicists, and more, to advise the federation and sign off on all rules.The Workers - the WitnessesWe need to create a system where whistleblowers feel protected, so that they wont feel the need to use social media to arbitrate their grievances.There needs to be something like an independent grooms union that makes clear to every groom and person that works in a barn what is ok and whats not in terms of employment conditions and treatment.That union needs to have a supportive reporting system in place and people like union reps that can help someone through the process of reporting and documenting mistreatment of humans or horses. The union should conduct random and regular barn visits, conducting oversight and creating an environment of support and resources for barn workers, and an expectation among professionals that it is not the duty of our workers to keep our secrets, rather it is our duty to create a healthy and safe environment for our horses to live, and our employees to work.We MUST create a better and safer yet effective way for people to speak out so that bad actors can be identified, and held accountable. If there is a reliably effective system in place we wont need social media to police the industry.AccountabilityWe need to create a system that can adjudicate fairly and transparently, without needing to have it out in the court of public opinion. Where people can do their time, focus on rehabilitation, and, depending on the severity of the crime, be welcomed back in to the fold.I want there to be a published list of verbal warnings given out at any venue, public or private, rated or not. Mistreat a horse at a schooling show? The person running that show needs to report it to the federation. Mistreat a horse out schooling? The person running the facility must report it to the federation. Anything that ends up going unreported must be a strike against the venue.Any person on that list must be contacted by the federation and automatically required to participate in an educational program and mentorship with oversight. Anyone displaying a pattern of abuse, or egregious abuse must be referred to an independent tribunal for investigation and arbitration.So many of the abusers only do so because they know no other way. We can give people a chance to become educated and to do better. We can make the expectations clear enough to every person entering the sport that abusive methods will not be tolerated.We can actually do something about this we just have to actually DO SOMETHING and stop pretending the problems dont exist in hopes that no one will notice, in a misguided effort to protect the sport. Denying our problems is not protecting the sport, its aiding and abetting it, making us all complicit in its sins, and putting the sport MORE at risk. So we need to turn the sport in, hold every one participating in it accountable, so that it can become better and able to last long in to the future.The Inflection PointI know my perspective will anger some and comfort others. I know some people will find me jealous, naive, idealistic, threatening, or just downright wrong. I know some will say my softness is weakness, and also know some will be very mad at me for what Ive said and insinuated. I know Ill be called a motherfucking do gooder, and Im sure far worse, by many - to my face, on social media, and behind my back. My dressage scores may suffer. My business may suffer.I have wanted to say so much of this before. Ive wanted to expose the bad actors and see them held accountable for their transgressions. Ive wanted to be far more specific, making those Im speaking of far more identifiable than I am here. And Im sure Ill get pushback from those who think Im weak for not doing so.And while its true, I am scared of what speaking out could do to my own standing in the sport, ultimately this is about more than me, and its about more than just naming and shaming individuals, because focusing on the individuals wont bring about the cultural and systemic changes that are truly needed right now.We stand at a cross roads in equestrian sport. Our social license is fraying and our welfare standards are stuck in a bygone, analog era.This moment is asking us which future we want for our sport, and whether that future will be built on the wobbly and often indefensible foundations of the past - the hard path of tradition, denial, and quiet complicity; or if we will instead choose to start anew with a system that truly values, promotes, and enforces the ethical treatment and training of horses - the soft path built upon education, science, compassion, and humility.The soft path is the only future that I believe is actually worthy of the horses who give us everything. And we should choose it, not because it protects the sports image and ensures its continuation, but because its the one that protects the very horses who allow the sport to exist at all. Protecting only the sport and its traditions, and not the horses themselves, will only ensure the sports demise. Horse welfare cannot be an afterthought, or an inconvenience to the sport, it must be the entire point of the sport.I dont want to be a part of a sport that survives by keeping secrets. I want to be a part of a sport that thrives because it chooses to evolve.Matt and CecilyPhoto credit: Tina Fitch for Shannon Brinkman and Shannon BrinkmanAdditional ResourcesListen to Matt Brown on the Dear horse World podcast:Groundwork and Horsemanship with Tik Maynard on NF+Performing Under Pressure with Dr. Jenny SusserLearn how Energy can Increase Connection with Your Horse from Cassandra Ogier

