Is horse riding cruel? Can vegans ride horses? The ethics of horse riding remains an extremely controversial and divisive topic. Dive deep into the debate and learn why the question of whether riding hurts horses distracts from the more important ethical issues of horse use.
Horse riding is not only physically and emotionally harmful to horses but—more importantly—it is a form of exploitation. So yes, horse riding is cruel, but the physical harm of riding is far from the only ethical concern.
While this article does address the physical harm of riding and horse tack, it urges riders to question the presumption that horses are ours to use in the first place. Read more below (or watch the video above) for arguments for and against horse riding, the ongoing debates between horse riding schools and methods, and a deeper exploration of the ethics of horse use.
Horse riding is definitively not vegan. Veganism opposes any exploitation of sentient beings, and horseback riding is an exploitative act. It is only possible under unequal power dynamics and constraints. Not only are horses often subjected to and controlled by the use of tack like saddles, bits, bridles, and whips, but—more importantly—they are kept in a state of learned helplessness through the exploitation of domestication.
While riders profess to—and very likely do—love horses, this article challenges them to examine the nature of that relationship, and explore the possibility of loving horses truly unconditionally. Read more below (or watch the video above) for a deeper exploration of horse use through the lens of ethical veganism.
Of all of the controversial topics I’ve covered, nothing has generated as much passionate feedback as questioning the ethics of horseback riding. In the years since, I’ve realized that my original video and article focused heavily on the physical harm of riding—neglecting to delve into the broader ethical concerns surrounding the use of horses.
Additionally, I’ve heard from many horse riders in the intervening years and wanted to respond to their feedback more thoroughly. So, I decided to revisit this “powder keg” of a topic more comprehensively and in much greater depth.
The More Important Question: Are Horses Meant to Be Ridden?
Before we discuss whether horse riding is cruel, I want you to think about another question entirely: are horses meant to be ridden?
The question of whether horse riding is cruel tends to result in heated debate over which methods or schools of riding are best, with riders insisting that horse riding is not harmful if done “correctly.”
I have received lengthy comments detailing how any physical or emotional harm caused by riding horses is due to inexperienced riders, poor use of equipment, or any other number of factors.
All of the debate over how to ride horses “properly” presupposes that there is an acceptable way to use another being for our own purposes.
tweet this— Emily Moran Barwick
But all of this debate over how to ride horses “properly” presupposes that there is an acceptable way to use another being for our own purposes. Even the very question of whether horse riding is cruel risks implying that the only problem with riding horses is whether they suffer.
The foundational ethical issue with horseback riding isn’t whether it hurts horses—it’s the presumption that they are ours to use in the first place. That horses are meant to be ridden.
We’ll explore this further throughout this article but I wanted to plant this seed before we get too lost in the weeds
Common Arguments in Defense of Horse Riding
Let’s start by addressing head-on four common arguments in defense of riding horses:
- Riding provides good (and necessary) exercise for horses
- Riding provides an enriched environment and stimulation for horses
- Horses like to be ridden
- Riding creates an emotional bond between horse and rider
What’s fascinating—and rather telling—about these arguments is that they all focus on how riding benefits horses. I point this out because the nature of how we defend our actions can reveal a great deal about our underlying—and even subconscious—insecurities about those actions.
By stressing how good riding is for horses, proponents of riding inadvertently expose their anxiety about its potential harms. Such arguments also serve to close off any further debate—if horses like being ridden, what’s the problem?
I want to note that, in addition to answering these arguments below, we’ll be revisiting them in more detail throughout the section covering arguments against horse riding.
Is Horse Riding Good Exercise for Horses?
The most basic argument in defense of riding horses is that horses need exercise. This also comes with the most basic refutation: so do dogs, cats, and human children—yet we’ve somehow found a way to provide such necessary physical activity without mounting any of them.
The reason horses even need humans to provide them with exercise is that we have confined them in the first place.
— Emily Moran Barwick
Yes, horses—like all animals—need exercise. And if riding them is the only way they are allowed to receive that exercise, then yes—it’s more beneficial than being stuck in a stall all day every day.
But the choice of being ridden or receiving no exercise at all is a human-created false dichotomy.
The reason horses even need humans to provide them with exercise is that we have confined them in the first place.
Does Horse Riding Provide an Enriched Environment & Stimulation?
A second argument is that riding provides horses with an enriched environment and stimulation. As with exercise, these are valid needs of any living being—and fully achievable without being mounted by a human.
Again, if horses weren’t deprived of enrichment and stimulation by humans in the first place, they wouldn’t need to be given enrichment and stimulation by humans.
Do Horses Like to Be Ridden?
The assertion that horses enjoy being ridden comes in many forms, but almost always starts with “but my horse loves…” and insert: being ridden, going to shows, wearing a bridle, having a bit, running the barrels, and what have you.
Horse riding advocates describe how excited their horses are when they see it’s time to go for a ride, listing behavioral signs of enjoyment versus those indicating distress.
Even if we could accurately determine consent from other species, true consent cannot be freely given under unequal power dynamics and constraints.
tweet this— Emily Moran Barwick
Rather than debate the meaning of equine body language, let’s assume—for a moment—that a horse does show excitement about being ridden. This excitement has to be viewed within the context of the limitations we’ve placed upon the horse.
What else do they have to look forward to? When your options are staying in a stall or getting to go outside—albeit while being ridden—which would you choose?
Adapting to the limits of confinement is a survival mechanism in all animals—humans included.
Think of how imprisoned people find ingenious ways to fulfill the need for social and communal interaction, intellectual stimulation, and physical activity. They may very well come to enjoy any time they have outside their cell and excitedly anticipate things that, to non-imprisoned people, seem trivial or even unappealing. But within the limited framework of confinement, they adapt to stay sane.
This re-frames the issue entirely to the ethics of domestication itself —something poignantly explored by former horse trainer, trader, and rider Ren Hurst in my interview with her:1
“Most people have no idea that the animals they are spending time with are in an absolute state of learned helplessness, of conditioning, that doesn’t even allow you to experience their true nature. What you are experiencing is like this empty shell version…of the animal in front of you.”
— Ren Hurst, author/mentor & former horse trainer/rider
from our interview
Even if we could accurately determine consent from other species, true consent cannot be freely given under unequal power dynamics and constraints.
Does Horse Riding Create an Emotional Bond?
This leads us to what I think may be the most painful defense for riders to confront: the love they feel for their horses, and the deep emotional bond formed through riding.
Riding horses involves using non-human animals for entertainment, emotional fulfillment—even love.
But using someone for love is still using someone.
tweet this— Emily Moran Barwick
To those of you who ride horses: I do believe that you love them. I do believe that you feel a deep emotional connection to them.
And I believe that the depth of that love is precisely what makes it so profoundly painful to question the true nature of your relationship with them.
I also understand the resistance to having that bond questioned by me—someone with no background in horse riding.
So, I’ll again defer to Ren Hurst, who, in her book Riding on the Power of Others: A Horsewoman’s Path to Unconditional Love, relays with brutal honesty and unflinching self-examination the progressive realization that what she believed to be love for horses was actually—for her—a love for power and control:
“You have to almost experience a truly free horse to walk away from [riding]…otherwise, your perception of what horses are and how they behave is really skewed. We really don’t know the essence of what love really means.
This is a being you have placed in your control and in your care, and then you call that “love.” I mean, there’s nothing “loving” about using someone for your own personal benefit. That’s not a loving relationship, and it’s not an equal relationship.”
— Ren Hurst, author/mentor & former horse trainer/rider
from our interview
Riding horses involves using non-human animals for entertainment, emotional fulfillment—even love. But using someone for love is still using someone.
