By CHRISTINE BJERKAN, EQuerry / Co
Dressage is undergoing a reckoning. While its roots lie in classical training principles, the modern sport is evolving under the spotlight of social change. In the wake of the 2024 Olympics, international scrutiny has intensified, with several high-profile welfare concerns capturing global attention. Amplified by viral social media activism, these events underscore the urgent need for clearer regulations, independent oversight, and a renewed commitment to equine well-being.
Yet change in a sport steeped in centuries of tradition is rarely swift. It requires patience, education, and the courage to unlearn. Reform may not be immediately visible in today’s top ranks, but it can emerge through younger horses and riders nurtured with new standards in mind. But do we have the time and willingness to wait?
The Welfare Question: A Tipping Point
To move forward, we must recognise a crucial truth: the majority of riders, trainers, and governing bodies are working hard to ensure a better future for the sport. The conversation must evolve from blame to collaboration–balancing scrutiny with support, and reform with realism.
Public trust in equestrian sport hinges on the belief that the horse’s welfare is prioritised above medals, scores, or spectacle. This trust was tested at the 2024 Olympics, when public outcry followed viral footage of concerning training practices. While some viewers had never watched dressage before, they instinctively recognised when something didn’t look right. These reactions weren’t rooted in technical expertise but in empathy. And that matters.
The Olympic controversy wasn’t unprecedented–it merely deepened scrutiny already building across the sport. Operation X in Denmark exposed hidden-camera footage of elite horses subjected to harsh training methods, including the banned practice of rollkur, at Helgstrand’s facilities. In Germany, repeated allegations of techniques in the preparation of young horses have been voiced, such as excessive spur use and hyperflexion, which has triggered public outrage and debate. The Netherlands has faced similar criticism over restrictive training frames and a perceived lack of transparency in elite programmes, with current trends noted for producing horses that exhibit hollow backs and short, elevated necks–postures which may indicate discomfort or distress. And in the USA, international rider Ceasar Parra was suspended following allegations of animal abuse. 2024 was a difficult year for dressage–and the challenges don’t appear isolated by geography. They reflect a perceived systemic issue. This gives the impression that there is a widespread, embedded problem within the dressage community–something that I, personally, do not believe to be true. The vast majority of dressage riders and trainers are deeply committed to the welfare of their horses. To characterise the entire sport based on a few high-profile incidents risks misrepresenting the majority of professionals who hold themselves to the highest ethical standards.
These moments serve as a cultural tipping point. They reflect a shift in public values and offer the sport a critical opportunity to demonstrate credibility and care. In response, the FEI (Fédération Equestre Internationale) has updated regulations in several debated areas, such as the introduction of mandatory noseband measuring at all FEI-level competitions. The use of a taper gauge ensures a minimum spacing between the noseband and the nasal plane of both upper and lower nosebands, with the goal of preventing excessive pressure on sensitive facial nerves and tissues–a policy backed by current equitation science.
Tradition Meets Science
During the 2025 FEI Sports Forum, the Dressage Strategic Action Plan panel acknowledged that in an effort to grow the sport and increase public engagement, dressage had been allowed to become ‘spectacular.’ This shift toward spectacle, while successful in driving interest, has come at a cost. The panel recognised that the current challenge is to step back from the spectacular and return to the core principles of the sport–prioritising the horse’s wellbeing, correct training, and the integrity of the movements. This is not a call to make dressage less compelling, but to make it more honest.
Another major discussion point is the continued requirement for double bridles at the Grand Prix level. The double bridle, combining a snaffle and curb bit, allows for highly refined communication between rider and horse. However, it also presents more opportunities for misuse, particularly in less educated hands. The snaffle bridle, already permitted in youth and lower-level competition, is widely accepted as milder.
Scientific studies have shown that gentler tack, such as the snaffle, can reduce stress behaviours like head tossing, tail swishing, and resistance to the contact. Some rein tension studies suggest that a double bridle may allow for lighter hand pressure, depending on rider technique, but others caution that the distribution of pressure–especially from the curb bit and chain–can be more damaging when incorrectly fitted or overused. The key point here is that for any piece of tack to be used ethically and effectively, the rider must understand both the how and the why of its function. This comes as part of the education on the way to the top levels of sport, which perhaps suggests a need to revisit previous rules, such as when Young Riders competed in snaffles only, before the use of double bridles was permitted in that category.
Complicating the conversation is the recurring appearance of blue or discoloured tongues in high-level competition, often photographed alongside the use of double bridles. While there is currently no peer-reviewed research directly linking blue tongues to bit use or rein tension, expert veterinary opinion points to compromised circulation as a likely cause. We might assume it is caused by the bit or the rider’s hands, but we’re out of space to assume. We need to know.
Kyra Kyrklund spoke at the 2025 FEI Sports Summit, noting, “We all use knives when eating our dinner, but that doesn’t mean we all use them as a weapon. It is the same for a well-fitted double bridle; it is a tool, and it should be respected as such.” Her comment underscores that it is not the tool but how it’s used that determines impact.
Likewise, a snaffle bridle in the wrong hands can be equally damaging. Bits have been used for over 4,000 years, and while we now understand much more about the harm they can cause, we must acknowledge that a “mild” bit does not equate to a mild effect–especially if welfare relies on increased rein tension to achieve the desired result.