Researchers have identified natural and innovative therapies that could reduce reliance on antibiotics in horses, with global health benefitsWounds accessibility makes them a good target for antibiotic alternatives. | Adobe stockNatural bacteria killers could provide critical alternatives for fighting infections in horses, offering long-term solutions to a pathogenic problem affecting horses and the people around them.Antibiotics remain lifesaving, says Dean Hendrickson, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVS, professor of equine surgery at Colorado State Universitys College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, in Fort Collins. Discovered in the early 20th centurywith penicillin identified in 1928 and mass production starting in the 1940santibiotics have been combating pathogenic bacteria for more than a century in both humans and animals.Yet antibiotics carry significant drawbacks. They can drive the development of antibiotic resistancebacteria that no longer respond to treatment in humans, horses, or other animals. They can also disrupt the healthy microbiome (the community of microbiota living in different parts of the body, such as the digestive system or the skin), interfering with healing, Hendrickson notes. We cant ignore that anymore, he says.This makes the search for alternatives urgent, says Yosra Helmy, PhD, DVM, MVSc, associate professor of infectious diseases and microbiology at the University of Kentuckys Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, in Lexington. Without immediate attention and investment in antibiotic alternatives, treatment failures in horses will become more frequent, (and) biosecurity risks in hospitals and farms will escalate, she says.Alternatives to Antibiotics for Wounds in HorsesResearchers are already exploring promising alternatives. In equine medicine, wounds are a primary focus because theyre easy to access for direct treatment, Hendrickson says. Mechanical debridement by a veterinarian followed by local (topical) antimicrobials and antiseptics such as polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB) and acetic acid is proving effective.His teams review of scientific studies also shows that raw and medical-grade honeys carry powerful antibacterial properties, working well against bacteria in horse woundsat least in lab settings. The enzymes in honey naturally attack bacteria, and that makes perfect sense if you think about it, Hendrickson says. Even so, he cautions owners to use raw honey carefullykeeping horses from swallowing itto avoid botulism risks because theres no practical way to test for the possible, albeit unlikely, presence of Clostridium spores.Raw and medical-grade honeys carry powerful antibacterial properties. | Adobe stockMedicinal plants also offer overlooked options, says Eyob Hirpa Tola, DVM, MSc, associate professor of veterinary microbiology at Addis Ababa University College of Veterinary Medicine and Agriculture, in Ethiopia. His team found that garlic demonstrated strong antibacterial activity against drug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in equine woundsparticularly when combined with leaves from the native African tree Croton macrostachyus (known as the broad-leaved croton) or with ginger.Accessibility matters in other contexts, too. Andrea Marchegiani, DVM, PhD, researcher in the School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine at the University of Camerino, in Italy, showed that vitamin B2 (riboflavin) paired with short bursts of ultraviolet-A light outperformed standard antibiotics in treating equine corneal ulcers.Meanwhile, University of Illinois researchers found hydrogen peroxide and platelet-based therapiesplatelet-poor plasma (PPP) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP)promising for treating bacteria linked to endometritis (inflammation of the uterine lining) in mares. While tested only in the lab so far, these treatments might one day provide real-world antimicrobial alternatives.Antibiotic Alternatives for Internal Infections in HorsesStill, internal treatments pose challenges, Hendrickson says. Enzymes in topical options such as honey dont survive digestion or reach systemic targets. The problem is getting the treatment to the place it needs to get to, he says.Researchers in Helmys lab seek to address that hurdle in studies targeting the bacterium Rhodococcus equi (R. equi), the leading cause of foal pneumonia and death in horses under 6 months old. Her team has identified small molecules and probiotic strains that prevented R. equi from growing and surviving inside foal lung cells in lab models. Theyre building an arsenal of alternatives, including antivirulence drugs (which rather than destroying bacteria, strip away tools they use to cause disease, helping the horses immune system clear them more easily), next-generation probiotics/postbiotics, and phage therapiestreating with viruses that