Common Arguments Against Horse Riding
Now that we’ve touched on some of the principal defenses for riding horses, let’s explore the main arguments against horse riding. I’ll be honest: the most common arguments against horseback riding—which I myself focused upon in my original video and article on this topic—all center on the physical harm riding inflicts upon horses.
Yes, it’s important to address the physical consequences horses endure from being ridden. However, focusing exclusively on their physical suffering as the reason to stop riding horses misses the greater ethical issues entirely.
The foundational ethical issue with horseback riding isn’t whether it hurts horses—it’s the presumption that they are ours to use in the first place. That horses are meant to be ridden.
tweet this— Emily Moran Barwick
Instead of questioning our use of horses in the first place, we end up nitpicking the appropriate terms of their exploitation: arguing about the best and worst methods of riding, the proper and improper use of equipment, et cetera.
It is the very same trap of all animal welfarism, like humane, free-range, and cage-free labels. Our right to use these beings is seen as a foregone conclusion—the only thing we question is the “acceptable” ways in which we can use them.
With that caveat stated, let’s look at the physical impact of horseback riding on horses before further exploring the vegan animal rights perspective.
Does Horse Riding Hurt the Horse Physically?
The short answer is yes, horse riding does hurt horses. The exact nature and degree of the harm, the precise causality, and proposed methods by which such harm may be mitigated is a long-standing contentious debate that shows no signs of resolution.
A major problem with the scientific and medical literature is that it is conducted through the lens of minimizing the harm of horse use in order to prolong that use. It is also framed within the unquestioned constraints we’ve placed upon horses.
A major problem with the scientific and medical literature on the harm of riding is that it is conducted through the lens of minimizing the harm of horse use in order to prolong that use.
— Emily Moran Barwick
For example, many studies conclude that horses benefit from entering training at a younger age, which is used to justify starting them early in horse racing. One recent research review’s conclusion stated that “it has been shown in numerous studies that confinement and the subsequent lack of loading, lead to weaker tissues and potential loss of function of bone, articular cartilage, and tendons and that exercise during growth aids in the longevity of animal health and performance.”2
What this essentially means is that exercising horses is better than confining them to stalls. Of course movement is better than confinement. But once again—movement and exercise can happen without mounting and without rigorous training for competition.
Additionally, if we weren’t forcing these horses into competition in the first place, there would be no need to try and determine the “right way” and “right time” to start them in training.
A Question for Riders
Before we get into more detail on whether riding hurts horses, I want to again urge you to take a step back and think about another question entirely: if so much has to be done “correctly” to minimize the harm of riding horses, and no one can actually agree on what that “correct” formula is, and riding horses is entirely unnecessary in the first place—why are we still so insistent on doing this to them?
If so much has to be done “correctly” to minimize the harm of riding horses, and no one can actually agree on what that “correct” formula is, and riding horses is entirely unnecessary in the first place—why are we still so insistent on doing this to them?
For the horse racing industry, the answer is clear: money. But for the individual rider—for the horse lover—stop to question why you feel you need to ride. The majority of blog posts and informal articles I came across discussing whether riding hurts horses were written by riders. People who obviously have concern that their actions are adversely impacting the beings they love.
Yet those posts went on to catalog—sometimes in extensive detail—how, exactly, to make the riding experience as enjoyable as possible for your horse. How to minimize injury and distress.
Some echo the journey of Ren Hurst, progressively using less and less horse tack and adopting more gentle methods, all in an effort to find a justifiable way to still use horses. So, let’s follow this path and start with the harm of horse tack.
The Harm of Horse Riding Tack: Bits, Bridles, Whips & Saddles
Horse tack refers to the equipment and accessories used on domesticated horses. This includes things like saddles, bits, bridles, and whips.
It’s worth noting that most horse tack is made from the skin of other non-human animals, further compounding the exploitation. I cover the leather industry in depth in my video and article “Is Leather a Byproduct of the Meat Industry?“
Do Saddles Hurt Horses?
In addition to general wear and chafing, saddles run the risk of causing vascular occlusion—meaning the restriction of blood flow—which can, if prolonged, lead to “necrosis of the under-lying tissues”3 —meaning the horse’s skin and muscles die.
Riding bareback (without a saddle) isn’t the answer, as it may actually increase the risk of injury by putting more concentrated pressure on a horse’s back than with a saddle.4 To avoid severe consequences such as necrosis, much industry, and scientific research goes into designing and educating riders about “proper” saddle fit and use.
The option of just not riding horses at all never even enters the discussion.
Do Bits & Bridles Hurt Horses?
I have a video and article covering bits, so I’ll keep this brief. Bits cause pain and damage a horse’s complex cranial nerves, as well as their teeth, tongue, and palate.5 Facial nerves are very close to the skin and thus extremely sensitive.
Bits provide a perfect example of the incremental negotiation of acceptable exploitation that occurs when viewing a horse’s pain as the only problem. Rather than question the domination and control of another being, more and more riders adopt and advocate for bitless bridles.
Then, when research hints that perhaps even bitless bridles cause pain,6 there’s another school or device or approach ready to take its place.
For more about the types of bits used on horses and the physical and psychological effects of bits, see “Horse Riding Cruelty: Effects of the Bit“
Do Whips & Crops Hurt Horses? New Findings on Horse Pain Perception
Riding advocates emphasize that whips and crops should not be used as punishment—only as encouragement—the primary benefit being “additional control over your horse.”7 As with all horse tack, there is unending debate over their “proper” use, with much focus given to the potential physical and emotional harm of misuse.
Let’s pause for a moment to consider that we’re now debating the proper way to whip a being we love.
Why not assume that other sentient beings feel pain as we do, rather than continue to harm them unless we’ve proven to ourselves that it is harm?
— Emily Moran Barwick
The most widespread controversy about whips is their use in the horse racing industry, which I’ve covered in a dedicated video and article.
While the way whips are used within horse racing differs from how they’re used in non-competitive riding, recent research into horse pain perception from whips is applicable to the larger issues we’ve been exploring.
There’s a long-standing misconception that horses have “thicker skin” than humans, and thus, whips don’t hurt them. A 2020 study comparing the capacity of horse and human skin to detect pain found this not to be the case:
“The results revealed no significant difference between humans and horses in either the concentration of nerve endings in the outer pain-detecting layer of skin (epidermis) or in the thickness of this layer… The collagen layer (dermis) of skin which is not involved in pain detection was significantly thinner in humans than in horses.
These findings show that, although horse skin is thicker overall than human skin, the part of the skin that is thicker does not insulate them from pain that is generated during a whip strike, and that humans and horses have the equivalent basic anatomic structures to detect pain in the skin.”8
— Lydia Tong et al., “A Comparative Neuro-Histological Assessment of Gluteal Skin Thickness and Cutaneous Nociceptor Distribution in Horses and Humans” (emphasis added)
Six years before this study, one of the authors, Paul McGreevy decided to whip himself while taking thermographic imaging, saying:
“My view is that – because there is no evidence to the contrary – we must assume that, just as I felt pain and distress from the impact of the padded whip, similar whipping in a horse would also cause pain and distress.”9
— Paul McGreevy, “Whips Hurt Horses – If My Leg’s Anything to Go By”
White areas indicate inflammation.
See video at top of this article for the time lapse footage (at 11:50).
While it’s validating to now have the scientific verification, I wanted to highlight McGreevy’s point: why not assume that other sentient beings feel pain as we do, rather than continue to harm them unless we’ve proven to ourselves that it is harm?
