‘Riders must have the selection’: recent debate on double bridles in dressage

Riders must be given the choice to make use of a snaffle bridle as a substitute of a double in world dressage, in line with a number one equine analysis strengthen frame.

The decision got here from the Global Society for Equitation Science (ISES), which promotes equine welfare by way of making improvements to horse and human interactions via analysis and the use of evidence-based practices, in an open letter to the FEI.

It follows the discharge of the primary draft of FEI laws for 2024, which doesn’t come with a advice from the Equine Ethics and Wellbeing Fee (EEWC) to offer riders at grand prix the selection to make use of a double bridle or no longer.

Their reasoning comes from their strengthen of the “precautionary concept” – this implies making an allowance for the potential for hurt when conclusive proof isn’t but to be had.

The gang “strongly endorses” the fee’s paintings, in particular the advance of the 30 suggestions and proposed adoption of the imaginative and prescient of a “just right existence for horses” (information, 4 Would possibly).

“On issues the place there are vital moral considerations, comparable to the necessary use of double bridles at grand prix stage in dressage, there is also a distinction between the views of stakeholders and animal welfare researchers,” states the letter.

“Whilst stakeholders would possibly imagine clinical proof of any welfare possibility to be missing, welfare scientists warning the risks of one of these standpoint.

“Subsequently, ISES helps the applying of the ‘precautionary concept’, the place any doubts that can exist in any scenario surrounding horse welfare, the result must favour the pursuits of the pony till such time that analysis finds there to be no welfare possibility.”

The letter provides: “ISES is supportive of there being selection for riders in favour in their horses’ welfare on the subject of use of the double bridle. ISES is upset that the FEI proposed rule adjustments don’t mirror the early advice made by way of the EEWC relating to deregulating the necessary use of a double bridle for any self-discipline.

“ISES believes that proceeding to require all riders at FEI grand prix stage to make use of a double bridle isn’t in the most productive pastime of horse welfare.

“Many nationwide federations have replied by way of permitting riders the selection to make use of a snaffle bridle at grand prix stage, and Sweden for instance has proposed that using the double bridle be non-compulsory for FEI competitions, as consistent with the EEWC advice.

“ISES strongly encourages the FEI to strengthen the EEWC early advice to permit riders to make higher alternatives in favour of the welfare in their horses.”

ISES additionally helps the FEI’s proposed rule to make use of an goal instrument, fairly than hands, to measure noseband tightness. The FEI has no longer but set out the way it intends to do that, and ISES is “upset” that the federation “stays uncommitted” to dimension at the entrance of the pony’s nostril “in spite of the numerous frame of proof” supporting this defined by way of the EEWC.

“ISES believes that the true most tightness must be obviously articulated consistent with the analysis this is to be had, and the instrument must measure tightness the place the force is understood to be largest,” states the letter.

H&H has contacted the FEI for a reaction.

The FEI draft laws go through revisions sooner than they’re voted on on the basic meeting in November, that means that the present draft isn’t but set in stone. This primary draft comprises the proposal to introduce an “FEI goal measuring instrument, which can give you the repeatability and consistency in measuring the tightness of nosebands” (information, 13 July). The FEI intends to stipulate measuring protocols in a “versatile file, no longer regulated within the laws, and amended if wanted”.

Global Horse Welfare CEO Roly Owers informed H&H: “Ethics – and the continuing upkeep of equestrianism’s social licence – will all the time strengthen the precautionary manner as a tenet.
“That is particularly related the place a rising proof base suggests {that a} exchange could be recommended, as it’s our accountability to base our choices at the safeguarding of horses’ welfare.

“Generating powerful clinical proof takes time, cash and dedication, and on this regard invoking the precautionary concept calls for a basic exchange of considering.

“The place proof is rising {that a} apply would possibly threaten equine welfare, we must no longer deal with the established order, however adjustments must be made, adjustments that may all the time be reversed if the steadiness of proof in the long run displays that they’re useless.”

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