specifically infect and kill bacteriapaired with smart delivery systems for the lungs, uterus, eyes, intestines, and skin.More broadly, supporting the immune system itself could help horses naturally resist bacterial infections, says Eveline Ibeagha-Awemu, PhD, a research scientist at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, in Ottawa. Fermented brewers yeast, for instance, appears to stabilize the equine gut microbiome during times of stress, potentially improving infection defenses.Some alternatives, like vaccines, are quite effective, Ibeagha-Awemu says. Others, like probiotics, bacteriophages, immunotherapies, herbs, spices, essential oils, acidifiers, and enzymes, have been shown to enhance the host immune system. However, she stresses that more research is needed before most of these findings can guide practice.One Health in Equine PracticeIbeagha-Awemu and Helmy agree that finding viable antibiotic alternatives in horses is imperative, and the benefits extend beyond equine health. Their work underscores the One Health principle: the idea that animal, human, and environmental health are interconnected. Reducing antibiotic use in horses could yield global health benefits for both animals and people.That holds especially true given horses roles as both pets and livestock, says Ibeagha-Awemu. Their interactions with people and other animals make them potential carriers and sharers of pathogens.Horses exist at the intersection of human, animal, and environmental health, as they interact closely with owners, veterinarians, riders, and caretakers, while sharing environments with other animals and wildlife, says Helmy. That makes them potential reservoirs and transmitters of infectious diseases such as Salmonella, Clostridioides difficile, viruses, and even methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureuscommonly known as MRSA.Even waste management plays a role in antibiotic resistance. Antibiotics not completely metabolized find their way in feces or are taken up by the (horses) microbiome, which may end up in the fields, water, or the microbiome of those in close proximity with the livestock, says Ibeagha-Awemu.The environmental footprint of the horse industry, including manure management and waste runoff, can exacerbate antimicrobial resistance and ecosystem imbalances if not properly addressed, Helmy adds.Take-Home MessageAntibiotics themselves arent the enemy. Antibiotics are fantastic, Hendrickson says. The problem isnt their use, but their indiscriminate use.Helmy says antibiotic resistance is a solvable engineering-and-biology problem if we change how we fight infections. Our goal isnt to abandon antibiotics; its to reserve them by replacing routine use with effective alternatives, protecting horse health today and preserving One Health for tomorrow.

Six horses in Ontario have tested positive for strangles. The horses live in the District of Temiskaming, the District of Sudbury, and the Regional Municipality of Waterloo.In the District of Temiskaming, three horses at a boarding facility tested positive after developing nasal discharge and swollen lymph nodes. These horses and their direct contacts are being isolated together in an outside paddock.In the District of Sudbury, a pregnant, 10-year-old Quarter Horse mare tested positive after being purchased from an auction in Alberta. She developed a submandibular abscess on Dec. 1 (16days after arriving in Ontario). She is isolated from others on the farm.In the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, two Standardbreds on a private farm tested positive after developing nasal discharge and lymph node swelling. The farm had been dealing with a respiratory infection prior to testing. These horses are not part of the racing industry.EDCC Health Watch is an Equine Network marketing program that utilizes information from the Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) to create and disseminate verified equine disease reports. TheEDCCis an independent nonprofit organization that is supported by industry donations in order to provide open access to infectious disease information.About StranglesStranglesin horses is an infection caused byStreptococcus equisubspeciesequiand spread through direct contact with other equids or contaminated surfaces. Horses that arent showing clinical signs can harbor and spread the bacteria, and recovered horses remain contagious for at least six weeks, with the potential to cause outbreaks long-term.Infected horses can exhibit a variety of clinical signs:FeverSwollen and/or abscessed lymph nodesNasal dischargeCoughing or wheezingMuscle swellingDifficulty swallowingVeterinarians diagnose horses using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing with either a nasal swab, wash, or an abscess sample, and they treat most cases based on clinical signs, implementing antibiotics for severe cases. Overuse of antibiotics can prevent an infected horse from developing immunity. Most horses make a full recovery in three to four weeks.A vaccine is available but not always effective. Biosecurity measures of quarantining new horses at a facility and maintaining high standards of hygiene and disinfecting surfaces can helplower the risk of outbreakorcontain one when it occurs.