For more about Paul McGreevy’s findings, the use of whips within horse racing, and the profound exploitation of the horse racing industry, see “Horse Racing Exposed: From Cradle to Grave.”
Skeletal, Muscle, and Tissue Damage from Riding
Now that we’ve addressed horse tack, what about the act of riding itself? There is an astounding lack of consensus and ongoing controversy regarding horse skeletal maturation and growth plate closure rates,10 diagnosis and treatment of injuries, and the relationship of riding and training practices to injury rates.
Across all equestrian disciplines, the single largest reason for “wastage” (also euphemistically referred to as “loss of horses”) is musculoskeletal injury.
Even a veterinary manual explaining “the most common cause of back soreness in the horse” is soft-tissue damage to the muscles and supraspinous ligament in a horse’s back, which “are strained while the horse is being ridden” is sure to point out that “there is considerable controversy over the diagnosis and treatment of back problems in horses.”11
It’s acknowledged that “[a]cross all equestrian disciplines, the single largest reason for wastage”—also euphemistically referred to as “loss of horses”—”is musculoskeletal injury,”12 Yet horse skeletal maturation rates and damage from riding remain particularly contentious.
Many studies and sources declare horses “skeletally mature” at 2–3 years of age based either on the growth plates closing in their legs, or their having reached their full height and weight.13
Source: Horse Community Journals, Inc. (reproduced with permission)
None of these factors speak to the maturity of their axial skeleton, which includes their vertebral column—y’know, the part you sit on—nor parts of the pubis that don’t fuse until 4.5–5 years of age14, long after they’re already being ridden.
I spent days delving into horse skeletal development, and I’ve included more on my research process and findings within the supplemental section below.
But honestly, those hundred or so hours I spent only highlighted the utter insanity of how much time, energy, and effort we humans put into justifying our use of other animals.
In the end, the industry, scientific, medical, and even lay-rider literature doesn’t really refute the harm of riding—it just strives to determine the best way to reduce that harm and prolong the use of horses.
A Note on Researching the Skeletal Maturation & Growth Plate Closure in Horses
Horse growth plate closure rates and overall skeletal development and maturation are still being debated, with ongoing controversy over how early to “start” horses. There is a saying that a horse is ready to ride when their “knees close,” referring to waiting to ride horses until the growth plates in their limbs have closed.
As I mentioned in the previous section, studies on growth plate closure seem to focus exclusively on the appendicular skeleton (horses’ limbs), which typically close by 2–3 years of age.15 However, as plates close from the ground up, those latest to close are in the axial skeleton (skull, vertebral column, sternum, and ribs).16
I spent days searching for peer-reviewed data on growth plate closure and skeletal maturation of a horse’s axial skeleton, only to hit wall after wall. What I came across time and again was a widely-circulated document by Dr. Deb Bennett, who has a PhD in Vertebrate Paleontology.17 (I actually cited this very paper in my original video and article.)
![A table of welding times of the epiphyses of horses from an 1897 text (cited in caption). Three entries on the table are highlighted showing: 1) the anterior physis of the vertebral body (within the spine) as fusing between 4–5 years of age; 2) the epiphyseal parts [of the pubis] as fusing at 4.5–5 years of age.](https://bitesizevegan.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/horse-growth-plate-fusion-rates_Table-of-welding-times-of-the-epiphyses-of-horses.jpg)
Source: Lesbre, François-Xavier. “Contribution à l’étude de l’ossification du squelette des mammifères domestiques, principalement au point de vue de sa marche et de sa chronologie.”
Dr. Bennet argues that the last growth plates to fuse are in the vertebral column, stating this does not occur until the horse is at least five and a half years old. While Dr. Bennett cites select sources for her schedule of growth plate fusion (including her own research), the specific sources for each value in the table are not clear.18
I was able to finally chase down the 5th edition of The Anatomy of the Domestic Animals (1975)—first published in 191019—which states that “the epiphyseal parts [of the pubis] fuse with the main mass at four and a half to five years of age,”20 a finding made as early as 1897 (see second highlight in Table 1).21
Additionally, within the text from 1897, a table of welding times of the epiphyses of horses appears to list the anterior physis of the vertebral body (within the spine) as fusing between 4–5 years of age (see first highlight in Table 1).22 I was also able to verify that the proximal end of the humerus fuses as late as 3.5 years of age.23
As I spent hours looking for growth-plate closure rates and finding countless regurgitations of Dr. Bennett’s schedule, I kept struggling with the question: does this matter?
Dr. Bennett’s paper, if fully relied upon, could be used as compelling reasoning for why riding horses under the age of five or six could cause skeletal damage. Yet Dr. Bennett’s primary goal in this paper is not to decry horse riding, but rather to advocate for the appropriate age at which to commence riding.
I decided that affording a significant portion of my video and article to getting lost in so much minutia would essentially contribute to the very problem I’m attempting to highlight: that this focus on and debate about the degree and nature of physical harm distracts from the real ethical issue at hand—the exploitation of sentient beings for our own purposes.
The Incremental Negotiation of “Acceptable” Exploitation
The warring approaches to riding, endless studies on training practices, and progressive bargaining of using less and less tack are all manifestations of the same incremental negotiation of exploitation we perform with all non-human animals.
Not only do we fail to question what we’re doing to these beings, but we actually congratulate ourselves for being the heroes in the disasters of our own creation.
— Emily Moran Barwick
We swoop in to make their abbreviated lives slightly less miserable—lives that we’ve made abbreviated and miserable in the first place.
Battery cages are too cruel for layer hens, so we give them slightly larger cages. Still problematic? How about a crowded shed? Still too grim? Let’s raise backyard chickens.
We barter and bargain and give ourselves happy-sounding labels, doing anything we can to keep using animals—but feel good about it.
Within the horse world, a poignant example of this mentality is the United States horse racing industry patting itself on the back for a 23.5% decrease in fatalities over a decade of voluntary data collection by The Jockey Club.24
The mentality is that: of course there are going to be fatalities. But, as The Jockey Club’s senior counsel said, the fact that slightly fewer horses died of fatal injuries while racing “indicates that the Thoroughbred industry’s commitment to equine safety is paying dividends.”25
Not only do we fail to question what we’re doing to these beings, but we actually congratulate ourselves for being the heroes in the disasters of our own creation. We swoop in to make their abbreviated lives slightly less miserable—lives that we’ve made abbreviated and miserable in the first place.
Is Horse Riding Vegan?
By this point, you can probably guess the answer to whether horse riding is vegan. The question “is horse riding vegan” is quite different from the question “is horse riding cruel.” Veganism and animal rights oppose any exploitation of sentient beings
It’s evident that horses do not need to be ridden. When a horse’s basic needs are met without being ridden, horseback riding solely benefits the rider. Whether that benefit is financial gain, entertainment, emotional fulfillment, or even a presumed expression of love—it is exploitation.
Underlying all of the debates over the “proper” way to train and ride horses is not only the tacit acknowledgment that some degree of harm is acceptable but also the deeply entrenched and unquestioned presumption that horses are ours to use.
— Emily Moran Barwick
There is no way to take advantage of someone’s captive dependency without exploiting them.
Underlying all of the debates over the “proper” way to train and ride horses is not only the tacit acknowledgment that some degree of harm is acceptable but also the deeply entrenched and unquestioned presumption that horses are ours to use.
Confronting the exploitation of horse use is—I’m sure—profoundly painful.
It’s likely as traumatic as confronting what we do to animals in the food industry—and elicits just as strong defenses and justifications, even from vegans who continue to ride horses.
