The Nordic equestrian federations of Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Finland have jointly urged the FEI to strengthen international work on horse welfare. Their letter calls for greater transparency in judging and proposes a dedicated Dressage Forum to advance welfare‑focused development of the sport.
The equestrian federations of Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Finland have issued a joint letter to the FEI urging stronger international action on horse welfare. From a Nordic perspective, the federations emphasize the need to prioritize welfare work globally and propose that the FEI convene a Dressage Forum focused on developing the discipline with horse welfare at its core.
“We must use this debate to examine what isn’t working so we can improve together,” says Johan Fyrberg.
The Nordic countries call for greater transparency in judging, as well as discussions on training practices and the purpose of young‑horse championships. The initiative originated at an international horse‑welfare workshop held during the Gothenburg Horse Show.
The initiative was brought up by Sweden in connection with an international workshop on horse welfare held during the Gothenburg Horse Show.
More information about the initiative can be found in a joint press release: Nordic equestrian federations address the FEI with concern for horse welfare | Svenska Ridsportförbundet (Nordic equestrian federations address the FEI with concern for horse welfare | Swedish Equestrian Association)
%20copy.png)
Two days. One shared goal: advancing horse welfare through science, education and practice. Join leading international experts at the Horse Welfare Summit 2026, where Dr Andrew McLean will deliver two keynote lectures and receive the Professor Ingvar Fredricson Foundation Scholarship.
A new review examines how smartphones are becoming genuine tools for monitoring a horse's soundness, heart rate and recovery, and even for meeting international competition requirements. Among the systems it highlights is Sleip, co-founded by Dr. Elin Hernlund, one of the Foundation's own scholarship recipients, whose work builds on decades of Swedish equine biomechanics research going back to Professor Ingvar Fredricson himself.
On November 2, visitors gathered in Hall B at the Jönköping Horse Show for the Professor Ingvar Fredricson Foundation’s 2025 scholarship ceremony, celebrating groundbreaking Swedish research in equine biomechanics. From the pioneering efforts of the 1970s—when high‑speed cameras and manual measurements were the researcher’s tools—to today’s AI‑powered motion analysis and robotic hoof simulators, the audience was taken on a journey through decades of innovation. Professors Lars Roepstorff and Marie Rhodin, together with Associate Professor Elin Hernlund, shared their latest breakthroughs, followed by live demonstrations showing how AI and high‑precision sensors are transforming the understanding of horse–rider interaction. Moderator Jens Fredricson guided the dialogue and inspired exchange between researchers, while post‑event discussions with attendees helped build valuable bridges between research and practice.
The FEI's guardian framework resonates with the work we champion at the Professor Fredricson Foundation. Advancing equestrian sport means placing the horse's welfare and wellbeing at the center — not as an afterthought, but as the foundation upon which all excellence is built.