Does It Still Make Sense To Have Equestrian Sports In the Olympics?

By Jayson Panganiban June 11, 2025 11:20

The Summer Olympics is the standout diary for sports fans, with the multi-game event being staged every four years. The Olympics attracts a global viewing audience, and it gives the participants something to aim for in order to reach their goals.

However, with more eyes than ever before on the Games, there have been growing calls for the Equestrian events to be removed.

Many believe that the events violate welfare issues. But, there has been no evidence to suggest that the IOC will look to remove one of the sports that has the richest histories at the Olympics.

When Were Equestrian Events Added to Olympic Schedule?

Equestrian events have a long-standing place at the Olympics, as they were first included in the Games in Paris in 1900. However, events were removed for a brief period, before making their return in 1912.

Since then, events such as dressage, show jumping, and eventing have been regularly competed at the Games. It is also one of the most historic events on the IOC schedule, with it being the first to see men and women compete on equal terms back in 1952.

The introduction of six events was added in 1928, with every edition of the Games seeing six golds handed out since 1936.

Why Is It So Important on the Olympic Schedule?

With the additions of new events to capture younger demographics, it has been muted that potentially equestrian events have exceeded their time on the IOC calendar. Some events are even too complex, even for those who don’t need horse racing odds explained.

However, the long-standing tradition that dates back to 1900 will make it a very controversial decision should they be scrapped before one of the upcoming editions of the Games.

Equestrian events also rank as one of the most established at the multi-sport games, and they typically attract widespread media coverage from across the world.

In essence, the events also show the strong bond between humans and animals, with the partners needing to work in unison in order to win a gold medal.

Why Do Some Want Equestrian To Be Removed?

Horse events such as racing have also been targeting by groups, which means it is little surprise that the same groups have also targeted the end of equestrian at the Olympics. Groups argue that the events at the Games show a mistreatment of horses, both in training and competition.

The groups also argue that the animal welfare concerns raise questions surrounding the ethical nature of the sport. It is also argued that it is unethical to ask horses to compete in high-pressure events against their will, with some citing it as cruel.

An argument that has been gathering pace since the 2024 Olympics is the fact that there are potentials to abuse animals to get the best out of them to stand the best chance of winning medals.

This stance was once again in the spotlight during the Paris games, as Charlotte Dujardin, a three-time gold medallist, was forced to withdraw from the Olympics after a video of her hitting a horse with a long whip was circulated online. Dujardin was banned for a year, but is free to compete again from July 2025.

Impossible to Appease All Parties

As horse racing has found, it is impossible to appease all sides of the argument, as those that want equestrian events banned from the Olympics will not be willing to compromise. However, steps can be taken to ensure that horses involved are as healthy as possible.

The IOC have been under increased pressure to reform their welfare standards, with many stepping up their attempts to force the hand of the governing body following events at the recent Tokyo and Paris Games. It has been recorded that the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) are working tirelessly to implement welfare reforms, focusing heavily on welfare co-ordinators.

A sign of the issues that the sport faces were reflected by the fact that Paris organizers citied 46 recommendations surrounding welfare following the French Games last summer.

Among the ideas mapped out by the former Olympic hosts include improved paddocks to enable horses to roam freely, while Paris also demanded a more robust approach to recording medications to ensure that all horses are healthy to compete.

No Sign of Equestrian Events Being Removed Immediately

Despite the ongoing calls for equestrian events to be removed from the Olympic schedule, there is no evidence to suggest that they will be absent from the schedule at the upcoming 2028 Games.

Equestrian events have been included on the roster for the Los Angeles Games, with the competition being staged at the iconic Santa Anita Park.

The venue previously played host to horse events during the 1984 Games, and it is expected that many of the concerns that onlookers had surrounding the care of animals at previous Olympics will be addressed in California.