I again will encourage those of you who ride horses to ask yourself: why? Why do you insist on doing this to them? As much as I’m sure you love them, is this how you express love for any other being in your life?
This isn’t about shame—it’s about learning to love horses truly unconditionally. Unconditional love means allowing them to be their full selves—outside of the constraints of who we need them to be.
In Closing…
I’ll be honest—revisiting the ethics of horse riding has been an exhausting, challenging, and somewhat maddening experience. My hope is that this video and article will reach those of you who are still riding—and that you’ll find a way to work through your defenses and take an honest look at your relationship with horses.
I highly recommend watching my interview with Ren Hurst—hearing from someone who has been where you are is no doubt more powerful than anything I can say.
Please share this video and article with others who ride. And, as much as I joked about “passionate feedback,” I do want to hear from you! What are your thoughts on the ethics of horse riding? Let me know in the comments!
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To support educational content like this, please consider making a donation. Now go live vegan, and I’ll see you soon.
— Emily Moran Barwick
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Editor’s notes (from Emily): This article (along with the first video) was originally published September 24, 2014. As I’ve stated within this new article and video, I focused primarily upon the physical harm of riding in my first post. I am moved that my original video and article reached so many people. I am also grateful that I’ve now been able to re-address this issue in much greater depth and with a more comprehensive ethical perspective. I have still included my original video below.
I would also like to provide an explanatory note on the structure and wording of the subheadings on this article. You may notice that many are phrased as questions rather than statements. (For example, “Do Horses Like to Be Ridden?” rather than “Horses Like to Be Ridden” under the section “Common Arguments in Defense of Horse Riding.”) This is for the sake of “searchability”—by phrasing subheadings in the question format, people searching for answers online are more likely to find this article. While I’m not a fan on this awkward presentation, accessibility of this information is of great import. Having an ethical veganism and animal-rights-based answer amongst the search results for horse riding ethics is worth a little awkwardness.
Original video on horse riding
This is my original video on this topic, which, as I’ve stated, focused primarily upon the physical harm of riding. Additionally, some of the sources I used in this videos are not ones I would rely upon now (please see the section “A Note on Researching the Skeletal Maturation & Growth Plate Closure in Horses” above for a further discussion).
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Interesting article, which raises questions I have always wondered about; i.e. what is the effect of sitting on a horse’s spine?
I am not a rider and I have never lived with a horse; but like most girls, have always been fascinated with them. I have caught run-away horses (they allowed me to approach), and i used to horse-sit for a friend when she traveled out of town. Not being a rider, but used to dogs, I would leash him up and take him for walks <3
You see, the barn where I ride, we ate taught to not even pull on our horses mouths. We use our leg to house m by gentle pressure. Now to saddles, many people toughen them to much. For our barn, we only tighten them so much that the saddle may move add or likes but is tight enough to keep our from falling to the horses belly.
thank you for sharing your experience Sam. there are definitely ways to lessen the impact of the effects of riding. ideally, not riding at all- but certainly better practices exist!
I like to think that we can make a difference. It’s going to take a very long time, which is really sad.
I don’t ride. I grew up with horses. We weren’t allowed to ride them as my father was too protective. I dream to have a natural bond with my horse without riding. Such a special relationship that isn’t possible with a horse that you ride. I will do all i can in this lifetime, and probably the next, to make a difference!!!
Thanks so much for sharing this Karen. I hope you find a way to share your love with horses in an unconditional way respectful of their full selves.
Yes I know. It breaks my heart every day. I’m not exactly well off. Some land wouldn’t go a stray…One can but dream :(
Liz, thank you for your comment.
1) from what i’ve read, wild mustangs can live up to 40 years in the wild.
2) i don’t advocated riding bareback- i advocate not riding at all and
3) we care for them. we keep those that are domesticated as members of our family, as we do with dogs and cats, and watch after them and cater to their needs. only we don’t ride them, again, as we do with dogs and cats.
hope that helped address those issues. and i do honestly appreciate your comment and you sharing your point of view. i always value hearing various viewpoints. many thanks.
This is a very good article. I used to ride a lot but stopped when I became vegan. I now volunteer at an animal sanctuary where we have five horses and one mule. We love caring for them and you don’t need to ride a horse to enjoy their company!
Thank you so much for sharing about your journey and for volunteering for the sanctuary! Much love
Sorry if that came off rude, I just get frustrated with misinformation being spread. The idea of keeping horses is pets is lovely, but the truth is that thought process feeds the slaughter pipeline. I can place well mannered riding horses all day long. Finding homes for pasture puffs is damn near impossible, and I’m sick of seeing them get crammed onto trucks headed for Mexico because no one gave them skills to ensure they’d end up in good homes. Even rurally it costs a minimum of $10,000 a year to keep them. You find me 3 million people willing to do that, and I’ll agree with you. But I’ve been involved with horses from rescue to world shows for 20 years, and know the realities. Are there things I’d like to see done differently? Hell yes, there are some awful things that go on, but people who don’t know horses trying to fix the industry makes it worse.
I’m vegan and I’m an equestrian. Emily brings up some good talking points in her article but I think that these points are difficult to host a discussion about if you’ve either never been involved with horses as a rider OR if you’re experience as a rider has been negative (- meaning your trainers use short cuts or outdated information/methods to “improve” the ride). As equestrians, you know right away when the saddle sucks or if your horse is sore. You know it within the first few minutes or the first day of riding them. I believe the back issues are reflective of the work/athleticism the horses experience in life- just like people who have physically demanding jobs or are involved in sports. All activity leaves a mark on our bones.
TV, I appreciate you offering your perspective. I would re-emphasize that in debating the proper fit of saddles, and the issues being inexperienced riders, we get distracted from the core ethical issue of using horses: the presumption that they ARE ours to use. When we focus on the fact that using them at ALL is the issue, any discussion over the HOW to use them becomes obsolete.
Hey I guess you already know it, that they (we) use horses to produce vaccines? Put it on the bloodstream, make them sick, put off the blood, the whole deal. Nice work, thank you!
yes- it’s awful
Finally, someone who understands.
Glad that you found this effective, Lulu.
I remember when I was young and I tried horse riding and the instructor kept telling me to kick the horse with my heel, or give it a whack to make it go. When I hesitated she said “Don’t worry, they have thick skin they can’t feel it”. Well what’s the point of doing it if they don’t feel it. Obviously they do otherwise they’d just stand there while to hit them…
Very true and quite a simple and logical view on how crazy our reasoning is!
Then you didn’t have a good instructor because you aren’t supposed to kick your horse. You are supposed to slightly squeeze, and I know a lot of horses that know voice commands. Not trying to bed rude :)
FINALLY! My instructor always tells me to first squeeze, make kissing sounds, then if necessary a tiny kick
Perhaps less of the saddle irritation and bridle nerve damage, but the spinal effects remain the same.
Someone above already pointed out that riding bareback is WORSE for the the horses spine than riding with a saddle.
Raya- bad idea. As the article states, horses’ backs are not seats for our butts. That’s the reason for the saddle. The technology in modern saddles is really impressive actually, and with a good seat (rider position) they are designed to do no damage to the horse’s back. I agree with Liz, people who are ignorant to horses but try to fix the industry will make it worse. As an equestrian, I’d say about 75% of the riders I see aren’t ideal, so yes, the industry isn’t where it should be. But the article also states that riding horses isn’t vegan, so if you’re a vegan, don’t ride horses. Seems pretty simple to me.