An equestrian leather crafter from Hertfordshire has beaten off competition from as far away as Australia to be awarded theannual Abbey England scholarship.Clare Chapman was revealed as the winner of the prestigious prize after impressing the judges with a gold detail bridle with plaited details, a brown headcollar, and a studded steampunk style leather corset and hat.Inspired by her lifelong love of horses and heritage,Clare creates everything from bridles and belts to beautifully detailed steampunk pieces through her business, Clare Chapman Leatherwork.Abbey England is a leading international supplier of premium artisan leatherwork and equestrian products and tools.Clare, who was one of 20 applicants for the scholarship, trained at Capel Manor College in London and the Walsall Leather Skills Centre and aspires to make heavy horse tack.A leather plait bridle made by Clare.SM-A715F f/1.8 1/50s 5.23mm ISO200I couldnt believe itWhen I received the news that I had been awarded the Abbey England Scholarship, I couldnt believe it, said Clare.I love what I do, and how much it differs day to day. One week I could be making a hunt bridle, the next week making a top hat, the week after that adding patent leather inlays to a dog collar. Recognising when to stick with tradition and when to embrace modern techniques, it never gets boring!I want to show that the scholarship isnt just about the young, up-and-coming crowd. There are many older people now turning to leathercraft, and Id like to show that old dogs can learn new tricks, and for anyone interested in taking up the craft to not to be so afraid of starting something new.The support of the scholarship will be amazing. I want to continue expanding my product line and exploring techniques. My ambition is to make heavy horse tack and Level 3 Harness isnt a cheap project, nor should it be, so the bursary would help greatly towards the leather and hardware I need to continue and the travel bursary will go towards continuing my learning at Walsall Leather Skills Centre.Financial and practical supportDesigned to celebrate and showcase talented makers and crafters, such as saddlers and leatherworkers, at the outset of their careers, the scholarship gives the recipient financial and practical support from the Artisan leatherwork and equestrian supplier, with 500 worth of Abbey England leathers and tools, as well as expert advice and online support for their business. This industry thrives on passion, and The Abbey England Scholarship programme has been designed to celebrate the people behind the craft as much as the craft itself. We are always so inspired by the creative entries we receive, and how passionate entrants are in keeping heritage skills and crafting going in new and exciting ways,said Richard Brown, ceo at Abbey England and one of the judges.We wish to congratulate Clare on this well-deserved achievement. Her story reminds us that its never too late to pursue your passion and that craftsmanship, at its heart, is about continual learning and love for the work.Clare will also receive an additional 200 to cover the cost of travel expenses and accommodation to attend training courses and workshops to enhance her skills. This includes a place on Abbey Englands next Masterclass workshop.Images Abbey England.Related contentMaster saddler wins national shire horse title with harness she handcrafted herselfEssential tack that every horse rider needs to have (and why)Strangles bacteria lingers on webbing headcollars and tack much more easily than leatherStudy confirms that headcollars made from leather is safer option for your horseThe post Equestrian leather crafterwins scholarship appeared first on Your Horse.

Across the UK, riding schools are rethinking welfare from the horses perspective. The Riding School Futures Project shows how integrating the Five Domains Model, equitation science, and staff education is reshaping everyday practice not through rules, but through cultural change.The post From Principles to Practice: How Riding Schools are Reshaping Welfare Culture appeared first on Horses and People.

Why do welfare problems persist in horse sport despite growing knowledge and regulation? Drawing on a webinar by Lisa Ashton, this article argues that welfare fails when culture fails and explores how mental security, reciprocity, and whole-systems thinking can help patch the leaky bucket.The post When welfare becomes culture: patching the leaky bucket in horse sport appeared first on Horses and People.

When uncomfortable images of horses are dismissed as just moments in time, photographer Crispin Parelius Johannessen asks what happens when every moment is documentedand why selective trophy shots may be the real illusionThe post So You Think its a Moment in Time? appeared first on Horses and People.