Advocates for allowing snaffles in Grand Prix argue that it grants riders the ability to choose what suits their individual horse, while also sending a visible welfare message to the public. Some national federations are making progress, allowing for the use of bitless bridles, later start of younger horses, and the use of snaffle bridles at higher-level competition. Offering tack flexibility, such as permitting snaffles at Grand Prix, is a practical step. It encourages evolution without coercion, and it can be argued that it respects the individuality of the horse.
Unlearning as a Process
One key reason progress feels slow is that change, especially at the highest levels, involves unlearning. Riders spend years developing the skill to ride effectively with a double bridle. Horses, too, are conditioned from a young age to respond to the subtle cues of both curb and snaffle reins. By the time they reach Grand Prix level, their responses are deeply ingrained. Sudden change to tack can result in confusion, tension, and performance setbacks.
But unlearning must happen not just within the sport’s inner circle, but among those outside it – especially individuals currently critical of traditional tack such as the double bridle. Many strong opinions are formed without direct experience, often fueled by social media, isolated incidents, or a lack of understanding of how such equipment functions when used correctly. Every person who has ridden in a double bridle knows that, used properly, it can in fact be one of the mildest bits. Just as misuse can cause harm, informed and ethical use can foster softness, precision, and harmony.
If the aim is to keep each horse’s emotional and physical wellbeing at the centre of the conversation, then there is no room for a ‘one rule fits all’ mindset. Flexibility is essential. Both governing bodies and the public must be willing to listen to those who spend the most time in the saddle–professional riders who are already under immense scrutiny. Their experience is an important piece of the puzzle, and disregarding it risks creating further division instead of meaningful, welfare-led progress. Professional riders are not the obstacle to reform – they are one of its most important instruments.
This isn’t to say change should be avoided, only that it must be introduced thoughtfully. A more sustainable path may lie in supporting and educating the next generation on the importance of well-being as the foundation for longevity in the sport.
Training Takes Time – So Does Transition
Training a horse to Grand Prix level is a long journey built on strength, trust, and careful progression. Any change to competition expectations must respect that timeline. We cannot expect elite horses, trained over the years with specific cues and equipment, to seamlessly adapt overnight. Meaningful reform may not be immediately visible, but it will be in five or ten years.
While social media activism can oversimplify the sport’s complexities, it also drives accountability and transparency. What is often missing is a willingness to understand different perspectives, especially between professionals, everyday equestrians, and the broader public, leading to polarised views on what is best for the horse.
As equestrians, we are all stewards of the sport. Our responsibility extends beyond the arena to challenge misinformation, resist defensiveness, and foster empathetic, evidence-based dialogue. If dressage is to maintain public support, 2025 must be the year we use digital platforms not just for promotion, but for meaningful conversation.
Because the future of the sport won’t be shaped by rules alone. It will be defined by the way we balance tradition and reform, performance and partnership, excellence and ethics.
Transparency and Trust
Although rule changes like the FEI’s noseband policy are promising, they are only one part of a larger picture. For the public to trust the sport, equestrians must also trust the institutions that govern it, but also the professionals whose job it is to uphold and represent it. Transparency, clarity, and accountability are essential.
This is where the concept of Social Licence to Operate (SLO) becomes critical. As a concept, it is not granted internally but earned through trustworthy conduct.
A framework for earning that trust includes:
- Publicly sharing how welfare decisions are made and evaluated
- Including welfare scientists and rider representatives in rule-making
- Supporting independent oversight
- Educating equestrians and the public alike, not just on equine behaviour and wellbeing, but the nuances of the horse-human relationship that exists between professional riders and their horses
But does this matter to an audience whose understanding of horses may be shaped by TV drama such as Yellowstone, more than real experience? Or when even well-intentioned conversations about welfare risk trigger backlash and fuelling stereotypes?
To maintain credibility, governing bodies must be proactive, not reactive. So should we, as equestrians. Leadership in equestrian sport means not only setting standards but also communicating clearly and listening with intention.
The Path Forward: Gradual, Informed Progress
Welfare-driven reform should never be about appeasing critics or chasing trends. It must be rooted in science, shaped by compassion, and delivered with realism. That means acknowledging the learning curves of both horse and human.
This is not a call to abandon tradition, but to evolve it. At its core, dressage is about harmony. If we can achieve that harmony through kinder, more horse-centric methods, then we are not changing the soul of the sport – we are fulfilling it.
The next generation presents a remarkable opportunity. By educating young athletes, embracing evidence-based practices, and prioritising empathy, we can create a version of dressage that reflects both excellence and ethics.
Earning the Future
The FEI and national federations are taking tangible steps to shape a more sustainable future for equestrian sport – introducing science-backed regulations, improving transparency, and seeking guidance from welfare experts. But they cannot do it alone. The broader equestrian community plays a critical role in protecting the sport’s social license. That means contributing supportive, constructive perspectives – not simply reacting with outrage. Criticism has a place, but it must be informed, balanced, and focused on helping the sport evolve. For equestrianism to thrive in the modern era, it will take collective responsibility–not division.
True change in dressage won’t come from a single rule or a viral video. It will come from a shared commitment to listen, reflect, and do better.
The welfare of the horse should never be negotiable. But if we are blind to the possibility that our methods sometimes need questioning, we will miss the opportunity to improve. By grounding reform in trust and embracing thoughtful, credible change, the sport can secure a future where partnership takes the podium–and public trust is not assumed.