Fair point, but as an avid horse owner/rider, some of your reasoning is well outdated. Anymore, a large number of riders are beginning to go bitless. Some use an English hackamore, though even they can be dangerous on their delicate nose if used incorrectly. I myself use a Dr. Cooks bitless bridle. I recommend researching it. Also, although riding specifically is primarily for the human’s pleasure, I’ve met many a horse who obviously enjoy being ridden to an extent. And riding is only a portion of the horse-human bond. Many riders are getting into natural horsemanship and combining trick training and games (horse enjoyment) with riding (rider enjoyment). Please youtube “NativeHorse” and watch her videos. They emphasize on the ability to ride a horse yet still have a deep, loving relationship with them.
exactly Nora!!! (:
This really upsets me, I’ve been vegan for two years and I’ve been horse riding all my life (well since 4)
I rescued an abused mare 3 years ago, when my therapist advised me to go back to horse riding and since then I’ve adopted the natural horsemanship style of riding
Me and the mare have developed a very strong bond. She’s 6 and i started riding her when she was 5(as it takes a long time with no bridle or saddle to mount a horse who’s never been mounted) Someone tried to break her in before I rescued her but was unsuccessful that’s why she was sent to the knackers yard to be made into dog food…
We go riding nearly everyday, some days we just mess about, but I honestly do think if riding was hurting her she would just run away, I use the system of reward (e.g give an apple to her for good behaviour) and through this method I have taught her a lot (she even kneels down so I can mount and gives me hugs and kisses, she really brings a smile to my face)
But she has taught me so much more, I seriously would not be here today if it wasn’t for her because when we are out hacking or galloping along the fields it’s a feeling like no other and all your worries just disappear, you’d have to be an equestrian to understand the feeling
Now That I found out I’m no longer able to ride.. I feel so gutted. Maybe I just shouldn’t return to the forest… I don’t think I could handle it, seeing her would just make me remember the feeling of riding..
I am so sorry I didn’t know I was hurting her back! She’s my only friend I wouldn’t even dream of harming her, she’s my world (well was) she helped me through the bullying, eating disorder, self harm and drug abuse.. I am so ashamed of what I’ve done, I feel totally shitty about it.. I used to think of riding as borrowing freedom.. I see now how it is wrong… Ughh just like everything I do its wrong.. Everything in my life has just went wrong
I don’t know what I’m going to do now, but I’ve decided tomorrow will be my last visit i’ll probably have a mental breakdown, but its for the best, I thought letting her live freely in the wild was ‘letting her go’ but now I’ve discovered its not and I’m so upset with myself.
Anyways her safety and happiness is what I should be concerned about not mine so I guess I am happy I found this article but I also feel like the only thing I have in my life is been taken away but that’s just me being selfish.
jennie, thank you for sharing this and being so vulnerable. I think you would REALLY identify with hearing Ren Hurst’s journey away from riding. We discuss it some in my interview with her, but I’d highly recommend reading her book “Riding on the Power of Others.”
Ren shares her own heart-wrenching journey, and also really gets into how she used horses for her own emotional needs. It is very painful to confront how we use animals for emotional fulfillment—especially when our relationship with them has “saved” us in some real respect.
I am moved by your willingness to explore this, as truly difficult and painful as it may be. Again, I’d really recommend reading Ren’s book. She’s been where you are and can speak to it far better than I would ever be able to! Sending you much love.
I didn’t like the fact when there is this event that happens around me that lets people at 200 pounds on the horses. I dont like seeing horses at events either where they are carrying adults and kids on their backs all day.
I was a typical “horsey” girl: while my friends’ bedroom walls were covered in posters of boybands, mine were adorned with pictures of horses. I loved riding, and did so from the age of four on and off until I was 17. I became vegan at 19. Along the way, a lot of things I experienced concerned me, but somehow I reconciled it with myself. “It was just how things were.” “It wasn’t as bad as it seemed.”
Looking back, I wish I had been a little more compassionate and not just done what I was told. One thing in particular stood out to me and does to this day, 16-17 years on. I went on a riding holiday and was paired up with the most beautiful, vibrant, sweet-natured, five-year-old, black pony. He was new to the riding school and he oozed enthusiasm. He had a delightful personality and was so interactive. I didn’t end up riding him for the whole holiday, instead riding a “stubborn” older mare who had a very different but equally lovable demeanour, but I had a very enjoyable experience and returned the next year.
I went to see the black pony I had fallen in love with the year before, not expecting him to remember me but to have a good re-bonding session. When I saw him and helped his rider tack him up, I was crestfallen. This once enthusiastic pony just stood there, motionless, head down, eyes glazed over. He didn’t respond to talking or stroking like he had done before. He resisted having the bit put in, having taken it on his own accord the previous year.
At that time, I knew straight away what had happened to him, yet I didn’t want to admit it. I enjoyed riding too much. I didn’t want to think that the horses didn’t enjoy it. I was sad, but everyone around me was carrying on as usual, riding and providing the horses with everything they needed to live. It wasn’t until some time after I became vegan that I decided that horse-riding was not in accordance with my core values of respecting the desires and feelings of other beings.
It is rather shameful to admit. My non-vegan (at the time) cousin said, “Would YOU like a bit in your mouth?” “It goes in the diastema, and we don’t have one,” I replied, almost automatically. “But would YOU want that against your tongue and your cheeks?” And then I thought about all the times I had pulled on the reins. The so-called ‘gentle’ jointed snaffle that squeezes the tongue and presses into the corners of the mouth. Remembering how it felt like an ice block to my hands in winter. My answer was of course “No”.
It isn’t simply a case of “horses are so big and strong that they wouldn’t do something if they didn’t want to”. While I have experienced many times horses not doing what you want them to, and sometimes punished painfully for it, and sometimes just getting away with it, it is surely not difficult to see how it is easy to manipulate a creature of any size.
As an example, if I sit on an ant nest and an ant bites me, I am going to move away because it hurts, or is at least very uncomfortable. It doesn’t matter that I am ten million times more massive than the ant, and that her jaws are almost microscopic. The ant can move me if she wants to, even if I would have preferred to not get up and not get bitten. The point being is that it doesn’t take much to be aversive and unpleasant, and this is not how I would choose to spend my life, and if I wouldn’t like it, who am I to decide that another being should have to endure it.
It is sad that we seem to love animals only for the value which they can provide us, and, usually, give them no real choice in their lives.
I agree with Madeleine, it is a spectrum– horseback riding can be abusive. It’s not just riding but any interaction with horses is on that spectrum. Just because you’re not riding doesn’t mean the horse is enjoying herself.
Sorry but horses are not made for sport. Look wharf happened to Chris Reeve! It’s nice to like them but it does not mean you have to ride them. They are animals not human. They were meant to help us in the old days tof carry stuff, cross rivers etc. Equestrians are doing it for their own pleasure not the horses
The vegan approach would be that no animal was there to help us in any way, regardless of whether we needed it or not. We should never have used animals. Any other approach is based upon the balance of human benefit.
Hi, I am vegan and have struggled with this for a long time. I believe under the right circumstances (which are rare in the world of equestrians) that it can be vegan. If you are not a horse rider will not understand this – clearly want to spend time with me and honestly if people consider me not vegan for loving the horses the way that I do then fine call me vegetarian despite my in no way killing/causing harm to animals purposefully.
Jessica, I would encourage you to explore why you have struggled so much with this. That struggle indicates a conflict within your ethical values. As hard as it can be, I’d really urge you to follow that thread. Perhaps watch my interview with Ren Hurst as well for a rider’s perspective.
Horses were not put on this planet to be ridden by humans.