Key Points Details Challenges of Horse Transport Welfare, safety, financial, and regulatory risks require meticulous preparation. Annual Horse Transport Approximately 170,000 horses moved between EU countries annually from 2019 to 2021. Transport Stressors Motion, vibration, road noise, and confined space provoke balance struggles and fear responses. Behavioral Incidents Over 50% occur within the first hour, often due to horse behavior. Environmental & Human Factors Poor ventilation, high stocking density, inadequate rest, and untrained handlers increase risks. Preparation Checklist Verify fitness, choose right vehicle/operator, train horse, plan for journey. In-transit Management Smooth driving, equine first-aid kit, and emergency response plan are crucial. Common Problems & Actions Injury, respiratory illness, dehydration/exhaustion: take immediate actions as needed. Regulatory Compliance Ensure compliance with transport regulations and use compliant operators. Tips to Reduce Stress Use partitioned stalls, avoid extreme weather, ensure documents are in order, consider insurance. Surviving a Stressful Day: The Unexpected Challenges of Horse Transport and Relocation Moving a horse can often be an *unexpected challenge* fraught with stress and worry. Whether it's across town for a clinic, across the country for a sale, or overseas for competition, horse transport introduces *welfare, safety, financial,* and *regulatory risks* that demand meticulous preparation. Why this Matters: A Quick Overview *Horse transport* is ubiquitous, with an estimated average of 170,000 horses moved annually between EU Member States from 2019 to 2021. The journey itself can be a complex stressor due to motion, sensory overstimulation, and other factors, significantly increasing the risk of injury and illness in horses. How Transport Stresses Horses Immediate Stressors From the moment a vehicle starts moving, the *motion, vibration, road noise, and confined space* can provoke balance struggles and fear responses in horses. Behavioral Incidents More than *50% of transport incidents* are attributed to horse behavior, often occurring within the *first hour* of travel. Environmental and Human Factors Poor *ventilation, high stocking density, inadequate rest,* and untrained handlers significantly raise the risk of injury and welfare issues for horses in transit. Non-compliance with *regulations* often exacerbates these problems. Evidence-based Preparation Checklist Verify Fitness and Veterinary Checks Ensure a veterinarian certifies the horse for transport. This step is crucial to identify any *subclinical illnesses* that transport might exacerbate. Choose the Right Vehicle/Operator Utilize appropriately fitted vehicles. Confirm the *maintenance history* and select *experienced drivers* and shippers to mitigate the risk of incidents. Train and Desensitize the Horse *Habituation to loading* through short practice trips and positive loading methods can reduce behavioral incidents during transport. Plan for Journey Length, Rest, and Resources Long journeys correlate with increased health risks. Schedule *rest, water, and feed breaks* within legal and welfare guidance, and plan for contingencies. In-transit Management: Minimizing Harm Drive for Horse Balance Smooth driving with an anticipation of maneuvers can greatly reduce motion-related balance problems and falls. Rapid Response Plan Always carry a basic *equine first-aid kit* and have an emergency response plan for situations such as *vehicle breakdowns* or horse collapse. Common Problems and Immediate Actions Injury or Fall Signs include sudden lameness or *bleeding.* Immediately stop in a safe place and call a veterinarian without *moving the horse* unnecessarily. Respiratory Illness *Signs include nasal discharge and fever.* Isolation and prompt veterinary care are crucial, especially during longer flights or transport in certain seasons. Dehydration/Exhaustion Watch for signs like *tacky gums* and *sunken eyes.* Offer water if safe and cool the horse promptly. Regulatory and Welfare Context Transport compliance is crucial. Organizations like *World Horse Welfare* report widespread non-compliance, underlining the importance of using compliant operators and advocating for enforcement. Practical Tips to Reduce Stress Use *partitioned stalls* and opt not to travel during extreme weather. Ensure all microchip, passport, and health documents are in order for emergency situations and international moves. Consider transport-specific insurance to cover *injury, mortality,* and transportation costs. Conclusion Horse transport is undeniably challenging, but with the right preparation and care, the risks can be significantly minimized. Always ensure to book a vet check and consult an accredited shipper for your horse's next journey.```html```