I use to work at a few Horse places and I never really had much problems with horses, One woman asked me what was my secret why did I get along with them so easy, and I said respect, she said she gives her him ,I then asked her a very simple question, If I were to buy you and take you away from your Mother, For the purpose of forcing you to carry me on your back and endanger your life, for nothing more then my own selfish gratification would that be respect, Horses, all animals are living feeling beings with feelings, But to you they are just objects for your selfishness which is something so many people need to learn…
I notice how all the Horse Riders all say their horses love it? Did they actually tell you that? Horses should have the same rights as us and be free, they are a living entity and their back’s are not designed for us humans to sit on. All I can sense is speciesism and exploitation.
The reason that is all you see is because your mind is closed. Please be sceptical about your own beliefs – maybe they are prejudices. If you think animals need human language to communicate with humans, think again. I am a horse whisperer and I’d say most good horse riders also. to some degree are. I know when horses are distressed, in pain, frightened, excited and ecstatic from their body language. Not only that but horses can and do interpret human body language too. This knowledge is empirical: there is no prejudice only 100% reliable scientific evidence. I could give you numerous examples and no counterexamples. There is nothing that is more scientifically solid and as close to proof as that! Rejoice in the sheer beauty of the close bond that can form between horse and human.
Chas and a couple others have the idea. I wonder who first rode a horse/camel/elephant. Who was the first person to think to themselves . . . Hey, i will just jump up there. No invitation required. Hey, you don’t mind me staying up here do you mr. horsey? BTW Mr. horsey, you don’t get to go where you want to anymore, I will prod you somehow until you understand where your going to go. Sorry, no more of that freedom. . . . .
just the phrase, “breaking a horse” is abhorrent. Makes no difference if it’s the old way or some new “softer” way. Your breaking an animals mind to do what you want or else . . . .
We, meaning society as a whole, will look back at this idea hundreds of years from now and wonder how we ever thought it was morally and ethically acceptable to do such a thing!
I think from a more rational standpoint I can say that horse-riding is completely unnecessary. Not needed in this modern day and age. We have bikes and cars now to get around and transport goods. Also, last I checked, riding/driving bikes and vehicles for pleasure neither hurts nor exploits anyone – so long as you ride/drive safely and pay attention to your surroundings!
And as far as the argument of “What will we do with all these horses if we don’t ride them? They’ll just be turned into dog food because there’s too many to just let live and not utilize for our pleasure/hobbies.” Maybe that wouldn’t be a concern if we didn’t breed/impregnate them so much? Or if we stopped seeing animals as disposable because we have no “use” for them? That’s like making the argument of other farm animals (cows, pigs, or anything deemed “food”.) needing to be killed/eaten so they don’t overpopulate. Domesticated animals – especially farm animals/livestock – largely reproduce with the “help” (or, interference) of humans. We’re pumping animals with hormones and breeding (or, in most cases, artificially inseminating) them at a more rapid pace then their natural reproductive cycles.
BUT, in the wild, animals don’t overpopulate because of predators
Whether horse riding is cruel and painful for the animal is not really the point.
It is a basic morality issue.
Should we use another sentinent creature for our own gains?
Where do we get the right to enslave an animal simply for our pleasure?
I don’t see a difference between putting a saddle and bridle on a horse then riding it, to putting shackles on a man and making him work in a field.
Both horse and man are looked after by their owners.
Both are fed and given a warm place to sleep.
Both can protest, but just get beaten/trained gently or violently until they are “broken” and accept their lives.
Both show pleasure when their Master throws them a crust/apple/sugarlump or shows them some kindness.
Both the man and the horse are SLAVES.
i’am 13 years old and i live on a ranch. i wish that i could say i own my own horse but i don’t, our only kids horse passed away earlier this year. however i honestly don’t understand how riding horses could hurt them, and i wish no harm to my equestrian friends. why would a horse have strong legs and muscles if we aren’t allowed to ride them? why do some horses have such a strong will to work if they have no job to fulfill?
If u would like to know why riding is harmful to horses, I highly recommend u read the article again bc it’s talking about how riding can damage horse’s bones.
Horses have strong legs and muscles so that they can flee from predators in the wild. Besides, it’s not a good excuse to force horses to work and be ridden only because they’re strong. For instance, my younger brother has no right to ask me to do every house chore for him though I’m physically stronger than him.
There’s Ren Hurst’s interview. She was a horse rider, trainer, and trader. She gave up riding after knowing horses hate to be controlled by humans. I think it will help you know more about why horse ridding is cruel.
Horse riding is not necessary anymore. The “If we don’t ride them they won’t exist!” argument is the same one used to justify eating cows…”If we don’t breed and eat the cows they wouldn’t exist!” You are not being compassionate to a horse by breeding it into existence to be ridden by a human. Ride a bike or something.
Emily, don’t you just love all the “experts” who always seem to know more than the researchers who have dedicated their lives to proving facts? There will always be those whose egos and closed minds will not allow anything new past that stubborn wall they have in front of their brains. They’re unable and unwilling to even consider the possibility that their way might not be the best way. Personally, I find it rude to argue with facts on someone else’s blog. I recently heard this statement: Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but they’re not entitled to their own facts.
I shared it on my FB page, “The Healthier Horse,” but I asked that no one try to debate or disprove it; I asked that they simply consider it, let the information swirl around in their minds. Several of my followers shared it on their own pages, though. That was a positive thing, for sure!
I am a 64-year old horse owner and lover who can’t imagine life without horses. I rode trails and competed in obstacle courses for many years. But I no longer ride any of my horses because of these facts and relatively new insights. I’ve only been a vegetarian for about five years, and I continually struggle with becoming a vegan (that darned dairy aisle). However, this video, which I’ve watched several times since I first stumbled upon it, has struck me quite powerfully and profoundly. I applaud and commend you for posting it. Stand firm in your convictions. I’m honored to stand next to you.
Thank you so much for your testimony of change and being open to truly loving horses. It’s always such a greater impact when it comes from those who have ridden and used horses in the past. This is why I find Ren Hurst’s interview and story so very powerful. Appreciate you sharing this! Much love and thanks
Thank you for taking the time to write this, Kate. I am not of the equestrian world, no. This is why I didn’t offer opinion, but rather utilized studies. I would also direct you to my interview with Ren Hurst, a former horse trader and trainer who worked with horses her entire life. If anyone has grounds to discuss this topic, it’s her.
Plus just how much do you think a jockey weighs.? Doh.
This is excellent information for all those people that, obviously, don’t know about horses and horseback riding. I don’t ride horses; however, I say to those that do think twice before riding a horse.
When I got married (I wasn’t vegan then) me and my husband had a horse and cart. It really made our day magical but looking back on it, it didn’t make the poor horse’s day very magical. I guess I didn’t raise that back then and now as I see these poor creatures forced to spend every day of their miserable lives tied up, pulling carts around and whipped, I’m absolutely horrified.
Some people state that without horses society wouldn’t have progressed but that was then and this is now. The fact is we don’t need horses for transport. It’s no longer necessary in an age where we’ve got bicycles, cars, taxis and public transport. Horse riding is an elitist and exploitive activity.
Emily, this went way beyond horse riding in such a thought-provoking way! I didn’t expect the exploration and focus upon the use/exploitation of sentient beings as the core ethical issue as you say. It’s VERY easy for us to focus on “overt abuse” like physical harm and lose sight of the deeper problem of exploitation/use itself. This must have taken you SO much time to produce! As always, I’m amazed by the time, care, attention, and thought you pour into your work. (And always appreciative of the moments of sarcastic wit you throw in! Like the “whip” comment pause…) Thank you for this powerful resource!
Anesh, thank you so much (as always) for your thoughtful feedback and encouragement. I’m honored that the work I put into this came through, and even more so that my “thesis” seems to have been clear. It was quite an experience diving back into this topic…as I was looking into the “physical harm” I felt that all the debate and nitpicking was truly a distraction from the underlying fact that any use of a sentient being is inherently unethical and exploitative. Just like with the “humane” and “cage free” and other incremental negotiations we make, it’s all just a way to keep using other animals without confronting the inherent abuse of that use. Thank you for taking the time to comment and share your thoughts!
Oh my goodness, such an amazing video! As a passionate horse person, it broke my heart when I realized what I was doing to the horses I loved so much. Honestly, I secretly hated riding them but never said anything because it was the only way I could spend a lot of time with them, like you said, in the constraints we have put them under.
Other horse people didn’t like me just hanging around spending time with the horses; there was a definite pressure that the horses MUST be ridden or you suck as a horse owner/boarder. There’s a lot of judgement of horse ownership from other horse fanatics and everything you do is put under a microscope.
It’s a mix of aristocracy, snobbery, condescension, egoism, and above all else, power and control. I left the horse world because of the people and it still leaves a bad taste in my mouth. One day I hope to own a horse ( or two heehee) far away from insane horse people and give them so much love, freedom and care and let them just exist as they were meant to.
(comment via YouTube)
Thank you so much, Melissa! I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed the video. I appreciate you sharing your experience and it does echo so much of what I’ve heard from other people with a history in “the horse world”. Until I interviewed Ren Hurst (and had had much passionate feedback on my original video) I had NO idea the intensity of the horse riding world. It was very eye-opening! It really opened in me a deeper examination of the exploitation of domestication…something that I think is VERY challenging for anyone to confront—vegans very much included. I really appreciate you taking the time to share your own journey!
I was a horsewoman my whole life. I stopped riding 6 years ago. Each horse slowly opened my eyes. Science shows cows are built more for carrying weight. From a small child I wanted to be with horse. BUT I wanted to have a true relationship with them a spiritual relationship where I could learn from them. Forcing them to learn what us humans want from them did not help me get that. I achieved the true relationship when I learned to truly listen to them and not justify why I am on their backs.
Read the book by Ren Hurst, Riding on the power of others. Humans take advantage of and exploit the true giving nature of horses. There are those who say they love horses but in all actuality it’s that they love RIDING horses. I rescued abused horses for a long time. Horse ridden by people who profess to love them. I just put one down 2 months ago that was a throw away. He became lame by the constant need to be exercised as a roping horse. The lady wanted nothing more to do with him so I took him in for almost 5 years. I have many stories about listening to what the horse really has to say and it ripped my heart out. There is a big movement in the UK about this very thing.
(comment via YouTube)
Thank you so much for sharing your journey, Denice. Until I interviewed Ren Hurst (and had had much passionate feedback on my original video) I had NO idea the intensity of the horse riding world. It was very eye-opening! It really opened in me a deeper examination of the exploitation of domestication…something that I think is VERY challenging for anyone to confront—vegans very much included. I really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience!
Quote: “Before we discuss whether horse riding is cruel, I want you to think about another question entirely: are horses meant to be ridden?”
Comment: ‘Meant to be……’ implies something or some one determines what is ‘meant to be’. Is a squirrel meant to gather and eat acorns? The answer depends on what is meant by ‘meant to be’.
Quote: “But using someone for love is still using someone.”
Comment: Does this apply to my children? To all that are loved? To love is supposed to be one of the most fulfilling things there is. Is this being simply reduced to use?
Hey, look. I firmly believe the horse is perhaps the most abused animal in the world, historically and currently. Elephants and a lot of other animals are right up there with them.
That said, this article, to me, is just riddled with inaccuracies and lack of knowledge.
Harold, thank you for your feedback. I’ll address each of your points:
RE: “Meant to” – the meaning here is that we view horses as “intended” for OUR USE. This differs vastly from whether a squirrel meant to gather and eat acorns. The presumption that horses (or any being) is meant FOR US to be USED as we see fit—that is the issue.
RE: “using someone for love is still using someone” – The key here is USING someone for love. The issue is NOT the act of loving someone, it’s USING someone for love. Loving your children or anyone truly unconditionally is not use.
I hope this helps clarify.
I remember having an online “debate” with someone about horse riding and their overall “justification” was that it was “the horse’s job” to be ridden. I didn’t realize horses needed “jobs” and that they were actually getting paid fair wages! who woulda thunk?? (/intense sarcasm)
Your video is absolutely fantastic and I’m always floored by the amount of research you put into them.
Thank you, as always, for all that you do!
Thank you so much, galisatsuki! And yes…I’ve heard that a lot about all kinds of animal labor.. that somehow they not only “need” to have a job but they also “enjoy” that job. Thank you for your kind words about the amount of research I put it. This one was particularly monstrous! (And absurd in that I ended up NOT focusing on hardly ANY of the research in the actual video/article because it really does distract from what’s REALLY the issue!). Anyways, thank you so much for your feedback :)
“The Incremental Negotiation of Exploitation”. Wow! So true…
I’ve been guilty of it myself & I’m sure we all see it in others.
I’ve never heard such a succinct, profound summary of the emotional haggling we do before (hopefully) concluding that animals aren’t commodities
I’m so glad that this resonated with you, Hannah. I’m honored that it sparked some reflection. The incremental negotiation of “acceptable” exploitation is absolutely something we ALL do…vegans very much included!
Thank you so much for this. I have always wanted to ride like a cowgirl, but could never justify using a non human animal. I know many people who claim to love their horses. You raised some very valid objections that I had not considered previously. I now feel more confident to discuss their “love” with them.
Very glad to hear that this was helpful, Judy!
Such an important and clarifying statement: “There is no way to take advantage of someone’s captive dependency without exploiting them.” Everything we say, do, and feel as advocates is based on this. This statement helped to stabilize a lot of the floating debris in my head. As always, thank you for your thorough investigation and diligence, you are a gem. One more for the toolbox!
So glad to hear this was helpful R-T! Confronting the exploitation of domestication and our use of sentient beings (as well as one another) is really a profound undertaking. That statement is a powerful one, and formed by the work of Ren Hurst. Thank you for sharing your feedback, and I’m honored that you’ve found this to be a resource!
This is a comprehensive and impressive presentation. Kudos to you Ms. Barwick.
I know of no worthy arguments in support of riding or any other use of horses.
As you stated, those who have and genuinely care and “love” their horses will for various reasons, strongly resist giving up riding. Perhaps for those who have and ride horses, if they use their “riding time” to just hang out with the horses, observe them and form a non-coercive relationship with them, they will come to see how wonderful such a relationship can be and how magnificent and wonderful horses are just being horses. I suspect that lots of people that ride, if they have form this kind of relationship, they will prefer it to riding. Even for the humans that ride and say they like it, I suspect there are a lot of negatives, much of it physical discomfort.
Thank you so much, Greg for your thoughtful feedback and input. I’m so glad to hear this came across well. I truly poured a great deal into it! And what you’re describing, about relating to horses in a non-exploitative way is the journey taken by Ren Hurst. She speaks about how it wasn’t until she actually saw how horses were when exploitation was removed that she realized how very skewed her perception was of them. Worth a listen if you haven’t heard the interview yet!
I thought the new video was outstanding, and more thorough than the original! I immediately shared it. I’ve been a horse lover since I was a kid, and I’m now a senior, but nobody ever gave me the information that you presented. I think children, especially, should understand that animals aren’t here simply to be tools or entertainment for our species. Thank you for all you do Emily!💕
I’m SO thrilled to hear this, Barbara! Yes, I went MUCH deeper in this re-do. It ended up being quite the undertaking and took me in directions I wasn’t expecting. It’s very rewarding to hear it came across well in the end!
I would Like to play the devil’s advocate for a second here. What are your thoughts on spaying and neutering animals? They are not giving you consent. It does do harm to them in many cases especially males. They’re robbed of their testosterone at a very young age. We now have empirical evidence that it damages their health specifically their bones. It causes depression and back to my original point. They don’t give you consent. This is something that we have selfishly conjured up on their behalf to decide what their population should be. So in my estimation. Taking an animal and chopping off their testicles depriving them of testosterone their entire life. Which causes depression, underdeveloped bones and musculature. And a few other things to which I haven’t quite gotten to yet. So I won’t mention them. Having been around cattle horses dogs cats and many other animals that we find self evident that it is OK to spay and neuter them. I find it to be perfectly in line with your argument well not your argument but the argument by the woman who is a an alleged former horse trainer and writer that you are experiencing the shell of the animal. Let’s just have a thought experiment for a second. Let’s say that we castrated all male human beings at birth and we tore out the reproductive organs of all female human beings at birth. Any endocrinologist would tell you those people would live very miserable lives. They would have in a woman’s case little to no estrogen and in a males case no testosterone at all, which carry very serious health and mental health consequences. So I’ll stop babbling because I think you know the point I’m getting at and I’d like to hear your thoughts on this? Again, what gives us the right to decide the population of any given species? Just as you stated we are not in charge of horses it is not our job to domesticate them. Then why is our job to Control animal populations? Because we selfishly don’t want to see suffering? Suffering is part of nature. I love your channel you’re by far the best. Keep the awesome content coming.
Andrew, I won’t be able to get into great depth about this due to time limitations, but there is a key difference between captive dependents vs a human being in your thought experiment. You ask about whether we have a right to spay/neuter animals in our care. We already took their rights away by creating them to be permanent captive dependents. So it’s now our duty to make responsible decisions for their care. I can’t tell you what that is for every situation. I’m just saying that we’re the ones who have put them into this state of learned helplessness and taken their autonomy. Taking full responsibility for that, and facing the weight of that will hopefully help us move towards no longer creating captive dependents at all.
Dear Emily,
This is a very informative and educational article as always. I have never ridden a horse but have often wondered about the pain bits and bridles must cause. Also the jerking of the horse’s neck back by the reins must be painful. How could whips and crops not be painful and the excuse they are used as encouragement is just a false justification. I did learn a lot about the skeletal maturation and growth plate closure. How does anyone know that a horse likes to be ridden; only Mr. Ed could answer that.
Thank you for taking the time to comment, Sally. Always lovely to hear from you. And yes—the pulling on their neck and mouth (with bits) undoubtably painful. Though even bitless and in the most “gentle” of ways, riding remains exploitative on its face. And the skeletal maturation and growth plate closure rates! Oh man…I spent SO much time chasing down information on that! It kind of made me lose my mind a little :) Thank you for sharing your thoughts and feedback!
I have found that the more kind and lovely animals are, the more they are exploited by humans, like the sheeps, goats, cows, chickens, fishes, ducks, horses. On the contrary, those vicious and violent animals like crocodiles, lions, wolves, hogs are living free. which is absurd. People never leave other good beings alone, It’s the most evil and shameful to exploit the innecent and kind beings for their own benefit and greed.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this, Chris. Certainly a level of speciesism plays into the exploitation of domestication!
I have just read your this article today. Thank you for your great effort and sacrifices for destroying the injustice defenses and justifications out there with most depth ethical and physical arguments for the horses, exposing the same traps they played with great wisdom, and again bringing justice to all animals.
Your content is just like you yourself, detail-focused, integrity, justice, selfless, honest, which makes you the best for veganism and aniaml advocacy.
I am a city slicker who never cared for a horse. And I am a vegan who opposes riding horses and other animals. But you offered one argument which is just not valid. I know one horse carer who has open stalls – the horses can go into the field at will – and so it’s not as you present it: Living in a stall or getting saddled and ridden. Her rescued thoroughbred (from racing) is ridden bitless on a leisurely ride in the woods. She claims that he loves being taken on these rides and adamantly insists he shows happiness. I still do not support what she does because I look at it as being the following: I never saw any indication in nature which “says” that a horse is wanting to be sat on.. It isn’t how they are born, no sign on them: “Ride me” or any such thing. But it’s not just either/or. He’s not “finally” getting to go out. He already goes out, all the time, on his own, in the field. All of her equines have the freedom to go into the fields or stay in the open barn (she does close them up there when there is heavy snow). Also, my feeling is that we don’t know for sure if they feel any discomfort or pain. I have read the alleged scientific articles saying they feel pain sometimes/always and yet many riders say they see no indication that they do. I would not ever take that chance and tell them to err on the side of the possibility of pain or harm to the back.
Martha, thank you for taking the time to comment. I’m happy to address your points. Regarding the “living in a stall or getting saddled and ridden,” I very much understand that that’s not the case for all horses. I was using that to better illustrate the point of adapting to the limits of confinement.
Still, even when allowed to be in pastures, yes a horse may still show what appears to be excitement about riding. And let’s say it IS excitement. We also have to consider the limitations of interaction and attention they receive. If this is the only way they receive attention and interaction that they value, then they may show positive signs for that. But that’s also because they’ve never been allowed to have that love/affection/interaction without having any expectations/demands placed upon them in exchange. Were they to be allowed truly unconditional love, without demands placed upon them in exchange, then their attitude about being saddled and mounted would likely shift.
Again this is all assuming that riders are accurately assessing enjoyment from horses. But even if it is—it remains within the limitation we’ve placed upon them. We’ve not allowed them to even know true freedom. They are unable to actually give consent as captive dependents.
Regarding the pain and physical damage. Riders may very well not “see” any indication. That doesn’t mean it’s not there. And the studies I’ve cited are almost all by people who DO ride and advocate FOR horse use. They are documenting the harm such that they can find ways to “reduce” it and still use horses. But I also think that it’s flawed for us humans to doubt another being’s pain until we prove to OURSELVES that they are feeling pain. As I mention in this article and video, why not ASSUME as much. (Though the studies have also shown as much). Though again, physical harm is not the focus on this entire video/article.
Hope this was helpful!
another great and thoughtfully articulated video, keep up the great work!!
Thank you so much, Cathleen! I really appreciate it!
Fantastic article! I do suggest that you look into liberty and natural horsemanship. With my horses, I give them a choice. Human interaction, or no. I never ride them, they solely live outside, they see a chiropractor, dentist, and fairer, and live on a diet that suits their individual needs. I never force them to do anything. Only ask. No saddles, no bits, no whips, or spurs. Just because some horses are treated poorly, doesn’t mean that all are. At this point, it is a danger to horses to be wild. Every year, thousands of wild horses are rounded up from their homes, sent to Mexico, and turned into dog food. Even on reservations, it is rare to find horses with proper nutrition, muscling, and conformation. In today’s domesticated world, the only truly wild breed is the przwalskis horse. The rest are descended from domesticated horses, and lack certain instincts, and are faced with health issues. Personally, I believe that horses are better off domesticated. There is certainly a right way to do things, and I’m not saying that my way is right, but I do wish that you might change your perspective on things. it’s your choice. Wild, and dead? or captive and healthy?
Love, Rose.